Blog
August 12, 2026 · 7 min read
Being the PE who value engineers someone else's stamped mechanical design is delicate work. Finding the savings is the easy part. The deliverable is the disclosure — exactly what the owner gives up to get the money back.
August 12, 2026 · 4 min read
The biggest shift may be a new verbal protocol for assigning agent work, adding context, and running dozens of studies at once.
October 14, 2025 · 2 min read
Working with refrigerants is more than just knowing the refrigeration cycle — it’s about handling cylinders correctly, using the right...
October 7, 2025 · 2 min read
Refrigerants are powerful chemicals. If mishandled, they can harm the environment, damage equipment, and trigger severe EPA fines....
September 29, 2025 · 2 min read
Not all refrigerants are created equal. Some are simple, single-component chemicals like R-22, while others are blends of refrigerants...
September 26, 2025 · 2 min read
When you look at modern air conditioning and refrigeration, it’s easy to take for granted that cold air just “happens.” But the truth is,...
September 24, 2025 · 2 min read
When you enter the HVAC world, you quickly learn that handling refrigerants is not just about cooling spaces — it’s about protecting...
April 6, 2025 · 3 min read
A $25 oversight had made my $5,000 upgrade completely useless.
October 6, 2024 · 5 min read
AI Strategies for Real Estate Brokers: Unlocking Potential Many firms struggle to fully harness AI due to confusion around key concepts...
July 5, 2024 · 2 min read
The new Virginia Plumbing Code (2021) contains a hidden conflict regarding grease traps. Let's investigate.
March 16, 2023 · 3 min read
Permit ZIP has grappled with various ways to solve scalability problems for the small-project MEP engineering market. Teaching a team to...
January 5, 2023 · 1 min read
Our MEP consulting firm, PermitZIP, is dedicated to small projects and provides a unique value proposition to our clients. We understand...
December 28, 2022 · 1 min read
PermitZIP has developed the Instant Quote tool, which allows users to get fast and accurate pricing estimates for a wide range of MEP...
April 5, 2022 · 4 min read
Construction drawings are more than a floor plan.
January 21, 2020 · 2 min read
Have you ever heard of a trap primer or a trap seal? Well, if you’ve been in a bathroom or kitchen and smelled the sweet smells of sewer...
January 3, 2020 · 2 min read
Once upon a time (three years ago), in a kingdom far far away (Richmond, VA) a man started a business (PermitZIP). This man (Kenny...
December 10, 2019 · 2 min read
Architect - Robyn Thomas Architects Owner - Jon Parden General Contractor - Spacemakers MEP Engineer - PermitZIP A Coastal Virginia...
November 12, 2019 · 4 min read
A perfect and cheap HVAC system is a unicorn.
November 7, 2019 · 1 min read
History and wine come together in this beautiful project along the James River Canal. With the great design team of Johannes Design,...
October 24, 2019 · 2 min read
Chances are if you've had coffee in a Richmond restaurant, you've had Blanchard's coffee. Blanchard's Coffee Roasting Company has been...
October 15, 2019 · 3 min read
You've been saving your pennies, and you're ready to open a new office/business/restaurant. You get an estimate to get work started, pull...
July 16, 2018 · 4 min read
In working with contractors and developers around the city, we have found that one of the most distressing line items that may come up in...