Vapor Intrusion Mitigation Systems For Office & Retail

Vapor intrusion can occur in office buildings and other commercial properties. Vapor intrusion occurs when toxic chemicals in the subsurface turn to vapor form and rise up through the soil and enter a building through gaps and cracks in the slab. These toxic vapor forming chemicals can include volatile organic compounds (VOC’s) such as trichloroethylene, perchloroethylene, and benzene, or explosive risks including methane, gasoline, and diesel vapors. Buildings with vapor intrusion issues are typically near current or former dry cleaning sites, metal manufacturers, gas stations, and any other industry that uses these types of chemicals.

If high concentrations of toxic vapors are found to be inside of a structure and determined to be detrimental to the health of the occupants inside, actions need to be taken to remedy this. Health effects from vapor intrusion depend largely on the type of chemical and each individual’s health history, however the most common effects include nervous system damage, kidney and liver damage, birth defects, and cancer. Fortunately, harmful vapor intrusion issues can be resolved with the implementation of a vapor intrusion mitigation system. Vapor intrusion mitigation systems are designed to deter rising soil gasses from collecting underneath a building to seep in. The most common form of vapor mitigation is sub-slab depressurization, however other methods do exist to fit unique structures.