Forensic Water Intrusion Testing – Los Angeles, CA

April 2, 2021
Electronic Leak Detection (ELD), Forensic Water Intrusion Testing, Inspection, Water Intrusion, Waterproofing, Waterproofing News

Terra-Petra’s waterproofing division has been engaged by a leading Southern California contractor to conduct a forensic assessment of historic water intrusion issues for an existing building near LAX.

Unfortunately, we are not at liberty to discuss the project in detail, or disclose our client’s name as we are bound by an NDA, but we can say that the building in question is a single-story warehouse type structure with an approximate footprint of 100,000 SF.

Our process When Conducting Forensic Assessments:

Complete due diligence research on all existing buildings plans, specifications, reports, waterproofing submittal packages, photos and as-built drawings (if any of these exist). We want to be able to wrap our head around everything that has been completed to date, in order to better understand contributing factors that could have led to the failure in the waterproofing assembly.

Our investigators then conduct site walks where they perform non-destructive testing in compliance with ASTM 2128-12: Standard Guide for Evaluating Water Leakage of Building Walls. This will usually include a visual inspection and the use of thermal imaging equipment and moisture meters, among other tools, to carry out the assessment work.

The forensic investigators will meet with on-site personnel, take notes and photo document conditions in order to prepare summary with our findings, options and recommendations for addressing the water intrusion matters. Sometime the non-destructive testing is not able to identify the source of the failure. In these cases, we are able to move through a destructive testing process where claddings are removed to expose the underlying conditions for the investigators. Possible testing strategies may include water testing following ASTM/AAMA standards either with or without static pressure, flood testing with colored dyes or visual inspections. Each condition is analyzed on a case-by-case basis to determine the most appropriate strategy.

No Quick Fixes, Patches Or Band-Aids....We Get To The Root Of The Problem and Fix It!

At Terra-Petra we do not believe in “patches” or “band aids” when it comes to repairing failures in the waterproofing assembly because quite honestly, they just don’t work…one must get to the root cause and make repairs at that level, to stop the leak.

Our forensic team has a high degree of success in identifying root causes of water intrusion issues by following the process outlined above.

Contact Terra-Petra today to get started or get a consultation on your own waterproofing project needs.

Terra-Petra Providing Waterproofing Services for New Project In West Hollywood

April 2, 2021
, , CQA, CQA/CQC, Inspection, Terra-Petra News, Uncategorized, Waterproofing, Waterproofing News, waterproofing testing

Terra-Petra is thrilled to have been a part of this fabulous project being finished off in West Hollywood, The Pendry Hotel. Terra-Petra served as the Quality Assurance/Quality Control Waterproofing Inspectors throughout the entire construction process. We are also in the process of completing the QA/QC Fenestration Testing at the Residence in compliance with the project’s performance specifications.

Our field-testing crew has been ramping up over the last week to ensure we have the necessary labor and material to meet the demand of the water testing schedule. We are currently in production mode as we are testing the exterior fenestrations of the building with 3 crews working simultaneously.

Press About The Project

Re-Post From Vogue.com

The Britely, a New Member’s Club in Los Angeles, Is Feather-Filled and Fabulous

There’s this famous Oscar Wilde quote: “Everything in moderation, including moderation.” That very well could be plastered on the gilded door of The Britely, a new member’s only club in Los Angeles where maximalism is the modus operandi. There’s not one, but two Wolfgang Puck restaurants—one of which is painted a flamingo pink. Their rooftop bar, with sweeping views of L.A.’s urban sprawl, is adorned in jade palmeral-tiger print. Then there’s the hangout de resistance: an underground lounge with turquoise banquettes, gold lamé pillows, Hollywood Regency feather lamps, and a bowling alley. Simply put: it’s a place where you can have some serious fun. (Or as Estelle Lacroix, The Britely’s managing director puts it, “a little self-indulgence.”)

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Re-Post from LA.Eater.com

First Look Inside Wolfgang Puck’s Pair of New Restaurants at Pendry West Hollywood

Wolfgang Puck is making a pizza. The 71-year-old chef, who has become a household name from his airport eateries, grocery line, and upscale establishments, has been making pizza for a very long time. Best known for creating the smoked salmon pizza at Spago, which was one of the city’s first restaurants to have a wood-fired oven, Puck is contemplating the signature pizza at his new daytime hotel cafe Ospero.

