Acquisition Expands Whitman’s Vapor Intrusion Service Platform to Include System Installation
By Mel Fabrikant Saturday, February 27, 2010, 11:25 AM EST
Full-Service Engineering Firm Providing Turnkey Vapor Intrusion Solutions to Property Owners
Whitman, New Jersey’s leading environmental and engineering management firm, has increased its commitment to providing turnkey vapor intrusion services with the announcement today that, as a result of the company’s recent acquisition of LJS Construction in October, Whitman has solidified its ability to offer installation of vapor intrusion systems to real estate professionals and commercial property owners.
The announcement expands Whitman’s capabilities in this important service area from site assessment and vapor intrusion system design, helping to further the firm’s ability to offer a comprehensive array of services effectively able to reduce or eliminate contaminants that would otherwise be transported throughout a variety of building types, including commercial, residential and educational facilities.
“In addition to our firm’s leadership in the remediation of environmental contaminants at the soil and groundwater level, we are now able to provide turnkey solutions for eliminating harmful compounds from existing structures, from site assessment and system design, through installation,” stated Barry Skoultchi, president of Whitman. “The acquisition of LJS has not only increased our ability to provide decontamination, demolition and in-house construction services to our clients, but has also afforded us the resources and expertise needed to offer a full range of services with regard to vapor intrusion, an area that, particularly in New Jersey, is of critical importance to property owners.”
As a result of the state’s history in the industrial and manufacturing sectors, a significant number of properties in New Jersey are at risk for vapor intrusion. Additionally, with a slow down in new construction, many development companies are focusing their attention on the rehabilitation of older, existing structures, which are among the most susceptible to vapor intrusion.
Vapor intrusion is caused by volatile organic compounds (VOCs), a class of chemicals that readily evaporate at room temperature. Often found in soil and groundwater contaminated by a variety of industrial chemicals, VOCs can be absorbed through cracks or holes in a building’s foundation and can accumulate in basements, crawl spaces and living areas, eventually making their way throughout a building by means of HVAC systems. Building occupants exposed to these chemicals can experience both minor and major health problems, making it imperative that building owners and managers, as well as architects and other real estate professionals involved in the renovation process, ensure that VOCs are properly handled.
Whitman is certified to perform vapor intrusion sampling, which includes testing for gas beneath the building and can lead to indoor air testing. If VOCs are found, Whitman’s experienced engineers can design and install a variety of vapor intrusion systems that redirect VOCs away from the structure.
The firm has completed design and installation of vapor intrusion abatement systems for both commercial and school facilities. The company was recently approved as an Indoor Environmental Health Assessment Consultant by the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services, allowing the company to conduct indoor air quality testing at schools and daycares, as well as evaluate other environmental concerns in buildings used for those purposes.
Whitman, New Jersey’s leading environmental and engineering management firm, has increased its commitment to providing turnkey vapor intrusion services with the announcement today that, as a result of the company’s recent acquisition of LJS Construction in October, Whitman has solidified its ability to offer installation of vapor intrusion systems to real estate professionals and commercial property owners.
The announcement expands Whitman’s capabilities in this important service area from site assessment and vapor intrusion system design, helping to further the firm’s ability to offer a comprehensive array of services effectively able to reduce or eliminate contaminants that would otherwise be transported throughout a variety of building types, including commercial, residential and educational facilities.
“In addition to our firm’s leadership in the remediation of environmental contaminants at the soil and groundwater level, we are now able to provide turnkey solutions for eliminating harmful compounds from existing structures, from site assessment and system design, through installation,” stated Barry Skoultchi, president of Whitman. “The acquisition of LJS has not only increased our ability to provide decontamination, demolition and in-house construction services to our clients, but has also afforded us the resources and expertise needed to offer a full range of services with regard to vapor intrusion, an area that, particularly in New Jersey, is of critical importance to property owners.”
As a result of the state’s history in the industrial and manufacturing sectors, a significant number of properties in New Jersey are at risk for vapor intrusion. Additionally, with a slow down in new construction, many development companies are focusing their attention on the rehabilitation of older, existing structures, which are among the most susceptible to vapor intrusion.
Vapor intrusion is caused by volatile organic compounds (VOCs), a class of chemicals that readily evaporate at room temperature. Often found in soil and groundwater contaminated by a variety of industrial chemicals, VOCs can be absorbed through cracks or holes in a building’s foundation and can accumulate in basements, crawl spaces and living areas, eventually making their way throughout a building by means of HVAC systems. Building occupants exposed to these chemicals can experience both minor and major health problems, making it imperative that building owners and managers, as well as architects and other real estate professionals involved in the renovation process, ensure that VOCs are properly handled.
Whitman is certified to perform vapor intrusion sampling, which includes testing for gas beneath the building and can lead to indoor air testing. If VOCs are found, Whitman’s experienced engineers can design and install a variety of vapor intrusion systems that redirect VOCs away from the structure.
The firm has completed design and installation of vapor intrusion abatement systems for both commercial and school facilities. The company was recently approved as an Indoor Environmental Health Assessment Consultant by the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services, allowing the company to conduct indoor air quality testing at schools and daycares, as well as evaluate other environmental concerns in buildings used for those purposes.
