flexiblefullpage -
billboard - default
interstitial1 - interstitial
catfish1 - bottom
Currently Reading

U.S. military demands landlords address health hazards in troop housing

Codes and Standards

U.S. military demands landlords address health hazards in troop housing

Air Force threatens formal dispute process.


By Peter Fabris, Contributing Editor | October 28, 2019

Courtesy Pixabay

Three branches of the U.S. military are more intently scrutinizing housing landlord Balfour Beatty Communities with concerns over health hazards and maintenance practices, according to a Reuters report.

The Air Force issued an ultimatum for Balfour Beatty to submit a plan to resolve concerns with serious life, health, and safety issues within 90 days in housing at all 21 Air Force bases where it operates troop housing. If the company fails to make improvements promptly, the Air Force will begin a formal dispute process that could result in financial penalties and termination of its operating agreement with Balfour Beatty, Reuters reported.

According to Reuters, records show Air Force personnel at Tinker had questioned the accuracy of the company’s maintenance logs multiple times. Some families at Tinker Air Force Base in Oklahoma were exposed to asbestos, sewage, vermin, and mold, Reuters reported.

The Army docked more than 50% of Balfour Beatty’s financial bonuses at three bases this year. Other housing landlords also had fees withheld.

Related Stories

Mass Timber | Sep 19, 2023

Five Things Construction Specialties Learned from Shaking a 10-Story Building

Construction Specialties (CS) is the only manufacturer in the market that can claim its modular stair system can withstand 100 earthquakes. Thanks to extensive practical testing conducted this spring at the University of California San Diego (UCSD) on the tallest building ever to be seismically tested, CS has identified five significant insights that will impact all future research and development in stair solutions.

Data Centers | Sep 15, 2023

Power constraints are restricting data center market growth

There is record global demand for new data centers, but availability of power is hampering market growth. That’s one of the key findings from a new CBRE report: Global Data Center Trends 2023.

Engineers | Sep 15, 2023

NIST investigation of Champlain Towers South collapse indicates no sinkhole

Investigators from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) say they have found no evidence of underground voids on the site of the Champlain Towers South collapse, according to a new NIST report. The team of investigators have studied the site’s subsurface conditions to determine if sinkholes or excessive settling of the pile foundations might have caused the collapse. 

Codes and Standards | Sep 13, 2023

New rule mandates annual parapet inspections for New York City buildings

In November 2021, New York City enacted Local Law 126 of 2021, which is well-known in the building industry for establishing new requirements for periodic parking garage inspections. At the same time, the legislation added a section to the NYC Administrative Code mandating periodic observation of building parapets. To allow owners time to prepare, the City set the start date for the new parapet observations for January 1, 2024.

Resiliency | Sep 11, 2023

FEMA names first communities for targeted assistance on hazards resilience

FEMA recently unveiled the initial designation of 483 census tracts that will be eligible for increased federal support to boost resilience to natural hazards and extreme weather. The action was the result of bipartisan legislation, the Community Disaster Resilience Zones Act of 2022. The law aims to help localities most at risk from the impacts of climate change to build resilience to natural hazards.

Metals | Sep 11, 2023

Best practices guide for air leakage testing for metal building systems released

The Metal Building Manufacturers Association (MBMA) released a new guidebook, Metal Building Systems - Best Practices to Comply with Whole-Building Air Leakage Testing Requirements.

Contractors | Sep 11, 2023

Construction industry skills shortage is contributing to project delays

Relatively few candidates looking for work in the construction industry have the necessary skills to do the job well, according to a survey of construction industry managers by the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC) and Autodesk.

K-12 Schools | Sep 5, 2023

CHPS launches program to develop best practices for K-12 school modernizations

The non-profit Collaborative for High Performance Schools (CHPS) recently launched an effort to develop industry-backed best practices for school modernization projects. The Minor Renovations Program aims to fill a void of guiding criteria for school districts to use to ensure improvements meet a high-performance threshold. 

Windows and Doors | Aug 31, 2023

Updated specification rates ability of windows, doors, skylights, sliding glass doors to withstand impacts from windborne debris

The Fenestration and Glazing Industry Alliance (FGIA) updated a specification providing a system for rating the ability of windows, doors, skylights and sliding glass doors to withstand impact and pressure cycling generally associated with hurricane conditions.

Office Buildings | Aug 31, 2023

About 11% of U.S. office buildings could be suitable for green office-to-residential conversions

A National Bureau of Economic Research working paper from researchers at New York University and Columbia Business School indicates that about 11% of U.S. office buildings may be suitable for conversion to green multifamily properties.

boombox1 - default
boombox2 -
native1 -

More In Category

AEC Tech

Lack of organizational readiness is biggest hurdle to artificial intelligence adoption

Managers of companies in the industrial sector, including construction, have bought the hype of artificial intelligence (AI) as a transformative technology, but their organizations are not ready to realize its promise, according to research from IFS, a global cloud enterprise software company. An IFS survey of 1,700 senior decision-makers found that 84% of executives anticipate massive organizational benefits from AI. 


Codes and Standards

Updated document details methods of testing fenestration for exterior walls

The Fenestration and Glazing Industry Alliance (FGIA) updated a document serving a recommended practice for determining test methodology for laboratory and field testing of exterior wall systems. The document pertains to products covered by an AAMA standard such as curtain walls, storefronts, window walls, and sloped glazing. AAMA 501-24, Methods of Test for Exterior Walls was last updated in 2015. 


MFPRO+ News

World’s largest 3D printer could create entire neighborhoods

The University of Maine recently unveiled the world’s largest 3D printer said to be able to create entire neighborhoods. The machine is four times larger than a preceding model that was first tested in 2019. The older model was used to create a 600 sf single-family home made of recyclable wood fiber and bio-resin materials.


Contractors

AGC releases decarbonization playbook to help assess, track, reduce GHG emissions

The Associated General Contractors of America released a new, first-of-its-kind, decarbonization playbook designed to help firms assess, track, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions on projects. The AGC Playbook on Decarbonization and Carbon Reporting in the Construction Industry is part of the association’s efforts to make sure construction firms play a leading role in crafting carbon-reduction measures for the industry.

halfpage1 -

Most Popular Content

  1. 2021 Giants 400 Report
  2. Top 150 Architecture Firms for 2019
  3. 13 projects that represent the future of affordable housing
  4. Sagrada Familia completion date pushed back due to coronavirus
  5. Top 160 Architecture Firms 2021