Chelsea Group provides building science consulting services, including engineering, architectural, and industrial hygiene expertise, to the owners of commercial and institutional real estate. Applying Building Science for Sustainability, Disaster Recovery, and Optimization of Asset Value

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Disaster Recovery and Preparedness

Building owners and managers know the value of providing safe, secure facilities for their clients and responding quickly and effectively when there is a disaster. The Chelsea Group Disaster Preparedness and Recovery program is about protecting the health and safety of occupants and the value of the physical asset for commercial and institutional properties during and following natural and man-made disasters. We offer rapid response with multi-disciplinary teams that can address a wide range of challenges in existing buildings. Chelsea Group’s Disaster Recovery program has helped clients recoup from floods and fires, solve mold problems, and recover from construction defects.

Disaster Preparedness

The Chelsea Group preparedness program includes a preliminary assessment tool for determining disaster response capabilities, such as the ability to shelter in place, and the ability of the facility to recover from an event. Chelsea Group provides Hazard Vulnerability Assessments (HVAs) for assistance in planning for and upgrading facilities in anticipation of disaster events.

Chelsea Group can assist in disaster preparations such as:

Assessing the strengths and weaknesses of the structure, infrastructure, building envelope and support systems of the building.
Evaluating the capability of the facility to provide shelter in the event of an emergency and on an ongoing basis during the recovery period.
Based on assessments and evaluations, taking action to strengthen building systems
Preparing a report based on the observations and analysis of the building, integrating observations and documentation in a form that allows quick reference for use under emergency conditions.

Chelsea Group can help you prepare, build and rebuild so that your building will weather the storm.

Disaster Recovery

When disasters occur, large or small, Chelsea Group provides a response team to assist in the recovery of the building, including documenting the impacts, overseeing remediation workers, resolving technical issues that arise, and documenting and verifying recovery. Forensic assessments by Chelsea Group are also often part of financial recovery from government assistance and insurance programs.

Property managers have called on Chelsea Group for all kinds of disaster response. For example:

Chelsea Group was brought in to a New Orleans arts center after Hurricane Katrina to assess the extent of biologically impacted building materials and mechanical systems, and to document pertinent findings for insurance coverage purposes. In addition, Chelsea Group made recommendations addressing proper remediation, cleaning and removal techniques to protect both workers and the exhibits displayed in the center.
After a devastating flood at the University of Hawaii at Manoa, Chelsea Group was responsible for ensuring that water-damaged buildings were restored to their pre-flood condition and ready for occupancy, paying special attention to the moisture and mold damage caused by the flood.

In addition to immediate recovery needs, Chelsea Group clients have taken advantage of the company’s forensic capabilities for looking at financial recovery from FEMA and insurance companies, as well as pursuing or defending against legal attacks on issues such as mold or construction defect.

When Louisiana State University (LSU) ran into difficulties demonstrating to FEMA that there was residual damage to the eleven major buildings of their Health Sciences Campus from Hurricane Katrina and its aftermath, Chelsea Group was brought in to assess the extent of biological and chemical contamination remaining in impacted building materials and mechanical systems and any evidence of hidden deterioration of the building materials that had been submerged after the levee break. A key aspect was to document pertinent findings to an extent that would be acceptable to FEMA. As a result, Chelsea Group made recommendations addressing proper remediation, and the readiness of the impacted area for reconstruction and occupancy. LSU reported that the results were accepted by FEMA without argument.

Chelsea Group’s teams focus on integrated solutions that get buildings back up and running quickly, cost-effectively, and with sufficient documentation.