About Infrared Tube Heaters
Infrared tube heaters, also referred to as tube heaters, are found in large open spaces, such as warehouses, factories, and other industrial spaces. Tube heaters may also be found over…
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Inspecting Mini-Split (Ductless) Heat Pumps
Outside ductless heat pump compressor Mini-split heat pumps, also referred to as ductless heat pumps, are an alternative to radiators and baseboard heating, as well as a replacement for window…
Inspecting Evaporative Coolers/Swamp Coolers
An evaporative cooling system is different from an air conditioning system in that an air conditioning system relies on refrigerant gases and a chemical process to cool the air, whereas…
Inspecting Hanging Gas Furnaces in Commercial Buildings
A hanging gas furnace is a cost-effective alternative to a central heating system in warehouses, garages, loading docks, and manufacturing environments that typically have high ceilings and open floor plans,…
Evaporative Cooling at Commercial Buildings
Evaporative cooling is a technology that utilizes evaporation and blowing air to cool buildings. It may be the sole cooling source, or it may be combined with an air conditioning…
Inspecting Electric Baseboard Heaters
There are various types of electric heating systems. They all use electricity to transfer heat in the following three ways: forced air; convection; and radiation. Here, we are concerned with…
Inspecting Hot Water Boilers and Steam Boilers
There are two different types of boilers found in commercial buildings: hot water and steam boilers. There are similarities between the two types of boilers, and differences as well. Both…
Inspecting Restrooms at Commercial Properties
A standard commercial property inspection according to the ComSOP should include the visual inspection of permanently installed restrooms throughout the property. While this is generally a visual-only inspection, the general…
The International Plumbing Code (IPC) and Commercial Property Inspections
Definitions and Acronyms You Should Know: building code: rules and regulations adopted by the governmental authority having jurisdiction (AHJ) over the construction and/or remodeling of the commercial property. code official:…
Annual Building Maintenance Inspection
An Annual Building Maintenance Inspection is a comprehensive, visual examination of a commercial property within a 12-month period. It is designed to identify defects within specific systems and components as…
Document Research: Why It Matters
I. Why Dig? Have you ever heard anyone say, “We bought our house blindly! We didn’t even hire an inspector – in fact, we never set eyes on it!” Of…
What to Do When the Owner of a Commercial Property Asks the Inspector for a Copy of the Inspector’s Certificate of Insurance or Asks to Be Named as an Additional Insured
by Mark Cohen, J.D., LL.M., and Nick Gromicko A commercial inspector generally works for a prospective purchaser of a property, but sometimes the owner of the property (the seller) asks…