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.
Electrical engineering
Power, lighting, generators and UPS, fire alarm and smoke detection, security and access control, networks, DAS, building automation and instrumentation, designed as one coordinated system.
- How power gets from the street to the outletA plain walk through a building's electrical system, from the utility line and service entrance through switchboards, transformers and panels to the outlet.
- Single-line diagrams explainedWhat a single-line diagram shows, how to read its symbols and ratings, and why keeping it accurate matters for maintenance, safety and future projects.
- Transformers in commercial buildingsWhat transformers do in a building, the common types and connections, how they are sized and placed, and what keeps them running for decades.
- 120/208 V vs 347/600 V systemsHow the two common Canadian three-phase building voltages differ, where each one fits, and what the choice means for equipment, cost and safety.
- Three-phase power basicsWhat three-phase power is, why buildings and motors use it, how to read its voltages and currents, and the problems facility staff most often meet.
- Panelboards, switchboards and MCCsHow panelboards, switchboards and motor control centres differ, what each one does in a building, and what owners should check and record.
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.