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RHP Risk Management works with building owners, building associations, and the commercial real estate industry to anticipate, assess, and control risks within the built environment. RHP’s team of Certified Industrial Hygienists (CIH), Certified Safety Professionals (CSP), and Public Health Professionals identify hazards within the built environment before re-commissioning of buildings, building renovations, clean-up and restoration, or property purchase due diligence.
A property assessment will help identify potential environmental and human health hazards, keeping occupants safe and your property in compliance with city, state, and federal regulations.
Asbestos Building Inspections and Air Monitoring
Prior to demolition or renovations to an existing building structure, federal regulations (NESHAP; AHERA) as well as some state and local agencies require a licensed inspector to conduct an asbestos survey to identify and test suspect materials that may contain asbestos. For example, prior to renovations or demolition, the City of Chicago requires a licensed inspector to inspect, identify and sample suspect asbestos-containing materials within the structure.
Commercial buildings of a certain era or class may contain building materials or products that are asbestos-containing materials (ACMs), potentially putting building owners at risk for liability and claims of exposure by employees, workers, and/or contractors. Owners and workers that interact routinely with asbestos-containing materials or are working in conditions that they may do so unintentionally, should receive information and training on the risks associated with potential asbestos exposure.
INDUSTRIAL HYGIENE CONSULTING
When workers, building occupants, or contractors impact ACMs within a building, air monitoring may be conducted to ensure that any potential exposure to airborne fibers is below regulatory levels and that the surrounding areas remain unaffected by the work. When air monitoring is conducted, RHP’s licensed Building Inspectors and Air Sampling Professionals (ASPs) utilize state-of-the-art equipment and follow local, state and federal guidance to assess worker health and surrounding areas.
Lead Paint
Lead paint was commonly used on walls, ceilings, railings, and other surfaces of many commercial buildings built prior to 1987. RHP professionals conduct lead paint risk assessments through use of state-of-the-art XRF lead detection instruments to locate and catalog the lead content of buildings and fixture surfaces. RHP findings are detailed in a report, providing building managers with the information needed to protect the health of building occupants and maintenance personnel.
Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) / Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ)
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) identifies a healthy indoor environment as one in which the surroundings contribute to productivity, comfort, and a sense of health and well-being. When achieving a healthy indoor environment, the indoor air is free from significant concentrations of dust, contaminants, and odors. The indoor air also circulates to prevent stuffiness without creating drafts. Temperature and humidity are appropriate to the season and the clothing and activity of the building occupants.
Good indoor air quality enhances occupant health, comfort, and workplace productivity. Rental and leased properties can gain market advantage if they are known to offer a healthy and pleasant indoor environment.
RHP Risk Management’s professionals provide sophisticated and cutting-edge IAQ/IEQ services and consulting, analytical sampling and testing, forensic detection, and risk management solutions. RHP provides solutions for clients with both typical and unique needs based on the age, size, layout and intended use of their structure or building.
RHP’s IAQ/IEQ services include:
- Building ventilation is a critical component of a building and should be periodically assessed to ensure optimal performance and air exchange. RHP’s building ventilation services include review HVAC system performed and maintenance, tracer gas testing to measure actual air-change rate, verification of engineering and HVAC controls, and fume extraction efficiency testing.
- Development of customized strategies for building owners and building management to maximize the attainment of LEED v4.1 points within the IEQ category for new construction, building renovations, or in corrective solutions.
Maintaining proper indoor air quality is highly important when ensuring operational performance of your building. Routine upkeep and checks of the indoor environmental quality can ensure that your building provides a healthy environment for occupants and steers clear of IAQ complications, dead zones and claims of sick building syndrome.
Mold Services
RHP’s professionals have decades of experience in investigating the presence and causation of mold growth in a variety of building types including commercial, institutional, and healthcare settings. RHP services include inspections, detection, testing, remediation specifications, remediation oversight, and verification.
Building structures of all types and sizes are potentially vulnerable to mold damage. Microscopic mold spores are abundant in nature and are ever present inside and outside of buildings. When water intrusion or high humidity occur in the built environment, mold spores can activate and grow into colonies. Indoor mold growth in built environments can generate unpleasant odors, cause adverse health effects, degrade building materials, and reduce a building’s value and occupancy.
RHP provides clients with a holistic picture of their built environment, facility, or structure with respect to mold by combining the best practices of precise mold investigation and mitigation techniques as recommended by the Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC), AIHA, OSHA and EPA. Key factors include visual inspection data, mold sampling (air and surface), moisture mapping, and building envelope assessments. The compilation of the data combined with RHPs extensive experience provides an accurate analysis of the cause of mold growth as well as a series of remediation recommendations to help ensure mold is properly removed and does not return. Our recommendations are used by building owners, facility management, insurance adjustors, and contractors to effectively and efficiently keep their built environment in top condition.
Either as part of the RHP generated remediation protocol for a specific built environment to be used by other professionals, owners, or for use by insurers as a third-party verification, RHP can reinspect and examine a facility or structure after completion of a prescribed remediation plan to ensure all remediation steps were completed successfully. Both a thorough visual inspection as well moisture and mold tests are provided to better assure the completed remediation was effective.
Water Management
RHP works with owners and managers of commercial and institutional facilities to reduce the risk of water contaminants (lead, copper, arsenic, nitrates, and coliforms) that may infiltrate and affect the water quality throughout your building.
Development and implementation of a water management program (WMP) and program validation through water sampling to determine the presences of contaminants such as lead or Legionella can ensure the safety of those on your property, build confidence in water sources, and protect businesses from liability and interruptions.
Contact Us
RHP’s group of Certified Industrial Hygienists and Certified Safety Professionals provide environmental health and safety solutions. We partner with our clients in managing, mitigating, and controlling health risks in their workplaces through the anticipation, recognition, evaluation, and control of environmental and occupational hazards. Contact RHP Risk Management for an initial phone consultation by calling (773) 867-6010.