H2M architects + engineers

Today we close out Fire Prevention Week, an annual weeklong observation dedicated to fire safety advocacy and education. Fires can spread quickly, so preparing yourself and your family to evacuate your home is a vital part of any effective fire safety education. H2M’s Plumbing and Fire Protection Project Engineer Christopher Gale, E.I.T., LEED AP (BD+C) explains, “It's important to create an escape plan! Find two ways out of every room in your house using doors, windows, or other means of egress, and pick a meeting place outside in front of your home. Discuss the plan with everyone in your home, especially children.” Many households will develop an evacuation plan, but it’s just as important to put the plan into practice. Gale, who volunteers as a firefighter with the Bay Shore Fire Department, recommends that families run periodic practice drills to ensure that children and adults alike can enact the evacuation plan without a second thought.

Earlier this week we celebrated our architecture team in honor of World Architecture Day being this past Monday. We are proud to highlight the amazing professionals that make up our architecture staff. They are hard working and dedicated to providing the best solutions to our clients every day of the year!

Our Civil Department is expanding in Wall, New Jersey! We are on the lookout for a Civil Discipline Engineer who will be responsible for overseeing the design and coordination on multidiscipline projects and managing staff in the preparation of site, grading, drainage, roadway, water and sewer infrastructure designs. H2M provides exceptional career development opportunities, a harmonious work-life balance, access to a generous suite of employee benefits, and the ability to work on interesting projects every day. Join our team today to become an essential member of an award-winning firm with 90+ years of excellence! HR Contact: Suzanne Mayo, SHRM-CP For more information, visit: https://lnkd.in/eGNzQiyw

  This morning our CEO & President, Rich Humann, P.E., moderated a panel of Long Island leaders who gave insight into their success and provided candid advice to the young professionals and the development and scholarship award winners. The panel showcased five entrepreneurs who value hard work and encourage young professionals to persevere through any obstacle that comes their way. Thank you HIA-LI for hosting this valuable conversation and thank you to the panelists for sharing your stories! 

Today, we continue Fire Prevention Week with H2M’s Public Safety Market Director and volunteer firefighter Patrick Stone, AIA, LEED AP warning about some of the most common causes of house fires that he’s seen: “Oil burner emergencies are the number one alarm we go to as we enter the heating season. People often forget to have routine maintenance done, which leads to oil burner puff backs, CO alarms, and sometimes worse.” Heating system maintenance can prevent a fire from starting in your home. “Grills can also be a risk as the weather gets colder,” Stone added. “People tend to move the grill closer to the house so they don’t have to stand in the cold for too long. It doesn’t take much for a grill to catch siding, fencing, and other building materials on fire.” Maintain proper clearance between your house and your grill, ashtrays, or any other heat source.

Today is World Mental Health Day, a reminder that mental well-being is just as important as physical health. Let's continue breaking the stigma, prioritizing self-care, and supporting each other. Remember, it's okay to not be okay – reach out if you need help. Together, we can make a difference!

Welcome to Fire Prevention Week, an annual weeklong observation dedicated to educating the public on best practices for preventing deadly fires. In recognition of this year’s theme—“Smoke alarms: make them work for you!”—H2M’s Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Joseph Mottola,AIA , stresses the importance of smoke detector maintenance. As smoke detectors became more common in the 1980s, fire departments began reporting fewer and fewer home structure fires. Similarly, studies by the National Fire Protection Agency have found that a smoke detector in the home can reduce the risk of death or injury by as much as 60%—but only if the detectors and alarms are functional. “A lot of people take their smoke detectors for granted, but it’s hard to overstate how many lives are saved by early fire detection,” says Mottola, whose career as a firefighter includes 10 years with the Seaford Fire Department and over 30 years with the Massapequa Fire Department. In order to ensure their smoke detectors work when they’re most needed, Mottola recommends that homeowners replace their smoke detector batteries at the same time they are adjusting clocks for Daylight Saving Time. “It’s vital to replace your smoke detector batteries roughly every six months to ensure the device is working properly,” Mottola adds. “Don’t wait until it starts beeping to do something about it!”

This week is Fire Prevention Week, an annual observance dedicated to educating the public on best practices for fire safety. Today, we’re looking at the first-ever hybrid fire suppression system in a New York State landmark, and how these cutting-edge technologies can be leveraged to protect people and valuable items from fire damage. At the top of a mountain in Saratoga County, NY, approximately 1,000 feet above sea level, sits the Grant Cottage State Historic Site, a New York State landmark and former Gilded Age resort where 18th President Ulysses S. Grant completed his legendary memoirs before he passed away in 1865. The Cottage’s age and secluded location atop Mount McGregor created the urgent need for a built-in fire suppression system that would protect both the building and its historic items from harm. H2M worked with MEP consultants to design a hybrid nitrogen-based suppression system that uses inert gas and water to create a nitrogen-rich atmosphere, which dilutes oxygen in the air, allowing the water particles to better absorb heat and preventing further combustion. The hybrid system is designed to protect historic items from fire damage while avoiding damage from water-based systems. H2M also worked with a historic preservation consultant to weave the sprinkler and alarm systems into Grant Cottage’s 19th-century aesthetic, ensuring that the systems remain essentially invisible to visitors while offering robust fire protection for an important historic landmark.

In recognition of National Careers in Construction Month, we are spotlighting the various available careers in our Construction Services department. Up this week: Construction Observation. Prior to joining H2M, Joe Renta, one of our many dedicated Senior Construction Observers, held over 35 years’ of experience in the water industry. He was on the lookout for a career that would provide greater opportunities and his existing skillset helped him seamlessly transition onto H2M’s team. He shares, “I was looking for something new and exciting and, I have to say, this position has definitely delivered.”   “I am very proud to be a part of the state-of-the-art construction being completed at every phase, whether beginning or end. It's rewarding to spend time on these projects and witness them finally come to life.” He continues, “My position allows me to interact with different contractors, create relationships with them, and maintain an open dialogue to ensure all jobs run smoothly and according to plan.” Aside from his technical role, he benefits from the culture found within H2M. “It’s the people I work with, from my Director to my peers, that make this job so enjoyable. They welcomed me right from the start and continue to help me, no matter the situation. Teamwork is definitely a common theme here and I’m happy to be a part of it.” To learn more about a career in Construction Services at H2M, visit: https://lnkd.in/eSfnC3Er Contact: Amanda Vardakas, SHRM-CP (avardakas@h2m.com) #Construction #Careersinconstruction #hiring #observer

This week is Fire Prevention Week, which is a time dedicated to fire safety education. Today, H2M’s Corporate Safety Manager and volunteer firefighter Anthony DiChiara offers a simple tip to increase how much time you have to escape a fire: “Close before you doze.” “A closed door makes a significant difference in how quickly a fire can spread through a home,” DiChiara explains. “Forty years ago, if you were asleep, you would have had 17 minutes to get out of your home. Today, the synthetic materials used in modern furniture burn faster, reducing escape time down to three minutes.” The below video from the Fire Safety Research Institute demonstrates the difference that a closed door can make. Before going to sleep, DiChiara recommends protecting yourself and your family by closing all bedroom doors. https://lnkd.in/eznieeb