Building Envelope Surveys, Condition Evaluations, Failure Analysis
Building Envelope Surveys
Building envelope surveys provide a sound basis for our Clients to understand the existing conditions and useful service life of their project’s envelope components, and to make informed, cost-effective decisions for the future of their facilities. BET&R provides surveys for roofing, waterproofing, cladding, and fenestration individually, in combination, or for the building envelope as a whole. Evaluation services range from simple verbal reports outlining survey findings and recommendations to comprehensive written evaluations, complete with laboratory testing data, analysis and recommendations for problem areas, illustrative photo documentation, detail drawings, and schematic cost estimates. Whatever the project need, BET&R’s envelope survey, condition evaluation, and problem analysis services can provide a clear understanding of the options available.
Due Diligence Surveys
BET&R’s due diligence surveys provide a streamlined survey of building exterior components to assist prospective purchasers in both assessing the current condition and needs of the building, and projecting long-term life-cycle needs of the exterior envelope, including repair, replacement, and maintenance, and their associated costs. Due diligence surveys are of value to Clients in planning and projecting for both immediate and future building needs. BET&R also provides schematic cost estimates for prioritized work items, which can be a valuable tool to Clients in considering and negotiating real estate investments.
Moisture Intrusion Investigation
Moisture intrusion issues can be a frustrating and challenging problem for even the most experienced of building Owners, facility managers, and property managers. BET&R provides among the most technically thorough and innovative moisture intrusion investigation services in the industry. Our investigation work has ranged from leak investigations of single residences to hurricane and wind damage investigations at luxury, multi-building five-star resort facilities. No matter the scale of the project or the complexity of the issue, BET&R endeavors to provide the most comprehensive service available in locating, analyzing, and providing remediation solutions for moisture intrusion issues.
Failure Analysis
When a building envelope system is presenting major problems or evidencing catastrophic or severe failure, whether due to construction, design, or material defects, natural disaster, or other causes, a forensic investigation of building envelope components may be necessary to thoroughly diagnose and properly design remediation for building envelope problems. BET&R’s failure analysis services include moisture intrusion investigations, water testing, laboratory microscopy work, destructive and non-destructive testing and sampling, photographic documentation, and comprehensive presentations of findings. Failure analysis is often a preliminary step in litigation support and dispute resolution projects, as well as in projects involving disaster relief and federal government or insurance coverage negotiations. Failure analysis also often proceeds comprehensive repair and retrofit design work. Whatever the Client’s next step may be, failure analysis provides a sound, detailed understanding of the issues from which to work.
Infrared Thermography
Infrared thermography is a powerful, non-invasive tool for surveying the underlying conditions of a building’s assembly, components, and building envelope systems. Because moisture has a marked impact on the thermal characteristics of many building materials, variations in the thermal signature can be used to efficiently identify potential areas of water intrusion and water retention within the building envelope. BET&R’s team of Certified Infrared Thermographers and building envelope experts are trained and experienced in using this advanced technology to detect anomalies in the heat signature of the building envelope, and to diagnose underlying and contributive causes of moisture related issues.
Testing and Analysis Services
BET&R provides an array of in-house and in-situ testing and analysis services to enhance our basic building envelope services to Clients. Our laboratory services include microscopy work, material compatibility testing, and accelerated materials testing simulating weather and environmental effects. In the field, BET&R’s in-situ analysis and diagnostic testing services include calcium chloride channel testing, AAMA- and ASTM- standard skylight, window, and door water testing, electrical resistance and electrical capacitance testing, and infrared thermography. BET&R can accommodate and provide a wide variety of ASTM compliant testing services.
