In 2020, a Miami condo building collapsed. The tragic accident took the lives of 98 residents in the middle of the night. Unfortunately, evidence shows that the building suffered significant structural damage caused by water leaks and exposed concrete. Sadly, the multi-million dollar repairs needed to correct the problem were scheduled but not started before the accident occurred.
The building’s tragic collapse reminds us how important it is to follow up on necessary repairs and safety assessments for large commercial buildings. The building in Miami was over 40 years old and needed updates and repairs that were tragically not completed soon enough.
But old age is not the only threat to building integrity that we face. Extreme weather and climate disasters are also becoming more common. Builders and planners must consider these factors when planning projects to prevent future building damage and maintenance costs. As plumbing and HVAC specialists, we are constantly learning and embracing new technologies that will help prevent water damage and maintain building integrity.
When you work with us, you can trust that our team will create a comprehensive plan for your project’s water and HVAC needs. What’s more, that plan will include disaster management. Safe gaps like backflow preventers, flood mitigation tools and strategies, and proper drainage are all part of the plan.
Water damage is not the only disaster risk we have to mitigate as a plumbing and HVAC firm. We also take into account ventilation and air filtration issues. This past year, during the COVID-19 pandemic, ventilation has been top of mind. Improved ventilation and air circulation are known to be crucial in the fight against airborne diseases like COVID-19. Additionally, increased wildfire smoke, especially in the intermountain west region where we operate, causes air quality issues and requires better air circulation and filtering. We work hard to study new emerging HVAC technologies and make appropriate recommendations for each project’s needs. In some cases, that means installing filters with higher MERV ratings and recommending replacement filters sooner, especially in regions with poor air quality.
There are a lot of risks that face the construction industry today. Most of our projects are multi-unit buildings that we want to stand the test of time. The last thing we ever want is an accident at a project we worked on because of structural issues. You can trust that when you work with us, we will do our best work and recommend the right equipment and technologies to keep the building safe and secure in all kinds of weather.
