What Forensic Engineers Look for When Assessing Storm Damage to Commercial Buildings
A severe storm moves through and the calls start coming in. Roof leaks appear in a warehouse. HVAC units on the roof of an office building aren’t running right. A retail building’s facade has visible damage. For commercial property owners and their insurance carriers, the question is always the same: what did the storm actually […]
What Happens to the Forensic Engineering Report After We Submit It: How Our Findings Move Through the Claims Process
We spend days, sometimes weeks, investigating a loss, analyzing the evidence, and writing a report that documents what happened, what caused it, and what it will take to fix. Then we submit it to the insurance carrier, and from our perspective, the report enters a process that most of our clients (property owners, building managers, […]
Why Insurance Carriers Hire Forensic Engineers — and What Happens During the Inspection
If you’re a property owner dealing with an insurance claim and you learn that the carrier is sending a forensic engineer to inspect your property, your first reaction is probably some combination of confusion and concern. Most people have never encountered a forensic engineer before, and the word “forensic” makes it sound like someone suspects […]
The Science Behind Investigating Electrical Fires
Introduction Electrical fires can wreak havoc on properties, leading to significant losses and posing severe safety risks. While the aftermath is often devastating, understanding the science behind these events is crucial for prevention and proper insurance claim handling. The Ignition Point: Electrical Failures Every electrical fire has an ignition point, which can be anything from […]