Built Environments

Indoor Air Quality

Built Environments is uniquely qualified to evaluate all aspects of indoor air quality (IAQ). Our IAQ services include building walkthroughs and environmental monitoring of airborne hazards such as mold, human pathogens, allergens, bioaerosols, total particulates, volatile organic compounds, carbon monoxide, formaldehyde, and other chemical contaminants. Professional services also include indoor air action plans, environmental monitoring programs, and building maintenance audits. We are committed to the prevention, early detection and management of IAQ problems and we are proud to serve all sectors of residential and commercial markets.

Fire Residues & Combustible Byproduct Screens. Assessments for fire-damaged structures include a wide range of potential contaminants, including volatile organic compounds, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, carbon black, soot, accelerants, acrolein, sulfur dioxide, and hydrogen chloride.

Unknown Material Identification. We recommend unknown material identification for situations involving complex mixtures. Sample analysis can include Polarized Light Microscopy (PLM), Epi-Reflected Light Microscopy (RLM), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Energy-Dispersive X-Ray Spectrometry (EDX), and Attenuated Total Reflection Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrometry (ATR-FTIR).

Toxic Organic Compounds (TO-15). Off-gassing by building materials and microbial contamination is assessed by screens employing canister collections and EPA's TO-15 screens involving over 90 chemical contaminants. These compounds are mostly aromatics or chlorinated alkanes. Analysis are performed by standard Gas Chromatography / Mass Spectrometry (GC/MS).

Real-Time VOC Monitoring. We also implement state-of-the art instrumentation for monitoring building off-gassing and other VOC problems. Real-time monitoring employs Rae Systems ppbRAE VOC monitors, the most sensitive handheld VOC instrumentation in the world. This technology enables true parts per billion (ppb) detection of extremely low levels of toxic compounds associated with building materials, occupant use, leaks & spills, and microbial contamination.

Real-Time Airborne Particles. Biological and non-biological particles are assessed using real-time particle monitoring. This technique provides highly accurate measurements of potential allergens, combustion particles, and airborne dust expressed as total particles or as a basis of particle size.