Commercial News

2025 Atlantic Hurricane Season

The team at Criterium encourages commercial and residential property owners, property managers, and HOA board members to prepare for the Atlantic hurricane season which takes place June 1 through November 30 each year. This year’s Atlantic seasonal forecast was announced by NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center, a division of the National Weather Service. They predict an….

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2026 Atlantic Hurricane Season

The team at Criterium encourages commercial and residential property owners, property managers, and HOA board members to prepare for the Atlantic hurricane season which takes place June 1 through November 30 each year. This year’s Atlantic seasonal forecast was announced by NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center, a division of the National Weather Service. They predict a….

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Condo Horizons on the Rise

  It was inevitable. Portland’s skyline will soon rise. Portland has been the center for Maine’s high-rise construction with such structures as Franklin Towers (175 feet); Back Bay Tower (172 feet); and 201 Federal Street (200 feet). With the announcement in May of the 30-story, 380-foot ‘Old Port Square’ proposed building, things are about to….

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Condos Charging Forward – The Dangers of Li-ion Batteries

  As if your docket of condo board issues were not heavy enough, now the potential of lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries safety dangers has been surfacing at condo and HOA community gatherings. Li-ion batteries are everywhere and multiplying. Not only are they in your neighbor’s new EV (electric vehicle) in the garage but also his e-bike….

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Changes to Refrigerant Regulation Increase HVAC Replacement Costs

  Contributed by Ralph Manglass, P.E., Senior Engineer, Criterium Engineers If you own or manage a building with air conditioning or heat pump systems, you may soon notice higher replacement costs, and the reason may not be equipment age alone. Enacted in 2025, new federal refrigerant regulations began reshaping the HVAC industry, with significant cost….

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Do You Need a Phase I Environmental Site Assessment (ESA)?

There are many reasons a Phase I Environmental Site Assessment (ESA) might be needed before purchasing a commercial property: The most obvious—oil tanks or chemical storage bins have been dumped on your site or on sites adjacent to yours. Your lender might require it, as many lenders do for larger projects. Your attorney might recommend….

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Is Your Façade Leaking?

  A building’s exterior façade can experience water infiltration anytime during a its lifetime. The façade is composed of a variety of components including windows / door penetrations; wall cladding; and features such as balconies and other architectural elements. Water infiltration can occur while the building is undergoing transition from developer to a new condominium….

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Building Envelope Commissioning (BECx): Building Performance and Energy Efficiency

  When a building is designed and constructed, it is necessary to consider how that building’s envelope will perform throughout its life span. Building Envelope Commissioning (BECx) performed by Criterium Engineers, is part of a comprehensive quality assurance program to verify that project specifications and requirements are incorporated into the building envelope’s design, interpreted accurately,….

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2025 Atlantic Hurricane Season

The team at Criterium encourages commercial and residential property owners, property managers, and HOA board members to prepare for the Atlantic hurricane season which takes place June 1 through November 30 each year. This year’s Atlantic seasonal forecast was announced by NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center, a division of the National Weather Service. They predict another….

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Water Intrusion Testing: Building Envelope Integrity

  When weather penetrates a building, it can be a costly issue that compromises the functionality and habitability of the building and may eventually lead to structural issues. While there is no single tactic that will prevent water from entering a building, incorporating Third Party Quality Assurance during construction or renovation is essential for reducing….

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