Campus assessments: Hazardous materials testing

Lead, asbestos, and polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) are often found in aging construction materials, such as paint, sealant, roofing mastics and membranes, and plaster. To streamline future rehabilitation work and prepare for necessary abatement, it can be beneficial to incorporate testing for harmful compounds into the scope of a multi-building...
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Understanding trap-seal protection devices

Building codes are gradually changing across North America to allow waterless trap-seal protection devices (TSPDs) in lieu of trap primers. Depending on the jurisdiction, the products can be employed as substitutes in retrofit situations where trap primers have failed. What do design/construction professionals need to know?
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Ovid’s metamorphosis

An abandoned sugar factory can be dangerous—structurally unsound and riddled with asbestos. Amalgamated Sugar made the commitment to abate and demolish a site that included 11 smaller buildings and a mill.
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Mitigating construction claims: Part three

Construction claims are becoming increasingly prevalent and expensive, and many are delay- or impact-related. This article, the third in a four-part series, delves into how the project manager can reduce claims by mitigating delays and monitoring project risk.
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The growing concern with vapor intrusion

In extreme cases, vapors may accumulate in dwellings or occupied buildings to levels that may pose near-term safety hazards (e.g. explosion) or acute health effects. This occurs when there is a migration of chemical-containing vapor from a subsurface source into an overlying building. Fortunately, mitigation and barrier systems can...
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