We find the Cause & Origin of water intrusion, plumbing leaks, and odors in your home or office and define the specific repairs necessary to return your home or office to a healthy indoor environment Today!
IAQ Solutions Cause & Origin Assesment Equipment
IAQ Solutions Building Envelope Assesment Equipment
Take Control of Your Indoor Environment Call IAQ Solutions Today and Schedule Your Building Envelope Inspection. (407) 383-9459
Conducting an Indoor Environmental Assessment and Building Envelope Inspections in Central Florida differs from many other areas across the Country. We have different construction methods than those applied in the north or even the mid west. The changes are reflected in the building envelope and the way in which we address the thermal dynamics of our region.
Building Envelope Failure
A building envelope is the separation between the interior and the exterior environments of a building. It serves as the outer shell to protect the indoor environment as well as to facilitate its climate control. Building envelope design is a specialized area of architectural and engineering practice that draws from all areas of building science and indoor climate control.
Building envelope design includes four major performance objectives:
Structural integrity
Moisture control
Temperature control
Control of air pressure boundaries
Control of air includes air movement through the components of the building envelope (interstitial) itself, as well as into and out of the interior space which affects building insulation greatly.
The physical components of the envelope include the foundation, roof, walls, doors and windows. The dimensions, performance and compatibility of materials, fabrication process and details, their connections and interactions are the main factors that determine the effectiveness and durability of the building enclosure system.
Common measures of the effectiveness of a building envelope include physical protection from weather and climate (comfort), indoor air quality (hygiene and public health), durability and energy efficiency. In order to achieve these objectives, all building enclosure systems must include a solid structure, a drainage plane, an air barrier, a thermal barrier, and may include a vapor barrier.
Moisture control is essential in Florida's hot and humid climate especially during the “dog” days of summer when it rains every afternoon. The Florida summer can really test a building's envelope.
Building Envelope Design and IAQ
When we conduct a building envelope inspection we often find wall design errors which inadvertently create “double vapor barriers” by their assembly of non-permeable materials. This condition may interrupt the natural drying process of a home or buildings walls creating a significant accumulation of moisture and biological growth.
The Cause and Origin of many Indoor Air Quality issues begins with a Building Envelope. Building envelope problems are some of the most common building problems encountered. Yet, they are still some of the least understood and can be some of the hardest to properly diagnose and correct.
Until you can correctly and conclusively identify the Cause and Origin of your Indoor Air Quality problem and take the necessary corrective action, the Indoor Air Quality problem will remain.
IAQ Solutions can help you identify the cause and origin of even the most Difficult Water Intrusion and Building Envelope Failure Issues. Call Us Today (407) 383-9459
Until you can correctly and conclusively identify the Cause and Origin of your Indoor Air Quality problem and take the necessary corrective action the Indoor Air Quality problem will remain.
The building envelope will protect you from the exterior elements and will allow you to maintain a comfortable and healthy indoor environment. If the building envelope fails you can and will have substantial indoor environmental issues when the exterior elements enter the building.
The building envelope is what separates the inside of a building from the outside. A typical building envelope consists of the foundation, exterior walls, windows, doors, and the roof. This sounds simple enough…but because of the many complex products and systems involved, the building as a whole can become quite complicated and finding the specific cause and origin of a building envelope failure impossible for many.
Call Microshield Today and Schedule Your Building Envelope Inspection. (407) 383-9459
Spray Polyurethane Foam (SPF) Insulation and IAQ
Spray foam insulation is an alternative to traditional building insulation such as fiberglass. A two-component mixture composed of isocyanate and polyol resin comes together at the tip of a gun, and forms an expanding foam that is sprayed onto roof tiles, concrete slabs, into wall cavities, or through holes drilled in into a cavity of a finished wall.
Polyurethane, the most common type of spray foam insulation, was developed and used by the military in the 1940s and applied to airplanes. It wasn't until the 1970s that it started to be used as foam insulation.
Various systems are used to apply the spray foam. The two component high pressure system is generally used in new home construction. It is a quick expanding type of spray foam. The two component low pressure spray foam is another system that is used primarily for remodel jobs where there are existing walls with drywall already in place. This is also known as a slow rise formula and often referred to as injection foam.
R-value is the term given to thermal resistance to heat flow. The higher the R-value of an insulation product, the more effective the insulation properties. 1.8-2 pound polyurethane foam has the highest R-value of readily available insulation used in homes and buildings.
