From the day the foundation is laid, the forces of man and nature begin to work on the structure, to adapt to its presence and, ultimately, to tear it down. Wind, rain and sun weaken the materials used to build the structure. Mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems begin to wear out. Various forms of life, from microbes to small animals, find or create niches in which to live. Dusts, spores, and pollen enter the building through open doors, windows, and building ventilation systems. Coping with these forces requires an extended commitment in terms of building construction and maintenance.

It is well known that any building will begin to decay, if not properly maintained. What is not widely appreciated is the fact that the building will become an unhealthy place in which to live or work, long before the physical signs of wear appear. The process can start with apparently trivial annoyances, as simple as a flickering fluorescent light, or a noisy ventilation system. Other problems may begin to manifest:

• A building custodian uses hazardous cleaning solvents improperly.
• A co-worker has gone on vacation and left a sandwich in a desk drawer.
• The gas jet on a stove or furnace has begun to leak.
• Mice have taken up residence in the kitchen walls.
• Pipes leak, creating damp spaces within walls where molds and mildews can flourish.
• Dust and pollen collects in the ventilation ducts.

A good building maintenance program can go a long way toward preventing many of these problems. The solution to these problems, once they occur, requires a structured, multi-disciplinary approach. If this is not done, the result can be a scatter-shot attempt at remediation that has no real probability of success.

The CERL Solution!