Commercial Building Inspections
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by: RogerFrost | Total views: 41 | Word Count: 513
The inspection of Commercial Properties is performed by someone who has experience and knowledge to inspect structures such as; residential, mixed-use, factories, storage, office buildings, restaurants or any combinations of these. This will provide potential buyer with a PCA report that will enable him to make his purchasing decision based on the findings.
It is the client's responsibility to arrange for the inspector to receive timely access to the subject property for the walk-through survey portion of the inspection, and access to all documents and interviewees needed for the research portion of the inspection. This includes access to all documents, information, and previously generated reports in the client's possession. The inspector is not responsible for obtaining, reviewing, or providing information, should the source withhold, impede or delay access. Anything that hinders the inspector's access should be noted in the report.
There is now a defined protocol for due diligence building inspections. For years, there has been a well-defined standard for performing Environmental Site Assessments. This new protocol should eventually make it easier for those involved with commercial real estate transactions, as the report contents and format have been well defined.
Most Banks require an Environmental Assessment to be done prior to approving financing. Actual sampling of soil, air, groundwater and/or building materials is typically not conducted during a Phase I ESA. The Phase I ESA is generally considered the first step in the process of environmental due diligence. Standards for performing a Phase I site assessment have been promulgated by the US EPA and are based in part on ASTM in Standard E1527-05. If a site is considered contaminated, a Phase II Environmental Site Assessment may be conducted, ASTM test E1903, a more detailed investigation involving chemical analysis for hazardous substances and/or petroleum hydrocarbons.
Scrutiny of the land includes examination of potential soil contamination, groundwater quality, surface water quality and sometimes issues related to hazardous substance uptake by biota. The examination of a site may include: definition of any chemical residues within structures; identification of possible asbestos containing building materials; inventory of hazardous substances stored or used on site; assessment of mold and mildew; and evaluation of other indoor air quality parameters
Phase II Environmental Site Assessment is an "intrusive" investigation which collects original samples of soil, groundwater or building materials to analyze for quantitative values of various contaminants[9]. This investigation is normally undertaken when a Phase I ESA determines a likelihood of site contamination. The most frequent substances tested are petroleum hydrocarbons, heavy metals, pesticides, solvents, asbestos and mold.
Thermal Imaging during your Commercial Building Inspection can find various defects that might not be visible during a visual inspection. Water under roof coverings may be invisible but will show up during a thermal imaging scan. Electrical hot spots in equipment can be identified which could be a potential fire risk. Your Commercial Building Inspector has the tools and knowledge to perform a comprehensive inspection of your property and provide you with a report that will allow you to make an informed decision on your real estate investment.
About the Author
Learn more about TheToronto Commercial Building Inspector. Stop by Roger Frost's site where you can find out all about Commercial Building Inspectionsand how to protect your Commercial Real Estate Investment.
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