Building systems
The equipment a building cannot run without, inspected against code and the maintenance schedule.
- How commercial HVAC systems workA plain explanation of how commercial heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems move heat and air, and what each major component does.
- Rooftop unit maintenanceWhat rooftop HVAC units need through the year, from filters and belts to economizers and heat exchangers, and what to watch for between service visits.
- Boiler inspection basicsHow boiler inspections work in Canada, who is responsible for what, and what owners should check and record between mandated inspections.
- A furnace maintenance checklistA practical furnace maintenance checklist for owners and property managers, separating simple routine tasks from work that needs a licensed gas technician.
- Testing, adjusting and balancing (TAB) explainedWhat testing, adjusting and balancing involves, when a building needs it, and how to read a TAB report so air and water reach the spaces they should.
- Ventilation and indoor air qualityHow ventilation affects indoor air quality in commercial and multi-unit buildings, what to measure, and practical steps to improve stuffy or polluted spaces.
Wireless & communications
Enterprise WiFi, cabling, voice, AV and the data centre behind them.
- What is a WiFi site survey?What a WiFi site survey measures, the main types of survey, when you need one and what a useful survey report should contain.
- Predictive vs on-site WiFi surveysHow predictive WiFi models differ from on-site surveys, where each is reliable, where each falls short, and how to combine them on a project.
- WiFi heat maps explainedHow to read WiFi heat maps for signal strength, SNR, channel overlap and data rate, and how to avoid the common mistakes in interpreting them.
- RSSI, SNR and signal strengthWhat RSSI, dBm, noise floor and signal-to-noise ratio mean in WiFi, how they relate, and which numbers matter when judging a wireless network.
- Why −67 dBm is the WiFi design targetWhere the common −67 dBm WiFi design target comes from, what it protects, when a different target makes sense and what else it must be paired with.
- Common sources of WiFi interferenceThe most common causes of WiFi interference, from your own access points to neighbouring networks, building materials and non-WiFi equipment.
Inspections
Independent inspections of a building's structure and condition, with a written record of what to fix first.
- What a commercial building inspection coversA system-by-system look at what a commercial building inspection covers, what it leaves out, and how to scope one for your purpose.
- Property condition assessments explainedWhat a property condition assessment includes, how it differs from an inspection, and how to use one for buying, lending and capital planning.
- A home inspection checklist for buyersA practical checklist for home buyers: what to do before, during and after the inspection, and which questions to ask the inspector.
- How to read a home inspection reportHow to read a home inspection report: sort safety issues from repairs and maintenance, understand the wording, and decide what to do next.
- Pre-listing inspections for sellersWhy sellers get a home inspected before listing, what to fix and what to disclose, and how a pre-listing report can make a sale go more smoothly.
- New home warranty inspections in AlbertaHow Alberta's new home warranty coverage is structured, when to inspect a new home, and how to document defects so claims are made on time.
Safety
Written programs, reviews and training for the highest-risk work on a site.
- What is a confined space?Learn how Canadian provinces define a confined space, why these spaces are so dangerous, and how to tell which spaces on your site need a program.
- Confined space hazard assessmentA practical guide to assessing the hazards of a confined space, from atmosphere and engulfment to energy sources, access and the work itself.
- Confined space entry permitsWhat a confined space entry permit should contain, who issues and signs it, and how to use it so it controls the entry instead of just recording it.
- Atmospheric testing and gas detectionHow to test the air in a confined space: what to test for, in what order, where to sample, and when continuous gas monitoring is needed.
- Confined space rescue planningHow to plan a confined space rescue before entry: choosing a rescue method, sizing the team, response time, equipment and practice drills.
- Confined space roles: entrant, attendant, supervisorThe duties of the entrant, attendant, entry supervisor and rescue team in a confined space entry, and the training each role needs.