Environmental Assessments

In conjuction with our industry partners, Arcon offers environmental services that support its core engineering services.  In the provision of our Civil & Structural, Reconstruction, Fire Investigation and Mechanical engineering services, we are often working in environments where there might be air, surface, soil or water contaminants present.  Before undertaking our work, and to verify a safe environment for other professionals working at the site, we need to assess the existence of any toxic substances.  Arcon will coordinate the sampling and testing for our clients and recommend a suitable partner to oversee any remediation that is required.  Assessments typically fall into the following three categories.

Indoor Air Quality

Indoor air quality can be compromised by a wide variety of substances that suddenly become airborne as a result of a fire, explosion or structural damage or over a longer period of time as a result of excessive moisture in an environment.  Common substances include mould & asbestos.

Surface and Soil Contamination

Surfaces are often contaminated as a result of a fire event and can also be contaminated through construction when older building materials containing such things as fibreglass, asbestos or lead are disturbed and particles distributed in proximity to the disturbed site.  Where there has been excessive moisture in an environment, surfaces can become covered in mould or other organic substances.  When fuel tanks rupture or leak, the soil adjacent to and underneath the tanks can easily become contaminated.  Water run-off from dousing fires often contains materials than can be toxic.  This run-off may seep into soil leading to contamination.  Certain fire suppression materials, while inert themselves, may become intermixed with contaminants and create unsafe situations on surfaces.

Water Purity

Water purity in the context of Arcon's provision of forensic engineering services usually relates to commercial and industrial equipment that uses water in its regular course of operation such as boilers and chillers.  Water that contains substances that are not supposed to be there, can lead to failures in the equipment in which it is used.  In exceptional circumstances, water run-off from controlling a fire may pool in the building and present a hazard to further investigation.