Building departments don’t want a full report — they want a scoped, PE-signed statement that answers one question and stands behind it. Lebra Engineering & Design drafts building-department affidavits and performs the 5-year fire escape, balcony, and exterior stairway recertification inspections Boston, Somerville, and other Massachusetts municipalities require.
PE-reviewed · a written proposal typically within 1 business day.
Tell us what the building department is asking for.
A building inspector reads an affidavit as the engineer taking personal responsibility for a condition someone else built and often cannot fully see. Every sentence broader than what was actually observed is uncompensated liability that outlives the permit by decades. Lebra states the purpose, the basis, and the limits — what was observed, what wasn’t, and what couldn’t be determined — before offering an opinion, then confines that opinion to exactly the question the building department asked.
For exterior fire escapes, balconies, and stairways specifically, Massachusetts building code §780 CMR 1001.3.2 requires periodic certification by a registered design professional or a licensed fire escape installer. Boston’s Inspectional Services Department enforces this on a five-year cycle, with a permit and a Fire Escape and Fire Balcony Affidavit filed for each structure; Somerville’s ISD Building Division likewise inspects fire escapes as part of its field-enforcement work. Lebra performs the site observation and issues the affidavit directly to the filing.
We get the exact question the building department asked, in their own words.
We confirm the current Building Commissioner, mailing address, and any town-specific form.
A documented site visit — the basis for every statement in the affidavit.
A numbered, purpose-limited statement, signed and sealed.
Letter or notarized form, submitted with the permit the department requires.
Boston enforces the 5-year fire escape and balcony recertification cycle, and a lapsed certification can hold up a rental license, a sale, or a Five-Year Inspection Plan filing. We can usually get an inspection on the calendar within the week.
Every affidavit states what it covers — and just as clearly, what it doesn’t.
No statement is made without a documented field visit.
We confirm the current commissioner and any town-specific form before drafting.
Matched to exactly what the building department requires.
"I've worked with George and Marcelo on several projects now, and have nothing but GREAT things to say about them. They have been responsive to our clients questions and their plans are clear and very easy to understand. I highly recommend them and as a bonus, they also provide land surveying, so I can work with them as a one stop shop!"
"As a remodeling contractor, having a structural engineer I can actually count on makes all the difference, and that's exactly what we've had with Marcelo and George at Lebra Engineering & Design. We've worked with them for over three years and they're our go-to on every project that needs structural support. They're responsive, efficient, and — most importantly — genuinely available when we need them. Remodels never go exactly to plan, and more than once we've hit a surprise after demo that meant rethinking the structural approach. Every time, Marcelo and George have jumped in quickly to help us modify the plan and keep the job moving. That kind of reliability is hard to find. Highly recommend them to any contractor or homeowner who needs structural engineering done right."
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"Top-notch engineers and designers! I had a great experience with Lebra Engineering & Design. Their team was always responsive, kept me in the loop, and delivered high-quality work on time. I’d definitely recommend them to anyone looking for engineering expertise!"
"Working with Lebra Engineering & Design was an absolute pleasure. They took the time to understand our vision for the building project and offered creative solutions that really elevated the design. I’ll definitely be using them for future projects!"
Tell us what the building department is asking for, or which fire escape needs recertifying, and we’ll outline the fastest path to a filed affidavit.