As forensic engineers, we are called to seek answers to the question “why?” Why did something fail? Why did the accident occur? And sometimes, “Why has it always been done this way?”
Heat Maintenance Evaluation
It was reported that a residential building in the Northeast was damaged due to frozen and burst water or heat pipes. We were retained to provide a weather analysis for the time period during which the damages reportedly occurred, and to provide opinions regarding whether or not the capacity of the heating system in the building was adequate to provide reasonable heat to the building, and whether or not reasonable heat was maintained in the building during the time period in question. Our work to complete this assignment was performed by Dennis Morrissey, P.E.
Snow Load Evaluation
U.S. Forensic was retained to determine the cause of a barn collapse. The homeowner reported that during a snow event, wind pressure caused the structure to collapse. Joel Howard, P.E. was assigned to conduct a failure analysis. Our client requested that we evaluate the building framing and determine the cause and extent of the damage.
Gym Floor Evaluation
U.S. Forensic was hired to perform an evaluation of buckled and cupped floors in a recreation and fitness facility. Mr. William Janowsky, P.E. was retained to complete the assignment.
Featured Project: Hurricane Damage Evaluation
It was reported that a church building was damaged during the passage of Hurricane Isaac on August 29, 2012. The specific damage reported was that wind pressures damaged the roof coverings of the building and that rainwater entered the interior of the building during the storm and damaged the interior finishes. U.S. Forensic was retained to perform an evaluation of the building and to determine the cause and extent of the reported damage.
Vehicle Fire – Accelerant Detection Canine
U.S. Forensic was retained to examine a 2011 Nissan Frontier truck to determine the origin and cause of a fire. The vehicle was inspected by Matthew A. Guffey, IAAI-CFI using his accelerant detection canine, Shazam.
Interactive Map: Aerial Images of Matthew Affected Areas.
On October 8th, U.S. Forensic took aerial images of the eastern coastline after the landfall of Hurricane Matthew.
Key Analysis
U. S. Forensic was retained by our client to perform a key analysis related to a reportedly stolen vehicle. The 2 keys and the single keyless entry transmitter for the Chevrolet were examined, tested and photographed by Jeffrey P. Stark, P.E. and Forensic Locksmith at the U.S. Forensic facility in Metairie, Louisiana.
Cruise Ship Breakaway Investigation
The cruise ship Carnival Triumph broke free from its moorings and drifted across the Mobile River, where it collided with a moored dredge. This is the same ship that days earlier was without air conditioning, and largely without lights, water, food and working toilets due to an engine fire.
Marine Project: Bulkhead Evaluation
U.S. Forensic was hired to perform an evaluation of a bulkhead at a shorebase facility and to determine the cause and extent of the reported damage and provide a scope of repairs.
