Consulting in Building Defects, Energy Efficiency, Indoor Air Quality

We consider that Building defects, Energy efficiency and Indoor Air Quality has to work together to achieve a sustainable outcome. Disregard to one attribute would have a domino effect on the others.

There is now a growing concern that buildings are become a health hazard due to toxic pollutants, caused through out-gassing, lack of maintenance and ventilation for combustion equipment. This is further exacerbated by sealing homes creating a new emerging trend known as Tight Building Syndrome (TBS).  

For example: Neglecting moisture damage which is a defect, would effect Indoor Air Quality (Mould) and may reduce thermal comfort owing to cold areas increasing heating requirements in winter.

We believe in Source Control not a band-aid treatment and aim to:

Test, Detect the Problem and address the Source.                                             

Diagnosing and Reporting on Building Defects:

• Protecting your investment
• Diagnosing Moisture, Mould and General defects
• Leakage in shower areas in bathrooms and concrete decks.
• Microbial growth caused by moisture (Mould).
• Reducing humidity levels in subfloor area (addressing the source). Principal cause of moisture damage encouraging mould growth, infiltrating into the indoor space from the subfloor
• Diagnosing and reporting on subfloor structural members caused by moisture. (Bearers/Joists)
• Inefficient functioning of underfloor heating systems (breaks and defective in heating systems)
• Reports on substandard work, non-compliance of codes and standards and practices.
• Analysing and reporting on heritage buildings for defects, reducing unnecessary damage, especially the fragile nature of the existing materials.
• Managing and consulting in complex projects requiring finer details in the building envelope, energy efficiency and ventilation for indoor air quality, commissioning and testing with specialised equipments.
• Professional building reports on complex defects

Diagnosing and Advising on Energy Efficiency:  

• Reducing home energy to offset rising costs on existing buildings.
• Measuring infiltration and providing recommendation for optimum human comfort.
• Addressing air conditioning duct leaks contributing to wasted energy and indoor air quality.
• Advising on glazing options
• General advice on building to save energy
• Detection of substandard  insulation
• Advice on new projects for energy efficiency
• Providing assessments of  energy efficiency requirements on new projects
• Advise and installation of energy recovery ventilators, circulating fresh air within the building and recovering a large percentage of the energy  

Diagnosing and Advising on Indoor Air Quality:

• Growing concern with human health as  Reported by leading institutions verifying health implications caused by Indoor Air Quality.

• How safe is your family, especially the young and elderly as well as those with respiratory illness.

Our service covers:

• Managing ventilation to achieve optimum results for indoor air quality and energy efficiency in new and existing buildings
• The use of combustion analysers to test gas stoves for toxic gases.
• Measuring and reporting on the ambient level of carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide and carbon dioxide within the home.
• Measuring formaldehyde levels in buildings caused by off-gassing of some building materials, furniture and textiles. Formaldehyde is now a known carcinogenic (cancer causing agent).
• The use of advanced Particle Count Meter to establish the level of particles within the home environment (high levels of particulate matter can jeopardise human health related to respiratory problems)
• Measuring particles emanating from air conditioning ducts through improper duct sealing or damaged ducts.
• Detecting moisture related problems contributing to mould growth.
• Providing a conducive environment for people with acute respiratory problems by installing specialised equipment.  This would allow filtered air to circulate the house with minimum loss to mechanical heating and cooling energy.

Energy Recovery Ventilator:  Build Tight and Ventilate Right

• Combining energy efficiency and ventilation to achieve sustainable goals.
• Installing advanced Energy Recovery Ventilator (ERV) on new and existing homes. Equipment to recapture heating and cooling energy and provide filtered air.