Polyurethane is a closed-cell or open-cell foam insulation material that contains a low-conductivity gas in its cells. As a result of the high thermal resistance of the gas, spray polyurethane insulation typically has an R-value around R-5 to R-6 per inch. In comparison, blown fiberglass typically has an R-Value of only R-2 to R-4 per inch.
Foam insulation blocks all three forms of heat transfer.
Conductive Heat Transfer The flow of thermal energy through a substance from a higher to a lower temperature region. Foam thermoset plastics block conductive heat transfer due in part to having very loose molecular bonds; In addition the cells of the installed spray foam are either filled with air in the case of open cell foam or 245fa in closed cell foam.
Radiant Heat Transfer The process by which heat energy in the form of light (usually IR unless the substrate is hot enough to glow in the visible range) is emitted more strongly by warm surfaces and absorbed by other materials especially those of low IR reflectivity (think matte black finish). Radiant heat transfer does not require a medium. Thermoset foams, such as spray foam insulation, have the ability to reflect radiant heat. This is due to the reflective (shiny, in terms of IR) surfaces within the cell structure of the foam.
Convective Heat Transfer Heat which is created elsewhere that is transported by means of a fluid, such as water or in our case air.Spray foam insulation's most important attribute is the ability to air seal creating a custom airtight envelope within the building structure. The added benefit to air sealing is the ability to block convective heat transfer from interior to exterior during heating months and vice versa during cooling months, as the heat cannot escape through gaps in the buildings envelope without the aid of air movement from infiltration as a means of transport
Spray Polyurethane Foam (SPF) Insulation Concerns Spray polyurethane foam (SPF) is an effective insulation and air sealant material; however, exposures to its key ingredient, isocyanates such as "MDI," and other SPF chemicals that may be found in vapors, aerosols, dust or on surfaces during and for a period of time after installation may cause adverse health effects such as asthma. Therefore, steps to control exposures and safety tips should be followed.
When the building envelope is damaged, compromised, or was built wrong to begin with, then issues begin to appear. The problems listed below, and many other problems, can be attributed to building envelope problem. Have you seen any of these issues in your building?
Damp carpeting
Wet or damp walls
Foundation moisture
Drafts & Cold Spots
Premature paint failure
Mold & Mildew issues
New and unusual Odors
Stains on walls and ceilings
Rust and corrosion problems
Recurring water problems & damage
While some building envelope problems are easy to identify, others make it difficult to accurately find the root cause. They often camouflage themselves as another issue; making detection and correction of the real problem a challenge. Not only can these issues “hide in plain sight” but many moisture related problems happen in hidden areas and are not discovered until a substantial amount of damage has been done.
To identify the not-so-obvious symptoms, particularly if the interior signs have not occurred or been identified, is when an inspectors’ knowledge and experience comes into play. It’s equally important that the inspector have a thorough knowledge of inspection methods and assessment protocols.
Hard Coat Stucco Inspections and IAQ
Orlando Stucco Inspection
Our Stucco Inspections look closely at the water management design and stucco assessor installation to ensure that the water that does make its way behind the stucco penetrates no further than the water barrier and then down and out the stucco mud-wall and termination weep screeds.
Other problems can arise if the manufacturer's instructions are not adhered to during the installation process.
One of the common problems are wide spread cracking in the surface due to improper stucco mix or ratios were not precise when mixing the material. Too much or too little of one of the three main components can result in the mixture being too dry and porous or too wet which leads to shrinkage and cracking as the material dries.
Orlando Stucco Inspection
applied stucco,
exterior sealants,
flashings,
windows,
doors,
parapets,
gutters,
stucco terminations and
roof-to-stucco transitions,
deck-to-building connections,
any penetrations through the stucco system.
Once the Exterior Visual Inspection is complete we can perform Infrared Thermal Imaging to identify any areas of thermal anomalies or temperature differential. The anomalies are then checked by Moisture Scanning to determine if the temperature anomalies are due to moisture.
Not all moisture related issues are caused by moisture entering the building from the exterior.
What do you do when the moisture issue is created inside your building?
Or when both interior and exterior factors are contributing to a moisture issue?
Many factors can influence how moisture moves into and out of commercial buildings. These factors include, building usage, zones, stack effect, wind, pressure differentials, and interior and exterior claddings; all of which make commercial buildings more complicated and therefore more difficult to properly diagnose than residential property.
Additional factors contributing to moisture entering the building from the exterior include building age and construction, poor building practices, improperly installed components, shoddy repairs, deferred maintenance, and environmental factors.