He stretches the dough while posing for the camera, as if this was a shoot for a glossy fashion magazine. Puck is always posing, holding a dish out for maximum exposure. He, and the team at Ospero and the penthouse restaurant Merois, will likely need it as the ongoing pandemic continues to hamper an ideal opening scenario at the massive new Pendry West Hollywood.

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Terra-Petra awarded contract to perform methane and water intrusion inspections for Northern California project

February 5, 2014
Environmental Construction, Environmental Engineering, Inspection, Methane Gas Inspections, State of California Construction, Terra-Petra Company News, Terra-Petra News, Uncategorized

Terra-Petra was recently awarded the contract to perform inspections at the Maple Street Correctional Facility site in Redwood City, California. The Northern California site requires excavation below the water table and is located within a region impacted by naturally occurring methane gas. As such, the future building is susceptible to the impacts of methane gas and water intrusion and requires a dual methane barrier/waterproofing system. Gergen Construction is in the process of installing the system which will consist of a membrane and passive venting system to adequately protect the building.

The inspections will be administered through Terra-Petra’s San Francisco office. Terra-Petra’s Deputy Methane Barrier Inspectors (DMBI) come prepared with diverse certifications and extensive knowledge of prevalent systems, making Terra-Petra a versatile choice for any methane/water impacted construction project. The Maple Street Correctional Facility site is no exception. For this project, Terra-Petra’s certified Hydroshield, Coreflex and Liquid Boot inspectors led to the selection of Terra-Petra as the best team to get the job done.The joint effort and long-standing relationship between Terra-Petra and Gergen Construction will ensure an efficient and reliable system to provide the project owners with an environmentally safe building.

 

 

 

Terra-Petra Completes Methane Barrier and Below Grade Waterproofing Work on Cedars-Sinai’s Completed Advanced Health Sciences Pavilion Project

August 13, 2013
, , , , , , , , , City of Los Angeles, DMBI, Enivronmental Engineering, Inspection, Methane Barrier Installation, Soil Gas, Terra-Petra Company News, Uncategorized, Waterproofing

The new Cedars-Sinai Advanced Health Science Pavilion integrates clinical care and biomedical research in a single building. Terra-Petra Environmental Engineering developed the combination LADBS approved methane mitigation system as well as the buildings below grade waterproofing system for the 820,000 square foot structure.

According to Terra-Petra's VP/General Manager, Justin Conaway, "Terra-Petra performed all LADBS Deputy Methane Barrier Inspections (DMBI) for this project; we also provided manufacturer required below grade waterproofing system inspections to ensure the project received the full 15 year Hydro Shield warranty."

Terra-Petra Deputy Methane Barrier Inspectors are cross-trained, qualified and certified to perform the below grade waterproofing inspections in order to provide a substantial cost-savings by performing both of services with one inspector. Terra-Petra currently employs 7 LADBS Deputy Methane Barrier Inspectors (DMBI).

"We are proud to be a part of such an outstanding project and very excited for Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and their quest to provide services for today's new era of health care within the new Advanced Health Sciences Pavillion," said Kevin Buchanan, President of Terra-Petra.

Terra-Petra Environmental Engineering Heads Up Methane Barrier Inspection for the Port of Los Angeles Port Police Department K-9 Facility

June 19, 2013
, , , , , , , , City of Los Angeles, Construction Industry, Environmental Construction, Environmental Engineering, Environmental Health, Inspection, Inspections, Methane Gas Inspections, Methane Mitigation Design Projects, Uncategorized

Terra-Petra has announced that it has been contracted to carry out the methan barrier inspection of the methane gas barrier membrane system for the Port of Los Angeles and Port Police Department's new K-9 facility.  Located across the street from the Port, in Wilmington, California, the new state-of-the-art facility will include fourteen indoor dog runs, a grooming room, storage and a climate controlled environment including air conditioning and central heating.

The Port of Los Angeles property lays within the City of Los Angeles' "Methane Zone" and must follow the City of Los Angeles Department of Building Safety's (LADBS) Methane Code within the Port's building requirements