Member Spotlight: Mark A Ohlmann
Mr. Ohlmann is the Associate Vice President of Consulting services with Moisture Intrusion Solution’s a Salas Obrien Company. Prior to joining the MIS team in December of 2017, he served as a Senior Facilities Professional for Building Exterior Solutions/Terracon (BES) from September of 2013 through December 2017. Additionally, he was a Regional Facilities Manager for Town & Country Bank and Trust Company in Bardstown, Kentucky, from 2011 through 2013 and served in the construction, construction management, or project management role as both a contractor and owner’s representative within the construction industry. He brings over 25 years’ experience in new mid-rise commercial, medical, mixed-use, multi-family, and residential construction, as well as renovation, maintenance, and repairs for existing buildings. As a Facilities Advisor and Training Consultant to the YMCA of the USA, he was recognized with a National Award for Excellence in Facilities in 2004. Mr. Ohlmann has performed construction phase administration services for various building envelope projects while at MIS, including conducting construction
field observations and witnessing third-party certification testing of building envelope systems. Mr. Ohlmann is Level 1 IR certified, FGIA/AAMA Level IMNC-2019 Installation Master, ABAA Field Auditor, OSHA 30, FAPC and CDT certified.
When did you become a licensed field auditor?
A: I completed training Feb 27-Mar 1, 2019, and were certified on April 15, 2019.
What inspired you to pursue the Field Auditor program with ABAA?
A: I was asked by my manager, if I would participate in the ABAA Field Auditor training as there was a need for Auditors in my region (Texas at that time). Do, I accepted and took the in-person course led by Peter Spafford in Daytona Beach, FL.
Name: Mark A Ohlmann
Title: Associate Vice President
Company: Moisture Intrusion Solutions – a Salas O’Brien Company
City: Nashville, TN
ABAA member for 6.5 years
How has the Field Auditor certification impacted your career or professional development?
A. The Auditor certification has opened up access to projects I would not have otherwise been involved in. It has positioned me on various military installations, hospitals, universities and government buildings in various states throughout the United States.
What are some of the challenges you’ve encountered in your role as a Field Auditor and how has your certification helped you address them?
A. The support provided by the ABAA team has been instrumental in garnering solutions with challenging transitions in materials or resolutions when encountering poor application techniques or when improper substrate preparation was present.
What advice would you give to someone considering pursuing the Field Auditor certification with ABAA?
A. Pursue the Auditor certification and take on the role as an auditor. It will challenge you and can only enhance your experience and education in the built environment.
In your opinion, what are the key elements of a successful air barrier audit?
A. Pre-planning and preparation, review your documentation and know the materials. Keep maintained and calibrated equipment. Effective communications with the project teams and installers.
Describe how understanding continuity and component compatibility has improved your work quality, and the work quality of the installers.
A. Continuity of systems is imperative to a complete system that will last throughout the intended life cycle of the building. A discontinuous system will lead to intrusive failures which will shorten the intended duration of the assemblies. Compatibility of materials is essential in maintaining a systems approach to the building envelope. Materials which are not compatible will break down causing premature systems failures resulting in costly repairs.
Do you foresee an increased demand for improved performance and quality assurance in the air barrier/construction industry?
Yes, energy code will continue to drive building performance. The demand for tighter building envelope systems continues to be at the forefront of the industry as evidenced by the increased demand for commissioning on projects. Tighter buildings have and will present more challenges as the industry adapts. As the building codes evolve, and buildings get tighter it will become increasingly difficult for site teams to maintain the knowledge needed to provide the oversight to ensure the projects are meeting the performance demands resulting in the need for more experienced quality assurance professionals in the field.
Any additional insights about your certification experience or working in the air barrier industry?
A. In today’s building environment, with a shortage of skilled trades people, ABAA plays a critical role in the delivery of a quality constructed building. As it is written, “be wise and build your house on solid rock. So it is with the building envelope. At the end of the day, you only get one shot at successfully completing the building envelope enclosure. One that will provide a healthy and lasting building for it’s current and future occupants.