SUBJECTS

Dehumidification | Drying | Moisture in Buildings
Mold in Buildings | HVAC | Infrared Inspection

Dehumidification

We have 30 years of experience with desiccant and other types of dehumidification systems for industrial process and for commercial building applications. We have written three books along with numerous magazine and journal articles in this subject area. We are familiar with the fundamental technologies, their application in the form of equipment and their practical use in both buildings and processes. We also have advised building owners, industrial process designers and manufacturers developing new products for both industrial and commercial markets which benefit from dehumidification.

Drying

For 20 years, we have provided research and consulting for the drying of water-damaged buildings, in-dustrial products, materials and processes. We have developed training materials and application guides for the water damage and building restoration industries, and also for the surface preparation and industrial coating industry and their technical societies.

Moisture in Buildings

Mold problems have led many of our clients to seek solutions to the underlying problem - excess moisture in buildings and materials. We have surveyed technical alternatives for locating and quantifying the moisture content of materials and building assemblies, and generated extensive guidance in these areas. We have also provided field inspection services and expert assistance to building owners and attorneys who are either struggling with moisture problems, or who would like to avoid them.

Mold in Buildings

Beginning in the 1990’s, mold in buildings became a significant economic problem and health risk issue. Our work for the American Hotel and Motel Association led to 15 years of increasing support for clients with respect to mold problems. Our Director of Research & Consulting served as the volunteer Chair of ASHRAE’s Presidential Ad-Hoc Committee on Indoor Mold, and provided support for ASHRAE’s Washington, DC office when asked by Congressional committees for information on indoor mold. We also researched and published a Builder’s Guide for Reducing Mold Risk for the State of California, and have developed seminars for the Design Excellence program of the U.S. General Services Administration.

HVAC

We provide consulting services to architectural and engineering firms for topics related to our areas of expertise. Specifically, mold avoidance, moisture and humidity problems, dehumidification, humidification, drying of materials; and humidity and moisture measurement, monitoring and control. We are not licensed professional engineers, and we do not provide HVAC design services. While we sometimes work with building owners and property managers, more frequently we serve as consultants to consultants: engineers, architects, and HVAC designers who need to understand these technologies and related problems.

Infrared Inspection

Infrared cameras are very useful for locating moisture problems in buildings, and also for evaluating the thermal performance of building enclosures. We have been active in developing this technology, and in providing our clients with guidance for it’s productive use. In addition to inspection services, we provide on-site tutorials for using thermal cameras for building-related investigations.