There are many useful sources of information to draw upon when an engineer is engaged to perform a Property Condition Assessment (PCA). There are sometimes existing drawings and other documentation to review…
Here are a few examples from historical data and experience: Air conditioning compressor – air cooled, hermetically sealed 12 to 15 years Air conditioning compressor – water-cooled, hermetically sealed 20 years Air…
Air conditioning systems for buildings may rely on either a liquid, such as water, or air as a distribution medium. Conditioned air is typically distributed by duct and chilled water is distributed…
Re-produced with permission, courtesy of the Ontario Plumbing Inspectors Association – www.opia.info The following image is of an early toilet circa 1785, taken from the pages of a French book on architecture. The…
No building is perfect. The question is how imperfect is it? What sort of yardstick do we use to measure the condition of buildings, and at what point in time do we…
As of May 5, 2001, Reserve Fund Studies (RFS) became mandatory under the 1998 Condominium Act. All existing corporations had 3 years (until May 5, 2004) to get a RFS done. Reserve…
What Are They? The use of Early Suppression Fast Response (ESFR) sprinkler systems is becoming more prevalent in the protection of warehouse storage occupancies. But what are ESFR sprinklers and what is their benefit?…
The building envelope includes all building components that separate the building interior from the outdoor environment. This normally includes the walls, the roof, and the basement or first floor slab. Sources of…
For low-rise buildings, such as industrial buildings or retail buildings, the roofing system is the most expensive component that is expected to need replacement over the life of the building. Unwanted moisture intrusion is…
When describing the heating systems in a commercial building, there are a number of variables to consider, including: This article will discuss the difference between open flame and closed flame heating systems…
Probability of failure is a concept used to prepare capital replacement or reserve fund studies for facility managers and condominium corporations, as well as to plan maintenance and replacement schedules for equipment…