Combine all these considerations with internal issues such as ground water, condensation, humidity levels, air pressure differentials, and building functions; all of which contribute to moisture inside the building envelope. That makes for many, many ways for air and moisture to interact with the building and its components.
Call Microshield Today and Schedule Your Building Envelope Inspection. (407) 383-9459
Building Envelope Inspection - Investigations & Assessments
IAQ Solutions provides several methods of investigation and assessment are available depending on the type of problem you are experiencing.
An investigation begins by obtaining information as much information as possible about the building and the issue. Information can come from the building owner, maintenance people, employees, as well as contractors who have worked on the issue.
Building plans, drawings, maintenance details, and other documentation are also used. By obtaining as much information as possible about the building and the issue we are better able to address your needs and help you resolve the problem.
Visual Inspection – This is an on-site inspection of the building to assess building conditions. Oftentimes a visual inspection is performed in combination with some form of non-invasive testing. Depending on the nature or complexity of the issue, the findings of this inspection can be used to create a detailed plan of action to diagnose and determine causes.
Non-Invasive Testing – This testing is used to support the findings of the visual inspection. Electronic moisture detection equipment, moisture measurement tools, permeability testing, borescope cameras, hygrometers, plus other equipment and test methods can be used to assess the building.
Invasive Testing & Analysis – Invasive testing is used to verify findings, determine if proper components were used in construction, verify if proper installation or repair techniques were followed, and to define the extent of a problem. Examples of invasive testing include the removal of various materials and claddings, sealant testing, and water testing.
Building Envelope Inspection We Identify the Issue so the Issue can be Corrected
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Residential Building Envelope Inspection Building Envelope Failure - Stucco - Brick - Stone - EFIS - Siding
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Residential Building Envelope Inspection Building Envelope Failure - Stucco - Brick - Stone - EFIS - Siding
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Building Envelope Inspection Building Envelope Failure - Stucco - Brick - Stone - EFIS - Siding
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Commercial Building Envelope Inspection Commercial and Multi-Family Building Envelope Failure
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EIFS Exterior Insulation Finishing System
Building Envelope Inspection Building Envelope Failure - Stucco - Brick - Stone - EFIS - Siding
Call Microshield Environmental Services, LLC, Indoor Air Quality Solutions for answers to all your indoor air quality questions. We can provide you with a superior Indoor Environmental Assessment or Orlando Mold Inspection. Call Lydia Today! 407-383-9459
5840 Red Bug Lake Rd. Suite 220 Winter Springs Florida, 32708
1170 Tree Swallow Dr. Suite 330 Winter Springs, Florida 32708 51 E Jefferson St Orlando FL 32801 - 424 East Central Boulevard Orlando FL 32801 - 8870 Boggy Creek Road Orlando FL 32824 - 2607 Edgewater Dr Orlando 32804
Indoor Air Quality Solutions, IAQS Microshield Environmental Services, LLC.
The Indoor Air Quality Solutions Consultants are Certified Indoor Environmental Consultant, Certified Mold Inspector, Certified Mold Investigator, Certified Microbial Consultant, Certified Mold Remediation Supervisor, Florida Licensed Mold Assessor. Indoor Air Quality Solutions provides Florida with the best Orlando indoor air quality Inspection, Orlando Radon Testing, Chinese Drywall Inspection, Mold Remediation Protocols, Orlando Air Testing. We offer the best affordable Orlando Mold Inspection, Asthma and Allergy Testing, & Orlando Mold Testing by Florida Licensed Mold Assessor Microshield Environmental Services, LLC & John P. Lapotaire, CIEC The most trusted names in Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) Orlando indoor air quality inspection, Orlando Mold Remediation Removal Florida
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Brevard County, Flagler County, Indian River County, Lake County, Orange County, Osceola County, Seminole County, St. Lucie County, Volusia County
Proudly Serving – Orlando, Winter Park, College Park, Winter Springs, Oviedo, Sanford, Altamonte Springs, Longwood, Lake Mary, Maitland, Wekiva, Celebration, Apopka, Casselberry, Deltona, Windermere, Isleworth, Lake Butler Sound, Daytona, Melbourne, Cocoa, Lake Forest, Heathrow, Alaqua, Baldwin Park, Stoneybrook, Eagle Creek, New Smyrna Beach, Edgewater, Titusville, Alafaya, Geneva, Bay Hill, Hunters Creek, Buena Ventura Lakes, Clarcona.
Brevard County, Flagler County, Indian River County, Lake County, Orange County, Osceola County, Seminole County, St. Lucie County, Volusia County
