Have questions about our engineering services, project process, or environmental solutions? Find clear answers to some of the most common questions about working with Fisher Engineering.
Geothermal energy is heat that comes from deeper in the ground. This heat is clean, renewable, and available all the time. It is one component to our society moving away from fossil-based fuels.
Geothermal heating and cooling uses the earth’s steady underground temperature (about 10°C to 16°C or 50°F to 60°F) just a few feet below the surface to heat and cool a home. Instead of burning fuel or fighting extreme outdoor air, a buried pipe loop moves heat between your house and the ground.
Using geothermal energy (ground-source heat pumps) to heat and cool buildings offers incredible energy efficiency, low operating costs, long equipment lifespans, and significant environmental benefits. Because these systems move heat rather than creating it—using the Earth’s constant underground temperature—they stand out as one of the most reliable HVAC solutions available.
Unmatched Energy Efficiency:
Major Cost Savings:
Designated Substance Survey (DSS) consisted of a review of existing environmental reports (where available); visual inspection for the presence of Designated Substances within the scope of the work areas; collection and analysis of the materials suspected to contain hazardous building materials, particularly asbestos and lead; and to provide recommendations for the safe handling or abatement of these materials prior to any renovation or demolition work.
Designated Substance Survey (DSS) consisted of a visual inspection for the potential presence of the 11 Designated Substances (Asbestos, Acrylonitrile, Arsenic, Benzene, Coke Oven Emissions, Ethylene Oxide, Isocyanates, Lead, Mercury, Silica, and Vinyl Chloride) within the scope of the work areas. A Designated Substance and Hazardous Materials Survey (DSHMS) consisted of a visual inspection for the potential presence of the 11 Designated Substances (listed above) within the scope of the work areas, as well as other potential hazardous materials, such as PCB, UFFI, or mould. There may also be some inclusion of hazardous waste management, such as proper disposal of batteries or oils.
It will depend on the size of the building and/or the number of samples collected for analysis. The site visit, including sample collection, typically takes 4 to 8 hours. Laboratory analysis takes one week for results and a full report, included the results of analysis and any applicable abatement recommendations, typically takes 2 to 3 weeks after the final site visit date.
If the building was built prior to 1980, there is a potential for asbestos containing materials (ACM) in or on the building. Even if it was built prior to 1940, there has most likely been renovations done since then, that could have used ACM. For the safety and health of the workers, removing or potentially disturbing these materials during the renovation work, an asbestos survey is required, prior to the renovation work being initiated. If the survey shows that no ACM is present, the renovation work may begin. However, if the survey reveals ACM within the renovation area, this material will need to be removed following applicable asbestos abatement procedures prior to the renovation work.
The purpose of a mould assessment is to observe conditions, of the suspect areas, with respect to actual or potential future mould growth, and to provide recommendations for abatement or remediation, where applicable. A typical mould assessment will include visual observations, moisture assessment and the collection of bulk or air samples, where applicable. In extreme cases, test cuts may be conducted to determine the extent of the mould impacted materials.
The purpose of an indoor air quality (IAQ) assessment is to determine if the presence of potential airborne contaminants and/or the fresh air exchange rate may be negatively impacting air quality within the building, and to recommend practical corrective control measures, where applicable. The scope of work can include casual observations of the project area, and monitoring of several indoor air quality parameters, including measurement of carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, total volatile organic compounds, temperature, relative humidity and respirable particulates at representative frequency throughout the project area.
First, you can collect a sample of the paint that is to be removed and take it to the laboratory for analysis of lead content. If the sample analysis reveals the paint chip to contain significant amounts of lead, specific precautions should be taken to ensure the workers removing the paint will not be impacted. Refer to Guideline: Lead on Construction Projects which outlines practices that should be followed during construction to protect the workers from exposure to lead.
