SERVICES

EXISTING BUILDINGS

EXISTING BUILDING ENGINEERING

All buildings require some level of maintenance. Whether it is due to a known deficiency necessitating major retrofit or simply a proactive owner looking for a balanced approach to building envelope maintenance work, SEE can help. Following a condition assessment with recommendations, we can assist the owner through all phases of a restoration project, if needed. SEE can also assist with capital planning and energy audits of existing buildings to provide guidance for financial and energy needs. SEE senior staff experience provides an effective voice in insurance claims and litigation.

BUILDING ASSESSMENTS

CONDITION ASSESSMENTS

Visual condition assessments of building components are extremely helpful to determine the remaining service life and identify existing performance or services issues.  SEE can provide visual assessment of a variety of building components and purposes to suit the needs of owners.  Enhanced assessments can also be provided where necessary to provide a more in depth investigation and analysis.  Building components to be reviewed include:

  • CLADDING
  • INSULATION
  • MECHANICAL SYSTEMS
  • PARKADES
  • PAVING
  • PIPING
  • ROOFING
  • SITE DRAINAGE
  • STRUCTURE
  • WATERPROOFING
  • WINDOWS

NEW HOME WARRANTY REVIEW

Home Protection Office (HPO) guidelines specify warranty periods for 2-5-10 year periods following the construction of new residential properties ranging from single family homes to high-rise towers. Each warranty period covers specific building components which can be claimed through the underwriter’s insurance policy.

LEAK INVESTIGATIONS AND MOISTURE PROBE ASSESSMENTS

Concerns of water leaks or moisture damage require a profound understanding of building envelope systems and in-depth knowledge of a variety of construction methods and materials. Investigative tools such as thermal imaging and moisture probe testing can be used to validate possible failure modes and determine the appropriate repair strategy.

ROPE ACCESS AND BOSUN CHAIR FIELD REVIEWS

Taking our field reviews to new heights, our staff is trained and certified as SPRAT Rope Access Technicians to provide an up-close visual review and assess in situ conditions of existing and new construction buildings of any height.

BUILDING AUDITING AND CAPITAL PLANNING

PRE-PURCHASE AND RE-FINANCING REPORTS

Review of commercial real-estate properties following ASTM E2018-15 “Standard Guide for Property Condition Assessments: Baseline Property Condition Assessment Process”. We assess the condition of the building envelope, structure, and mechanical and electrical systems for the purposes purchasing or re-financing commercial properties.

DEPRECIATION REPORTS / CONTINGENCY RESERVE FUND STUDIES

Depreciation Reports are long-term financial planning tools for use by Strata Councils, Owners and prospective buyers. Depreciation Reports provided by SEE not only meet the requirements of the BC Strata Property Act and Regulations, but give depth and explanation to the recommended repair and maintenance program.  The reports are written in plain English, readable and understandable to technical and non-technical people alike.  SEE will work with your Strata Council and Property Manager to understand your building’s maintenance history and tailor a maintenance plan to meet the specific circumstances and conditions at each building.

ENERGY AUDITS


Energy performance of existing buildings is becoming increasingly important with the global initiatives to reduce green house gases and provide climate change resiliency. SEE can provide audits of building energy use in accordance with ASHRAE Energy Audit Levels 1, 2 and 3. Different levels include increasing levels of detail in assessment from review of operating data and a building walk-through to in depth analysis of existing and proposed energy use.

ACCESSIBILITY AUDITS

Review of building accessibility including openings, balconies, ramps, paths of travel and adaptable spaces for compliance with Part 3 of the building code as well as publishes guidelines for aging in place.

ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING AUDITS


SEE would review the existing building electrical services and needs for electric vehicle charging and provide a road map for required work to have an effective charging vehicle system.

BUILDING REHABILITATION

BUILDING ENVELOPE MAINTENANCE AND RENEWAL PROGRAMS

All buildings require ongoing maintenance. In the worst cases, re-cladding may be necessary to adequately address systemic moisture infiltration and extend the life of a building. SEE can assist by performing an in-depth review of the subject building to help establish a building envelope renewal program. Once established, SEE can then assist in preparing a specifications and tender package, processing contractor’s bids, contract management, and quality assurance field reviews.

COOPERATIVE HOUSING PROJECT MANAGEMENT

Employees at SEE have extensive experience with Co-operative Housing clients. We can assist and guide co-operative housing groups manage their facilities by providing reserve fund studies, conducting building assessments, and preparing construction budgets for the basis of their Asset Management Plan (AMP). Once the AMP is completed and the project financing is secured we provide Project Management services, inclusive of technical engineering design to prepare drawings and specifications, tendering, construction administration, and construction quality assurance field reviews.

HERITAGE BUILDINGS

Heritage restoration is a challenging task, balancing improved building performance and durability.  Our staff has significant experience with heritage buildings in Vancouver and beyond.  This experience gives us the confidence to know the materials and methods to replicate centuries old construction in a modern world.

LITIGATION AND INSURANCE CLAIMS

INSURANCE CLAIMS INVESTIGATIONS

Insurance claim investigations provided by SEE give a measured and detailed assessment of damages and potential causes. SEE senior staff has worked on buildings from the past 100+ years in BC and is prepared to provide detailed insurance claim investigation reports.

LITIGATION – BUILDING ENVELOPE ENGINEERING

SEE provides an experienced hand in litigation claims. With over 25 concurrent years in the building envelope engineering field, SEE senior staff is familiar with a variety of building envelope construction methods and ready to aid in providing expert witness testimonial.