Building Diagnostics Services

Property Condition Assessments & Lifecycle Cost Analysis

Building assessments are essential for effective building management and cost-containment. HICAPS' seasoned engineering team provides expert evaluations to assess the overall condition of your facilities. By thoroughly examining building envelopes, mechanical, and electrical systems, we deliver in-depth reports that empower public agencies and private companies to make informed decisions.

Our assessments identify areas requiring maintenance, upgrades, or modifications, enabling you to optimize building performance, enhance occupant comfort and health, and develop comprehensive capital improvement and maintenance plans.

Our building assessments analyze:

• Building envelope (roof, walls, windows, doors)
• Existing building systems
• Energy-efficient solutions
• Indoor air quality
• Life safety conditions
• Code compliance
• Lifecycle costing
  
  

Typical tests included in HICAPS building assessments are:

• Visual Inspection (knowledge of life expectancy of building materials and systems)
• Detailed investigation at transitions of different building materials
• Water leakage at building exterior (testing to reference standards)
• Air leakage of building envelope (testing to reference standards)
• Operating parameters of mechanical systems: electrical current, temperature differential
  
  

• Certified Professional Constructors
• Member, American Institute of Constructors
• Professional Engineers, civil and mechanical disciplines
• LEED AP B+C
• General Contractor License: NC, SC, VA, TN, FL
• Certified Energy Manager
• Extensive building construction experience

Air and Weather Barrier Inspections

The benefits of HICAPS’ third-party design review and installation inspections include:

• Assurance that the installations meet project and manufacturer specifications
• Air barrier systems that are continuous and effective
• High likelihood of passing Air Tightness Testing, if specified
• A technical resource for architects, site managers, and installers
• Decreased liability for the design team, the GC, and the trades contractors
  
  

At HICAPS, we know the key to a continuous and effective air barrier system is careful design combined with coordination of the work performed by the various installers of your building’s air barrier components. Our experienced project managers and ABAA-licensed Field Inspectors build working relationships with your design-build team and installation contractors to support these critical functions.

The air barrier assembly is often a non-maintainable component of the building enclosure. Once cladding or other components have been installed over the air barrier, it may not be practical to make repairs. Remediation costs can be up to 60 times more than the cost of proper design and installation, so the job must be done right the first time.

Qualifications/Licensure
Licensed by the Air Barrier Association of America (ABAA) to perform third-party audits, inspections and testing of air barrier installations under ABAA’s Quality Assurance Program, HICAPS also performs air barrier design review and assists with preparing RFIs as necessary. We will work hand-in-hand with your QC team and trades contractors to help coordinate and sequence tasks so that a continuous and effective air barrier system will be achieved.

Window and Glazing System Testing

Utilizing state-of-the-art, calibrated testing equipment in accordance with AAMA or ASTM standards, HICAPS’ technicians provide expert window, skylight, door and curtain wall testing for water penetration and air intrusion. HICAPS will verify that these assemblies are installed to meet project specifications and product manufacturers’ requirements. This testing along with visual inspection will also confirm whether or not these components were properly flashed and sealed. Building owners are protected from future water and air intrusion problems. Contractors are protected from expensive and unnecessary warranty issues.

Building Air Tightness Pressure Testing

Also known as “air barrier”, “air leakage”, “blower door” and “pressure” testing, air tightness testing is required by the US Army Corps of Engineers, NAVFAC and a growing number of municipalities, states and federal government agencies for all new conditioned buildings as well as for renovation projects totaling 25% or more of a building’s replacement value. HICAPS performs air tightness testing in accordance with ASTM E779-10 or ASTM E1827-11 and the USACE Air Leakage Test Protocol for Building Envelopes, Version 3 – May 11, 2012. Additionally, our technicians are certified and experienced with air leakage site detection using infrared thermography and smoke testing according to ASTM E1186. With a wealth of experience – hundreds of buildings tested – HICAPS can recommend proven solutions to issues diagnosed.

Why Tight? Why Test?

In most commercial and industrial buildings, outdoor air is introduced by design; however, uncontrolled air leakage across a building’s enclosure is responsible for a significant addition to space conditioning loads. The US Department of Energy estimates that 20 to 30 percent of heating and cooling costs in commercial and residential buildings are the result of air infiltration and exfiltration. An effective air barrier system reduces heating and cooling costs by minimizing this uncontrolled airflow.

More importantly, air barriers can significantly enhance building durability by preventing air-laden moisture from entering enclosure penetrations where it condenses on cooler surfaces resulting in premature material degradation and mold. Unintended airflow can result in over 200 times more moisture entering a building than vapor diffusion. The Air Barrier Association of America lists the following reasons for utilizing a continuous air barrier system.

• Reduces building enclosure moisture problems
• Improves indoor air quality
• Reduces building heating and cooling costs
• Improves acoustical isolation
• Isolates the indoor environment
• Results in sustainable, durable buildings

Fan-induced pressure testing is the only reliable, quantitative method of confirming that a building’s or a building zone’s air barrier is continuous and effective.

Infrared Thermography: Air tightness pressure testing and infrared thermography go hand-in-hand. While pressure testing provides quantitative information regarding how leaky a building is, IR thermography and other detection methods show us the leakage locations so we know where additional sealing measures are needed. That’s one of many reasons HICAPS employs certified thermographers with many years of experience performing infrared examinations of buildings.

Drone Services

Leveraging drone technology, we offer advanced inspection capabilities, monitor construction progress with aerial surveys, and conduct infrared roof scans for comprehensive building diagnostics.