Silica is expected to be present in concrete and masonry products. As most buildings are constructed of concrete block and brick, with concrete floors, silica is expected to be found within these components. During any significant renovation or demolition works where concrete dust is generated, dust suppression techniques should be utilized to control worker exposure to silica. Refer to Guideline: Silica on Construction Projects which outlines practices that should be followed during construction to protect workers from exposure to silica.
Mercury can be found in fluorescent light bulbs, as a vapour, and building thermostats, as a liquid. Exposure occurs when breathing vapors from spills, incinerators, etc. Prior to renovation or demolition works, it would be recommended that these products be safely removed. The disposal of mercury containing items is regulated under the Environmental Protection Act.
Abatement Specifications is a detailed document that outlines the expected proper procedures undertaken by an abatement contractor during the abatement, or removal, of designated substances, such as asbestos, lead or silica. The specification is prepared by a consultant, and includes site plans, procedures, air monitoring, worker protection and waste disposal.
The number and depth of boreholes depend on the size and type of development, proposed building loads, site conditions, foundation requirements, and applicable design standards. Boreholes are generally advanced to sufficient depths to characterize the soils and/or bedrock relevant to the proposed development. Projects with one or more underground level(s) will require deeper borehole investigation. We develop the investigation scope based on the specific project.
Borehole investigations can provide information regarding:
Yes. Depending on the project, construction services may include foundation (footing/subgrade/rebar) inspections, soil compaction testing, concrete testing, excavation reviews, subgrade inspections, and other field inspection and testing services.
Groundwater monitoring may be required to understand seasonal groundwater fluctuations, establish groundwater elevations, evaluate groundwater flow direction, assess excavation conditions, support dewatering design, or satisfy regulatory and project requirements. The appropriate monitoring period depends on the project objectives and city/municipality requirements. Some assessments may require short-term measurements, while others may require monitoring over several months or across different seasons to adequately characterize groundwater conditions.
A slug test is a field method used to estimate hydraulic properties of a well or surrounding formation by rapidly changing the water level in a well and monitoring its recovery over time.
Dewatering is the temporary removal or control of groundwater and/or surface water to allow excavation and construction to proceed under suitable conditions.
A dewatering assessment may be required where excavations extend below the groundwater table or where groundwater seepage could affect construction, excavation stability, neighbouring properties, or surrounding infrastructure.
There are many things that can be done, depending on the site conditions and the type and/or concentration of the contamination. Remediation may be possible where either bulk excavation or in-situ chemical injections can remove the contamination. If contamination removal is not practical, then a risk assessment can be conducted for the subject property, to investigate the current site conditions and project if there is any potential harm to humans, plants or animals, including fish and amphibians. If no potential harm is found, then Site remediation may not be required to continue operations.
Most lenders will accept an environmental report up to a year after the site works. Some may accept a report up to 18 months. Some longer, depending on specific conditions.
In Ontario, if you are changing the property use from commercial or industrial to residential or parkland or institutional, the Ministry requires extra due diligence to ensure the subject property is environmentally safe for the intended future use. When the assessment is completed, an application is sent to the Ministry for approval. Only if approval is given, can the subject property can be redeveloped.
The intent of this new regulation, is to divert soil, that can be reused, from landfills. In Ontario, if you plan to relocate soil on or from your property, such as during development, you will be required to conduct an excess soil investigation. This will include sampling, of the soil that is to be relocated, for laboratory analysis, and determining what type of property the soil can be relocated to. Extended investigations could include finding a receiving location and tracking the condition of the soil as it is relocated from one property to another. Trucking companies will be asking for this documentation.
The Ministry requires us not to only mitigate potential harm to humans, but to also mitigate potential harm to plants or animals, including fish and amphibians. This is why the Ministry has indicated specific standards to provide acceptable levels for each potential harmful parameter. Plants roots receive nutrients from the groundwater. Groundwater flows towards creeks, streams, rivers and eventually reaches lakes and oceans. If the groundwater is contaminated, along its journey, it can impact many forms of life.
