Latest "Engineering Advisor" Article
Seasonal Energy Efficiency Rating (SEER)
As of January 23, 2006, manufacturers of heating and air conditioning equipment can no longer manufacture single-phase central air conditioners and heat pumps with output of 65,000 BTUH (British th
Categories: Criterium Engineers
Commercial Painting
Approximately $7.6 billion was spent on architectural coatings in the U.S. in 2003 according to the National Paint and Coatings Association, Inc.
Categories: Criterium Engineers
Cost Segregation Studies
Depreciation enters significantly into the financial performance of commercial buildings. Typically, property, exclusive of land, is depreciated over 39 years.
Categories: Criterium Engineers
Reduce Lighting Costs
Energy costs for commercial buildings are estimated to run about $100 billion per year, or on average, about $1.50 per square foot of commercial floor space.
Categories: Criterium Engineers
Green Technology and Existing Buildings
In the early ‘80s, a few designers started paying attention to sustainable architecture. Twenty years later, green buildings are mainstream.
Categories: Criterium Engineers
Fire Safety
FIRE! Don’t shout it in a crowded theater. However, building occupants are more concerned than ever about fire safety.
Categories: Criterium Engineers
Cabling Considerations for Networks and Telecommunications
The condition and appropriateness of the cabling within a building is almost always an afterthought for owners and tenants alike, according to Tom Wales, a Telcom consultant.
Categories: Criterium Engineers
Fair Housing Amendments Act
All multifamily buildings placed in service after March 13, 1991 must comply with the provisions of the Fair Housing Amendments Act (FHAA) of 1988.
Categories: Criterium Engineers
Inspecting for Structural Defects
Recent events have highlighted the engineers' role in determining the structural safety of a building. Just what does an engineer look for to make such a determination? When and why does he do it?
Categories: Criterium Engineers
Is My Building Safe?
If two of the tallest buildings in the world can collapse catastrophically in about one hour, can any building be considered safe?
Categories: Criterium Engineers
Mold in Buildings
The problem of mold in buildings is one that no building owner or manager can afford to ignore.
Categories: Criterium Engineers
The New ASTM Standard for Property Condition Assessments
The ASTM Standard E 2018-99 “Standard Guide for Property Condition Assessments: Baseline Property Condition Assessment Process” has been out for over a year.
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Hardboard Siding Woes
The problems associated with hardboard siding have received a lot of press coverage in the past few years.
Categories: Criterium Engineers
Seven Ways to Guarantee a Perfect(ly Bad) New Roof
There is an estimated 13.2 billion square feet of commercial roofing in the United States. Most roofs have an average expected life of between 10 and 15 years.
Categories: Criterium Engineers
Cooling Towers
Cooling towers are installed next to, behind, or on top of large buildings to remove heat from water used in a chilled water mechanical refrigeration (air conditioning) system.
Categories: Criterium Engineers
