Construction Monitoring

LEED IAQ, IEQ, and Moisture Damage Prevention

A Proactive Approach

Modeled on the success of our Proactive Air Quality Program for major office buildings, HBI has formulated an IAQ (Indoor Air Quality) consultation and inspection program for construction teams. The main objectives of this program are as follows:

Turn a potential liability problem into a valuable asset used as a marketing tool to attract potential buyers in the highly competitive marketplace
Protect the owner - developer against liability by demonstrating due-diligence via retaining an independent, respected third-party professional
Enhance the relationship between end user and developer by demonstrating a genuine concern for the end user's comfort and wellbeing

IAQ Management Plan

The IAQ Management Plan will include details on HVAC protection, pollutant source control measures, control of pollutant pathways, housekeeping requirements and specific environmental benchmarks that will determine that the finished building achieve satisfactory standards of indoor air quality.

At regular intervals during construction, HBI will inspect all interior areas of the property to ensure no mold or moisture is present. Once the building envelope is completed and all the windows installed, the regular inspections will be expanded to all areas of the building and supplemented by thermal imaging (infra-red photography). Our objective is to:

Collect and maintain photographic evidence of acceptable construction activities and conformance with defined construction management plans
Complete comprehensive visual inspection of all surfaces to confirm absence of mold and contamination
Duct inspections of the HVAC system to ensure it is clean and dry
Documenting conditions, including photographs (digital and infra-red) of voids, sub-floors, air plenums, pipe chases, etc. to confirm the absence of mold contamination
If problems are encountered, remediation specifications will be presented and subsequent inspections will be performed to confirm corrective measures have been taken
Thermal Imaging photography, supplemented by surface moisture meter readings

IAQ Inspection Prior to Occupancy

As the units are completed, HBI conducts a final IAQ survey of the building to:

Examine the cleanliness of each HVAC unit,

Assess the air filter quality and fit,

Visually examine and take thermal imaging of all exposed surfaces,

Take air quality measurements in the main living room, master bedroom and kitchen of each condominium unit for:

LEED IAQ (EQ Credits)

Our protocols meet or exceed certain prerequisites and credits from the U.S. Green Buildings Council, Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) program. Thus, whether or not LEED certification is your goal, these three integrated, but separately available services, can be implemented and documented as LEED compliant, at your request:

Learn more about these credits and prerequisites here

ETS, Tracer Gas and Blower Door Methods

Developers often have an interest in accommodating smokers in their new buildings (to the extent allowed by law) to prevent conflict between smokers and non-smokers. Non-smokers on the other hand may resort to litigation if they feel they have not been protected from secondhand smoke.

Our Solutions

In addition to the IAQ services provided by HBI, HBS provides a number of stand-alone as well as fully integrated services:

LEED Certification Facilitation,
Green Building Solutions (sustainability),
Energy Efficiency Audits and Studies,
Climate Solutions,
Energy Star Rating Processes,
Green Building Policy and Procedure Manual Programs,
Green Building Educational Training,
Specification Writing (AIA, CSI Master Format),
Individual LEED Credit / Point Pursuit (single credit obtainment),
Commissioning and Retro-Commissioning Project Management.

Our clients include:

Commercial Building Owners and Portfolio Advisors
General Contractors and Construction Managers
Property Managers and Facilities Engineers
Architects and Engineers
Government and Municipal Buildings