What Do Commercial Environmental Consultants Do?

Commercial Environmental Consultants help businesses stay out of trouble with regulators by ensuring they're in compliance with all the right regulations. They also help them become a leader in their industry by delivering environmentally-friendly products & processes.

This is because consumers are more apt to buy from companies that promote sustainability & environmental responsibility. That's a win-win for the company, and for the environment.

LEED Sampling

Commercial Environmental Consultants work with clients to help them design, build and operate sustainable buildings that are better for the environment. They may conduct LEED assessments, manage an existing building's green certification process or implement a green construction project.

A LEED certification is based on a number of factors that are considered in the assessment process including the amount of water and energy used, the materials used for construction and maintenance and how the building is positioned for the environment. Some of the LEED requirements can be costly and time consuming to meet.

Some of these requirements can be streamlined and incorporated into the design and construction phase of a LEED project without the need for a large financial commitment to the building owner. Some of these requirements include a mechanical hygiene survey, HVAC system inspections and an air sampling program.

One of the most important LEED prerequisites is a requirement to test the building's air quality at various levels during the project's pre-occupancy stage. This can be done with a range of instrument and laboratory-based techniques.

It can also include analyzing the results to identify compounds of concern and their associated contamination levels. This can be especially helpful if the project's occupants are sensitive to odors or chemicals.

While some environmental consultants will do this at their own expense, others prefer to hire a specialist to perform this type of analysis. These experts are generally referred to as LEED Accredited Professionals and hold credentials from the Green Building Certification Institute.

A LEED certification can have a big impact on a building's value, both short and long term. It can also increase the demand for leased space as corporate tenants look to prioritize LEED-certified buildings.

However, it's important to note that not all LEED-certified buildings will generate the same type of rent premium. The rents are influenced by the building class, as well as the level of energy efficiency.

For example, it's not uncommon for LEED-certified Class B buildings to command a higher rent than those in non-LEED certified Class A buildings. This is because the former are often scarcer and have been constructed with a higher priority for energy efficiency.

Asbestos Training

Asbestos training is a vitally important part of the work of commercial environmental consultants. It helps them to understand the risks of asbestos, what control measures need to be in place, and how they can carry out their specific work activities safely.

The training must be delivered by an accredited course provider, and the duration of the course will vary depending on the role for which the person is being trained, as well as their experience and qualifications. It is a legal requirement under the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 that all people who disturb asbestos, or are responsible for their supervision, have the correct information, instruction and training to work safely and without risk to themselves or others.

A lot of people don’t realize that asbestos has not been completely banned, so it can still be found in new products and building materials. This is especially true of insulation and fire-resistant materials, such as linoleum.

In addition, many buildings have a lot of old and potentially damaged asbestos-containing materials that need to be repaired or removed, so it’s essential that the correct people are trained to do so. There are several types of contractors who provide asbestos services, including supervisors, workers, inspectors and project designers.

These professionals need to have completed an accredited asbestos training course and have the appropriate Asbestos Handler Certificate before they can work on an asbestos project. This certificate is issued by the state’s Department of Health or New York’s Department of Environmental Protection, in the form of a photo identification card.

Asbestos awareness training is the lowest level of asbestos training, and is a good starting point for any worker who might encounter it in their work. The course can be delivered online or on the job. It can be a great way to introduce new staff to the risks and dangers of asbestos, while also encouraging them to continue to stay safe.

Asbestos Inventory

Asbestos Inventory Los Angeles identifies the types of building materials that contain asbestos. This inventory can help a commercial environmental consultant to identify potential risks and make appropriate decisions about how the risk may be addressed in the future.

Asbestos was once commonly used in many products, including ceiling tiles, acoustic insulation, pipe and furnace insulation, fire-retardant clothing, gaskets, brake pads, cement pipes, textured paints and more. However, asbestos was banned and phased out in the 1980s due to its toxicity and threat to human health.

During an asbestos survey, the inspector will look for suspect ACM and take samples for analysis in a laboratory. If any of the materials are found to be suspect, an Asbestos Management Plan will need to be created and implemented to manage them in the long term.

The survey is an intrusive inspection that can take multiple days for a large facility and a few hours for smaller ones. The survey should involve full access to all accessible spaces and will typically need to be done in conjunction with other environmental testing and abatement projects.

A typical asbestos survey report will document the location of all suspect materials and include sample results from the laboratory. It will also provide a recommendation about how the ACMs should be handled and disposed of in the future, depending on the specific circumstances of the project.

Asbestos is often discovered during commercial real estate transactions and financing, prior to demolition or renovation of buildings or after significant natural disasters. During these situations, prudent buyers or sellers will order an asbestos survey report to ensure that the potential for asbestos-related issues does not present a financial and/or time risk to the transaction.

When a potential asbestos problem is detected, a professional licensed to do asbestos surveys will be called in to perform the inspection and sampling process. This can include an on-site inspection, a sampling and laboratory analysis or both.

An Asbestos Survey is an important part of the due diligence process during a real estate transaction and should be conducted by an experienced, professional team that stays current with the latest state and federal regulations. It is essential for the protection of both property owners and occupants as well as ensuring that the project goes through without any unexpected delays or cost overruns.