Low-slope roofs were a late invention in building construction. This was mostly because steep-slope roofs exhibited superior water-shedding properties. Also, before industrialization, much of the manufacturing of goods was done in people’s homes by hand or with basic small machinery, so there wasn’t a need for larger buildings. But as the Industrial Revolution progressed, it…
Cast-iron boilers are often found in residential applications and small commercial installations. These boilers are compact and function exclusively in low-pressure steam or hot-water applications. The physical size of a cast-iron steam boiler can be quite large, with the sections visible, since it has no casing. Cast-iron is basically steel. It has higher levels of…
by Joe Farsetta, Certified Master Inspector® and Certified Commercial Inspector The fuel or gas train is a series of components – some working independently, and others working in tandem with alternate components – that connect the burner of a gas-fired boiler, which help to ensure the commercial steam boiler’s safe operation. Boiler explosions can happen…
by Joe Farsetta, Certified Master Inspector® and Certified Commercial Inspector An integral part of every steam boiler is a low-water cutoff. A safety feature born of necessity in the 1920s, this device interrupts the operation of a boiler if it runs out of water. Prior to its invention, empty boilers would continue to run, with…
by Joe Farsetta, Certified Master Inspector® and Certified Commercial Inspector Steam boilers can be simple or complex, depending on their application, the fuel available, and specific requirements and demands, including steam pressure and volume. Steam systems in commercial and industrial settings will typically require the services of a licensed Professional Engineer for the design…
by Joe Farsetta, Certified Master Inspector® and Certified Commercial Inspector While there are several types of steam boilers, their basic operating principles are nearly identical. Water is heated to a gaseous state, generating pressure and steam. The steam is then transported through pipes via that pressure, which is used to power radiators, turbines, steam rooms,…
What Is a Triple-Net Lease? A triple-net lease, also referred to as a net-net-net lease and NNN lease, is a lease agreement where the lessee (a single tenant) is responsible for paying the lessor (landlord) on a net-net-net basis for the following: real estate taxes; insurance; and property maintenance. Technically, the lessor owns the building…
About Triple-Net Leases A triple-net lease, also referred to as a net-net-net lease and NNN lease, is a lease agreement where the lessee (a single tenant) is responsible for paying the lessor (landlord) on a net-net-net basis for the following: real estate taxes; insurance; and property maintenance. This type of lease assigns building maintenance and…
Who performs commercial inspections? The commercial inspection market is a huge and largely untapped source of revenue for individual property inspectors. Commercial inspections are generally performed by either engineers and architects, or by inspection companies that offer commercial inspections in addition to residential inspections. Engineers and architects are typically single-discipline individuals who can only provide…
It is especially important for businesses that offer a service, like inspections, to claim and maintain their directory listings. These listings are a means for potential clients to contact you and make the decision to hire you instead of a competitor. Although it may seem like a no-brainer to claim and clean up your listings,…
A commercial property is defined as a building, structures and improvements located on a parcel of commercial real estate intended to generate a profit. Touring different properties and considering their use can help prepare you to accurately price and develop a general procedure for your commercial property inspections. Below is a list of the different…
You can have the most beautiful website on the Internet for your commercial property inspection business, but if no one can find it, what purpose does it serve? Search engine optimization (SEO) is the concept of increasing the number of relevant visitors to your website by ensuring that your content is useful and easy to…