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Effects of building movement on interior finishes

[fa icon="calendar'] Oct 7, 2021 1:55:33 PM / by Kenneth R Quigley, PE

Buildings are designed to withstand a certain level of expected forces, like gravity and wind, based on their location and function. Forces such as strong winds, earthquakes, or explosions can cause a building to move beyond what the materials are designed to withstand, causing significant damage to the interior finishes of the structure, even without a breach of the building envelope. Knowing how these forces can impact your building are the first step to protecting them before the damage is caused, or repairing them afterward.

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Responding to Catastrophes

[fa icon="calendar'] Aug 17, 2021 6:30:00 AM / by Kenneth R Quigley, PE

Disaster can strike at any time—natural disasters like hurricanes, wild fires, earthquakes, tornadoes; and human-caused catastrophes like pipeline leaks, criminal acts, bridge or building collapses, or industrial, air, or rail accidents. After the initial emergency response, property owners and public officials turn their attention to restoring properties and restarting commerce. Business and property owners and their insurance companies want to know:

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Hurricane Damage Claims - A Primer

[fa icon="calendar'] Jun 10, 2021 6:00:00 AM / by Robert Pfeifer, AIA

Insurance policies may or may not cover all your damages from a storm like a hurricane. In general, for residential policies, most policies cover damages caused by high winds, such as damaged roofing shingles, broken windows, water entering damaged building components, or damage from toppled trees.

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Waterproofing technology to protect against concrete corrosion

[fa icon="calendar'] Nov 12, 2019 9:00:00 AM / by Kenneth R Quigley, PE

Concrete has been in existence for over 2,000 years and it is not only the most used manufactured material in the world, but also is one of the oldest. Concrete is critical to our societies infrastructure as it is found in our schools, hospitals, city buildings, apartments, and more.

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To repair or replace an existing roof?

[fa icon="calendar'] Jan 31, 2019 8:30:00 AM / by Kenneth R Quigley, PE

The decision to replace an existing roof may be the result of an ongoing issue such as water leakage, or proactively replacing it as part of building maintenance.  Additional decisions need to be made regarding roof repairs or full replacement including whether or not to over-clad the existing roof or to completely replace it.

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Tackling flood damage to dwellings

[fa icon="calendar'] Oct 23, 2018 7:45:00 AM / by Kenneth R Quigley, PE

Dealing with flood damage inside of your home or business can be a nightmare. With water soaking your valuables and all of your belongings, it’s often difficult to know or even process where to begin. Quite likely many questions are running through your head pertaining to whether or not your insurance will cover the damage.

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Moisture Damage to Electronics

[fa icon="calendar'] Jul 24, 2018 10:00:00 AM / by Philip B. Terry, Sr. Vice President

 

Moisture gets into electronics even in the best of systems – it is inevitable.  To name a few, electronic equipment whether personal electronic equipment, or specialized equipment isolated in server rooms, in moisture resistant enclosures, in aircraft avionics bays, and even in sophisticated autonomous underwater vehicles (AUV).  Such AUVs meticulously designed to stay dry a thousand feet underwater are susceptible to moisture related damage.   Moisture finds a way into your electronics and can wreak nuisance or havoc – sometimes intermittent, sometimes catastrophic.

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The Connection between Air Conditioning Systems and Mold

[fa icon="calendar'] Apr 25, 2018 2:00:00 PM / by Dudley Smith, PE, CEM

Mold spores are everywhere in the outdoor and indoor environment as a natural part of our world and they cannot be eliminated. Certain conditions are necessary for the growth and proliferation of molds into a problem area within a building. Controlling indoor moisture and humidity levels are key to controlling indoor mold growth. Air conditioning equipment and duct systems are very common locations for the development and amplification of mold in commercial properties. Property owners and managers need to be vigilant in inspecting and maintaining these systems, to minimize the frequency and magnitude of any exposures to occupants from hidden sources of mold.

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Everything Leaks: Testing & diagnosing roofing leaks

[fa icon="calendar'] Feb 15, 2018 11:00:00 AM / by Clark Griffith, AIA

Most roofs are not watertight all the time.  Roofing systems, both low-sloped (flat) and pitched, will most likely eventually spring a leak, even with the proper recommended maintenance and inspections.  But what about newly installed low-sloped roofs, can one expect those to be watertight?  Typically, on a newly constructed building, any minor leaks that turn up during construction can be dealt with immediately by the installer.  Also, newly installed roofs on new and old buildings will undergo inspections and sometimes specified testing of seams and components for issuance of the manufacturer’s and installer’s warranty of water tightness for a specified period of time.  However, ensuring that your newly installed roof is absolutely watertight becomes more critical if it is being covered by rock ballast or a landscaped greenspace or if the roof protects valuable artwork or irreplaceable property.  Determining the location, origin, and extent of wet substrates is also critical for existing buildings when trying to determine if repair or complete replacement is more appropriate. 

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Waterproofing: From Roof to Foundation

[fa icon="calendar'] Dec 18, 2017 10:00:00 AM / by Mark McGivern, CSI, Aff. M. ASCE

Severe weather can cause extensive damage to a building’s roof, foundation, and interiors. If there is a breach in a structure's envelope, water is likely to find its way into the building. This is why it is critical to make a structure water resistant from top to bottom. 

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