Building Forensics Archives | Page 3 of 3

What to Do About Tenant Odor Complaints

Robert B. Greene, PE, PG, CIH, LEED AP Robert B. Greene, PE, PG, CIH, LEED AP

Everyone hates bad odors, especially when they linger at the workplace. Beyond being a superficial annoyance, odor problems can also be telltale signs of more insidious building issues. Whatever the source is, you want to respond to tenant odor complaints as soon as you can, for the sake of the health and well-being of both...

Clearing the Air: GLE Resolves Decade-Long Mold Problem in Federal Courthouse

Edmund Smith, CHMM Edmund Smith, CHMM

When the federal courthouse in Tampa was built in the 1990s, the city was in the middle of a doomed attempt to transition all government work to the metric system. As part of that move, the courthouse building was planned, designed, and constructed to metric measurements. What this meant, in practical terms, is that every...

When Retail Stinks: How Eliminating Unpleasant Odors Put One Store Back in Business

Edmund Smith, CHMM Edmund Smith, CHMM

Odor problems in a building can be both difficult to track down, and impossible to live with. In office buildings, bad smells create a noxious work environment, and lead to tenant complaints. In a retail establishment, odors can have an even more direct impact on the bottom line, in the form of turning customers away....

Mercury in Gym Floors: Testing and Mitigation

Robert B. Greene, PE, PG, CIH, LEED AP Robert B. Greene, PE, PG, CIH, LEED AP

Athletic flooring installed between 1960 and 1980 often contains mercury that may pose a health risk during renovation activities. Before undertaking athletic facility updates, it’s important for facility managers to understand the history, risks and responsibilities related to mercury in gym floors. History of Mercury in Gym Floors In the 1960s, 3M introduced a gym...

What to Look for When Hiring a Mold Assessor

Robert B. Greene, PE, PG, CIH, LEED AP Robert B. Greene, PE, PG, CIH, LEED AP

Mold is problematic for any property owner. It can cause allergic reactions, respiratory problems and other health risks for a building’s occupants. It can sometimes be an early warning sign of structural issues that can lead to extensive problems, if not addressed quickly. If you suspect you have a water-intrusion or mold problem, start with...

Legionnaires’ Disease: Prevention and Control

Robert B. Greene, PE, PG, CIH, LEED AP Robert B. Greene, PE, PG, CIH, LEED AP

When a deadly disease such as Legionnaires strikes, building managers and owners hold their breath, but not for fear of getting sick. They held their breaths because nobody wants to be responsible for such an outbreak. Legionnaires’ Disease is an infectious disease that is spread not by human-to-human contact, but through aerosolized water particles, usually...

How to Handle Tenant Mold Complaints

Robert B. Greene, PE, PG, CIH, LEED AP Robert B. Greene, PE, PG, CIH, LEED AP

The last thing most property managers want to deal with is tenant mold complaints. Because the science is murky regarding health effects, it’s not unusual for tenants to attribute unrelated problems to mold. All the same, you cannot afford to ignore such complaints. While the legal liability is almost as murky as the science, waiting...

Category: Building Forensics

What to Do About Tenant Odor Complaints

Clearing the Air: GLE Resolves Decade-Long Mold Problem in Federal Courthouse

When Retail Stinks: How Eliminating Unpleasant Odors Put One Store Back in Business

Mercury in Gym Floors: Testing and Mitigation

What to Look for When Hiring a Mold Assessor

Legionnaires’ Disease: Prevention and Control

How to Handle Tenant Mold Complaints

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