The professionals at Emilcott have years of experience in assisting building owners and managers to develop strategies to maintain safe and healthy indoor environments. Our areas of expertise include not only comprehensive Indoor Environmental Quality (“IEQ”) services, but also fire/life safety, lead and asbestos management, security vulnerability mitigation, construction safety, and LEED Certification.

Emilcott conducted indoor environmental sampling and a health hazard assessment for tetrachloroethylene exposures at several retail and commercial buildings.  This investigation was in response to an excavation project in the basement of one of the establishments releasing vapors into occupied areas, including the two adjacent buildings.   After conducting an initial round of air sampling, Emilcott presented the findings to the Monmouth County Regional Health Commission and the Monmouth County Health Department's Emergency Response Team.  Shortly thereafter, jurisdiction for the project was given to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection's (NJDEP) Site Remediation Program.  Emilcott provided technical interaction with the NJDEP's Site Remediation Program regarding the establishment of exposure limits for tetrachloroethylene in indoor air and the implementation of an on-going air monitoring program for the affected buildings.

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Emilcott conducted indoor environmental sampling and a health hazard assessment for microbiological contamination at a high-rise office building that was damaged by the collapse of the WTC on September 11, 2002.  The original scope of the project was limited to inspection of office areas and mechanical systems, and collection of air and surface microbial samples intended to document when conditions were acceptable to permit re-occupancy of the building by the owner's workforce.  As construction work progressed the project was increased in scope to include development of microbial remediation protocols, monitoring of microbial remediation conducted by the owner's internal maintenance staff and outside contractors, and conducting of clearance sampling for the cafeteria, restrooms, and office areas that were undergoing construction/renovation.  All work was completed under a very tight deadline that permitted the building owner to proceed on schedule.  Emilcott also participated in orientation programs attended by the owner's employees prior to their re-occupancy of the building.

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Emilcott provided an IEQ investigation at the Mt. Sinai East 98th Street facility in New York City. The scope of work included an inspection of all interior portions of the building to identify the location and extent of moisture damage.  This process entailed a visual inspection, supplemented with the use of moisture meters and an infrared camera. During the inspection other conditions were noted that may have adversely effected building IEQ (housekeeping, maintenance, pest management, etc). Emilcott conducted a sampling of settled dust to identify the presence of indoor allergens (e.g.: dust mites, cockroaches, dog, cat), fungi mold and bacteria.  This sampling was conducted at up to 20 indoor locations that are targeted during the building inspection process.  Emilcott also collected Air-O-Cell air samples at indoor and outdoor locations to evaluate the presence of airborne mold and particulate as well tape lift samples to identify the constituents of settled dust at locations subject to occupant complaints. A summary report of the findings and recommendations for corrective action was provided to hospital facilities management.

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Emilcott conducted several IEQ investigations at a regional transportation facility.  These investigations have included particulate evaluation in the diesel maintenance shop, bioaerosols and chemical exposure evaluation in the car wash facility, and an assessment of the third floor office areas to identify issues that may negatively affect IEQ.  Recommendations for remedial action were made where appropriate in each instance.

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Emilcott conducted an investigation of a building adjacent to a subway station expansion project that initially focused on exhaust from construction equipment.  During the course of the investigation it was discovered that the building had a history of employee IEQ complaints.  The historical complaints were related to previous and ongoing moisture incursions and presence of bioaersols that were visually present and identifiable in surface and air sampling. 

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Emilcott was retained by the Waldorf=Astoria Hotel to provide a review of the work procedures utilized by abatement contractors and air monitoring firms to during the 2007 calendar year. This review will evaluate if all such work is conducted in accordance with applicable federal, New York State, and New York City asbestos rules and regulations, and all noted deficiencies, if any, will immediately be documented and brought to the attention of the applicable contractor and the Waldorf=Astoria.  All services provided by Emilcott are to conform to the 2006 Memorandum of Understanding between the Hotel and New York Hotel Motel Trades Council (Union).

Emilcott has agreed to have a representative on-site 4 to 8 hours once notified by the Waldorf that an abatement project is scheduled to be completed.   A letter summary report of findings will be prepared and forwarded to the Hotel following each site visit.

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Emilcott conducted an indoor air quality assessment in the industrial facility located at a former Manufactured Gas Plant (MGP) site.  This facility utilizes ground water that is contaminated with low levels of benzene for non-contact cooling of process equipment.  The objective of this assessment was to conduct a hazard assessment associated with potential airborne benzene concentrations on workers and other personnel at the facility.  Emilcott developed a model to calculate benzene concentration in ambient air under different process conditions.  The calculated data was then compared with the health benchmark studies provided by EPA, NJDEP, and a risk-based guidance.  Normal operating conditions, as well as worst case scenarios, were considered.  Our assessment, based on different operating conditions, suggested ventilation rates and analytical results showed that only a negligible amount of benzene would be present in the air, well below recognized safe worker exposure criteria.

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Emilcott performed a health hazard assessment of an university building to determine if indoor air and drinking water met the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) and other applicable guidelines for a healthy school environment.  Emilcott evaluated potential environmental factors and pathways inside the building and from the adjacent property that could potentially impact the health of the building's occupants.   Interviews were then conducted with the building's occupants in order to receive input that would assist with identifying specific areas of concern.  Lastly, the findings were compared with applicable guidelines for a healthy school environment and recommendations for follow-up efforts were given.

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The store had a history of employee complaints regarding building air quality.  The investigation conducted by Emilcott identified HVAC operations and maintenance and building construction issues as the primary causes of moisture and humidity impacts that resulted in microbial and particulate contamination.  The location of an exhaust from the Tool Rental Center was also identified as the source of chronic odor complaints from employees working in office areas.  Recommendations for corrective actions were made and are currently being implemented.  The investigation is expected to continue in order to evaluate the effectiveness of the corrective actions.

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Emilcott was retained to perform an indoor environmental quality (IEQ) survey and microbiological investigation of two basement storage areas.  The purpose of the survey was to assess the indoor environmental quality and it's possible relationship to employee complaints of discomfort and/or illness.  These two buildings were selected based on findings of a visual inspection for mold growth of all nineteen structures on campus that had been previously performed in March of 2000.  The following tasks were done as part of the investigation:

• A visual inspection of the area of concern with a focus on those areas/building materials which may have been impacted by water, including photographs of suspect areas.
• Microbial surface sampling (fungus) to identify species that may be present in the areas of concern
• Monitoring of environmental conditions including temperature and humidity
• A review of IEQ issues with appropriate personnel (employee interviews) during the day the sampling was conducted
• Emilcott made its recommendations in a final report to the client based on inspection findings, sampling data and best industry practices.

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An air quality survey and inspection of the AG Edwards office building was performed to measure the building’s air quality and its possible relationship to employee complaints of discomfort and/or illness.   The following substances or parameters were measured in this survey: carbon dioxide spot readings, carbon monoxide, relative humidity, and temperature.  Because the industrial hygienist observed several small indoor arboretums in open foyer areas, bioaerosols (bacteria, fungi, molds and yeast) samples were taken as well.   Results for the bacteria samples collected indicated that elevated levels exist within at least two of the areas sampled. It was concluded that the bioaerosols, attributed to the various plants, were primarily responsible for the employee complaints.  A report of the findings was issued to AG Edwards’ management. 

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