Smoke Control Systems in Commercial Buildings
In basic terms, smoke control systems manage the movement of smoke and air within a building and vary based on its design, use, and occupancy. These systems contain or exhaust…
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Estimated Useful Life, Remaining Useful Life, and Maintenance Frequency for Commercial Buildings
The baseline scope of the International Standards of Practice for Inspecting Commercial Properties (ComSOP) excludes predicting service life expectancy, providing repair estimates, or offering opinions of cost to remedy. However,…
Commercial Kitchen Inspection: Connecting the Dots and Following a Checklist
The commercial property inspection process requires experience, knowledge of commercial building design to meet safety and functional standards, and a structured and consistent methodology. The following case study describes a…
Commercial Outbuilding Inspection Considerations
An outbuilding is a detached, accessory structure located on the same parcel as a main building. It provides supplemental space for storage, services, or operations and is not intended for…
Inspecting Retaining Walls at Commercial Properties
During commercial property inspections, retaining walls are often found at parking lots, along property boundaries, and where changes in site elevation create access to lower levels. Some walls serve only…
Inspecting Large, Complex Commercial Buildings: The Three Keys to Success
Commercial property inspectors have three key opportunities to set the stage for success and manage client expectations: when a potential client first makes an inquiry, when the scope and fee…
Inspecting Commercial Buildings with a Consulting Mindset
During a discovery call, a client raised concerns about the roof, noting that much of the building would be used for a bitcoin mining operation. The inspector then faced a…
Risk Tolerance and Due Diligence in Commercial Property Inspections
How do risk tolerance and due diligence shape your commercial inspection scope and fees? Successful inspections and lasting client relationships require more than technical know-how; they depend on understanding the…
Performing a Multi-Building Campus Assessment: A Case Study in Planning, Partnership, and Field Execution
Scale and complexity often define both the value and challenge of commercial property inspections. That was especially true for a recent campus assessment, commissioned by a construction firm on behalf…
Immediate Repairs and Long-Term Forecasting Guide for Commercial Real Estate
Capital planning and financial forecasting help commercial real estate (CRE) stakeholders prepare for both immediate and long-term expenses, including buyers, owners, investors, tenants, and those involved in operations planning. The…
Commercial Electrical Inspections: Consistent Procedures for Multi-Building Layouts
Every commercial building has a unique electrical system dependent on its layout, power demands, and the AHJ. You may be inspecting a single building or a multi-building property. Don’t get…
Inspecting Dry Cleaner Properties: Fire and Life Safety Risks
Dry cleaning is a method by which clothes and fabrics are cleaned using liquid solvents instead of water. While this technique has advantages over traditional “wet” cleaning methods, such as…