
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Why choose Nvira for your project partner?
Thanks to the synergy between our different lines of business, our teams can provide you with expert consulting solutions and project management for environment, energy, soil and materials, and hygiene, health and safety services.
This blog post does a great job of summarizing why we’re the ideal partner if you have a project that requires environmental solution experts!
What are Nvira’s main areas of expertise?
Nvira has several areas of expertise, which fall into four main lines of business.
Our Environment experts specialize in:
- Environmental assessment, characterization and rehabilitation
- Characterization of natural environments
- Landscape architecture
Our Energy sector experts work to design, build, renovate and maintain energy production, distribution and sales sites.
Our Soil and materials teams are experts in:
- Geotechnical engineering
- Materials engineering
Finally, our Hygiene, health and safety experts can help you with any kind of project, whether it’s related to industrial hygiene or air quality, and can advise you on creating a safe and healthy work environment.
With so many complementary areas of expertise, our teams of experts can advise you throughout your project’s lifespan, no matter what your needs are.
How do I get in contact with a Nvira expert?
It’s so easy! Follow this link to discover one of the many ways you can get in touch with our experts.
Send us an email or instant message, or give us a call. We’re here to answer any questions you may have.
- General information: info@nvira.com
- Administration and finances: payables@nvira.com and recevables@nvira.com
- Environment: environnement@nvira.com
- Energy: energie@nvira.com
- Soil and materials: sols@nvira.com
- Hygiene, health and safety: hygiene@nvira.com
Phone
Toll-free number: 1-877-809-5478
We have an instant messaging tool that can be found in the bottom-right corner of any page on our website
What is in situ treatment?
Sometimes, soil contamination is so extensive that a site cannot be decontaminated with excavation.
In these cases, an in situ treatment is necessary, which involves decontaminating soil and groundwater without first excavating the material to be treated.
Our Environment teams can support you with all your in situ decontamination needs.
Why is landscape architecture part of your environment offering?
Our landscape architecture team manages projects intended to beautify outdoor spaces, so it was completely natural to us that this expertise would be part of our environmental offering.
Our landscape architecture experts pay special attention to each component of a project so that they can meet the needs of all of the environments concerned.
At Nvira, landscape architecture is first and foremost about supporting our clients throughout the process in order to provide results that exceed expectations. We can help you every step of the way with your landscape architecture projects.
What do you do during an environmental disaster to minimize costs and damage?
At Nvira, our watchword for environmental disasters is responsiveness.
By being highly responsive and working with environmental solution experts, we are able to mitigate costs and the effects on the environment.
With our 24/7 emergency service, responsive measures and collaborative mindset, we are able to quickly implement proper protocols so that necessary contamination efforts can get underway.
What are the benefits of working with environmental solution experts to upgrade service stations?
When you work with environmental solution experts to upgrade your service station, you get peace of mind!
Our experts are trained and certified to help service stations make necessary upgrades to ensure your facilities respect the energy and environmental regulations in force. Plus, all of our lines of business work together in close collaboration, and our energy teams often call upon their environment counterparts for service station upgrades.
What are the benefits of performing preventive maintenance on oil and gas equipment?
Our experts can handle all of the preventive maintenance necessary for your oil and gas equipment.
This kind of maintenance helps limit potential emergencies that could significantly impact the environment. While performing preventive maintenance, our experts can detect any problems that might arise, preventing future environmental accidents.
Preventive maintenance also helps extend the longevity of your facilities.
What kinds of tests can you do at the soil analysis laboratory?
At our ISO 9001:2016-certified analysis laboratory, we offer hundreds of tests to analyze and evaluate the quality of materials. Here are just some of the tests available to our clients:
- Sampling of aggregate sources
- Grading
- Petrographic analysis of aggregates
- Compressive concrete strength
- Compressive concrete strength test
- IPPG (pyrite swelling potential index) analysis
- Different analyses of clay materials
- Proctor tests
- Inherent characteristics of aggregates (Micro Deval and Los Angeles tests)
- Soil permeability
We also conduct a wide range of materials classification tests in accordance with CSA, ASTM, BNQ and LC standards.
Why do you need to conduct a soil (geotechnical) analysis before starting construction on a building?
It’s very important to ensure that the soil on your build site is suitable for your project. Our teams can advise you on the types and quantities of materials to use. We can perform the following soil analyses for your project:
- Soil bearing capacity
- Clay shear strength
- Water level on site
- Frost line
- Seismic site class
- Reuse of excavation materials
- Rock swelling potential
- Pavement structure to be implemented
What are the benefits of testing the quality of the air and the indoor environment in your workplace?
Visual inspections have their limits, and a thorough air quality and industrial hygiene test can verify whether the indoor environment complies with the standards and requirements that apply to workplaces. Being proactive can help you prevent problems that impact the building or its occupants.
In addition, though the use of asbestos has declined significantly in Canada in the last few decades, it is still present in many office buildings. Materials that contain asbestos may pose a danger in the workplace, as anyone who inhales the fibres is at risk of developing serious health conditions. Our professionals can detect asbestos and guide you through the asbestos removal process.
What are my obligations if my service station ceases operations?
Two provincial regulations apply when service stations cease operations. The first of these governs the removal of petroleum equipment licensed by the Régie du bâtiment du Québec (RBQ). The second regulation, part of the Environment Quality Act, stipulates that a site characterization study must be submitted to the Ministère de l’Environnement et de la Lutte contre les changements climatiques (MELCC) within six months of the closure. Our experts can walk you through all the legal requirements that apply under these regulations.
Why do I need to test soil quality before I buy land? Are you accredited by my financial institution?
It is important to test soil quality before you buy land to make sure that it is not contaminated and that it is suitable for the construction work you plan to do. The combined expertise of our business lines allows us to coordinate the studies required by financial institutions for loan securitization. Our accredited experts are also able to offer a second opinion on studies conducted by third parties.
How started Nvira?
Founded in 2009, Groupe Petrosol is a petroleum industry expert and an environmental leader in Quebec. In 2018, Groupe Petrosol created Tecsol, its environmental services subsidiary, which also offers geotechnical and materials engineering expertise.
In 2019, Groupe Petrosol acquired Airmax Environnement, Habitair and Laboratoire Verdict in order to break into the hygiene, health and safety market.
Now, in 2020, the company has four distinct areas of expertise marketed under three different brands. Groupe Petrosol has announced that it will streamline its services under a single banner. Nvira is born.
What happened with Tecsol?
Nvira Environment, formerly Tecsol, is supported by the same dedicated team of managers, engineers, professionals and technicians. The name change reflects the merging of Groupe Petrosol’s companies, which allow us to provide a more integrated service experience by bringing our diverse expertise under one roof.
What happened with Terralpha?
In September 2020, Nvira was proud to announce the acquisition of the firm Terralpha, experts in landscape architecture! Since then, we can offer a new expertise to our clients: Landscaping architecture.
What happened with Airmax Environnement?
Hygiene, health and safety business line was created from the merger of Airmax Environnement, Habitair and Laboratoire Verdict with other Groupe Petrosol companies. Our clients can enjoy integrated service that draws on a range of expertise, according to the requirements of their project. Our managers, work teams and quality of work remain the same.
What happened with Petrosol?
Nvira Energy is taking over Petrosol’s business segment within Groupe Petrosol. The new name reflects the merging of the group’s services. However, you will continue to be served by the same teams and leadership, who are able to provide improved service thanks to our new range of turnkey services that make even better use of our breadth of expertise.