Forensic Engineering

Damage Assessments for Residential and Commercial Structures

Stephen E. Petty

• Publisher: CRC Press
• Year: 2021
• Print ISBN: 9780367758134
• eBook ISBN: 9781000414523
• Edition: 2
• Topic: Technology & Engineering
• Subtopic: Civil Engineering
• Index: Technology & Engineering

Serving as a comprehensive resource that builds a bridge between engineering disciplines and the building sciences and trades, Forensic Engineering: Damage Assessments for Residential and Commercial Structures, Second Edition provides an extensive look into the world of forensic engineering. Focusing on investigations associated with insurance industry claims, the book describes methodologies for performing insurance-related investigations, including the causation and origin of damage to residential and commercial structures and/or unhealthy interior environments and adverse effects on the occupants of these structures.

Edited by an industry expert with more than 40 years of experience and contributors with more than 100 years of experience in the field, the book takes the technical aspects of engineering and scientific principles and applies them to real-world issues in a nontechnical manner. The book provides readers with the experiences, investigation methodologies, and investigation protocols used in and derived from thousands of forensic engineering investigations.

FEATURES

• Covers 24 topics in forensic engineering based on thousands of actual field investigations
• Provides a proven methodology based on engineering and scientific principles, experience, and common sense to determine the causes of forensic failures pertaining to residential and commercial properties
• Includes references to many codes, standards, technical literature, and industry best practices
• Illustrates detailed and informative examples utilizing color photographs and figures for industry best practices as well as to identify improper installations
• Combines information from a multitude of resources into one succinct, easy-to-use guide

This book details proven methodologies based on over 10,000 field investigations in which the related strategies can be practically applied and appreciated by both professionals and laymen alike.

1 Introduction

Stephen E. Petty

EES Group, Inc.

Contents

1.1 Definition of Forensic Engineering/Sciences

1.2 Why Forensic Engineering/Sciences?

1.3 Insurance Industry Claims Statistics

1.4 Standard Methodology for Forensic Inspections

1.4.1 Pre-Inspection File Preparation

1.4.1.1 Gathering Information and Allocating Resources

1.4.1.2 Inspection Equipment and Preparation

1.4.2 Basic Site Inspection Methodology

1.4.2.1 Basic Methodology – Site Arrival Best Practice

1.4.2.2 Basic Methodology – Property Owner/Point of Contact Interview

1.4.2.3 Basic Methodology – Interior Inspection

1.4.2.4 Basic Methodology – Exterior (Non-Roof) Inspection

1.4.2.5 Basic Methodology – Roof Inspection

1.4.2.6 Basic Methodology – Collection of Evidence

1.5 Written Inspection Reports – Why Necessary and Standard Components

1.5.1 Need for a Written Inspection Report

1.5.2 Basic Methodology – Elements of a Written Inspection Report

1.5.2.1 Title Page, Cause for Claim/Inspection, and Scope of Work

1.5.2.2 Documentation of Information Obtained During the Interview

1.5.2.3 Review of Structure Information and Applicable Data

1.5.2.4 Review of Weather Data (If Pertinent)

1.5.2.5 Summarization of Inspection Observations

1.5.2.6 Discussion Section Including Pertinent Analysis

1.5.2.7 Conclusions

1.5.2.8 Recommendations

1.5.2.9 Appendices

1.6 Terminology – Use of the Terms “Not Possible,” “Possible,” “Probable,” “Likely,” and “Certain”

References

Purpose/Objectives

The purpose of this chapter is to:

• Define the term “Forensic Engineering” and explain why forensic engineering is needed.
• Define areas within the insurance industry where forensic engineering services are often required.
• Define a standard forensic engineering inspection protocol.
• Explain why written reports are needed along with key elements of the basic forensic report.
• Define how to use the terms “not possible,” “possible,” “probable,” “likely,” and “certain.”

Following the completion of this chapter, you should be able to:

• Understand where forensic engineering services are likely to be needed, especially by the insurance industry.
• Be able to conduct a forensic inspection using a standard protocol.
• Recognize the value and key components of a written forensic inspection report.
• Know and understand when and how to use the terms “possible,” “probable,” “likely,” and “certain.”

1.1 Definition of Forensic Engineering/Sciences

A detailed discussion of the definition of forensic engineering follows:

“Forensic engineering is the application of engineering principals and methodologies to answer questions of fact. These questions of fact are usually associated with accidents, crimes, catastrophic events, degradation of property, and various types of failures,”¹ and further, “Forensic engineering is the application of engineering principles, knowledge, skills, and methodologies to answer questions of fact that may have legal ramifications.”¹

While this definition is applied to forensic engineering, it should be acknowledged that this field is practiced by not only engineers, but also other specialists involved with areas such as roofing system sciences, building envelope sciences, accident reconstruction, industrial hygiene (e.g., mold, bacteria, asbestos, and indoor air quality), and meteorology (rain, wind, snow, ice, hail, tornados, and hurricanes). Thus, the term forensic engineering in this book has been expanded to forensic engineering/sciences. The fundamental questions of fact to be addressed are:

• What are the failure(s) or condition(s) of concern?
• What are the magnitude and extent of the failure(s)?
• When did it occur (if this determination is needed and desired)?
• Why did it occur?

As noted in the preface, this last question, “Why did the failure(s) or concern(s) occur?” is complex, and this causation question must often be answered at multiple levels. For example, if a high wind caused failure of the roof, the failure may be due to high winds, but may have occurred at lower-than-design wind speeds due to improper design and/or installation. This example touches on the issue of the ultimate “root cause” of the failure, which requires analysis based on detailed site inspection information and subsequent analysis and review of the literature, pertinent codes and standards, and other information such as that obtained from interviews. It is common to arrive at a topical conclusion regarding the cause of a failure (e.g., wind) that is not the root cause of failure (e.g., faulty installation). Often, whether in claims resolution discussions or in litigation, this differentiation between a topical cause and a root cause of failure is the core of the arguments between opposing parties involved in a dispute.

What makes forensic engineering/sciences different from other fields of science is that it couples the academic fields of engineering and science with the practical fields, such as building/construction sciences and the trades such as those associated with carpentry, masonry, and plumbing. Building and construction sciences consist of knowing terminology, practices, and methodologies of trades such as carpentry, heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC), plumbing, and electrical. Knowledge of residential and commercial codes and standards is also a must and bridges across all these areas. New engineers and other science professionals are rarely adequately trained in the trades or codes and standards; disciplines, which must be learned by trained forensic investigation professionals through experience. The training of engineers and scientists in this field requires considerable training beyond academics since much of the information needed to make forensics causation opinions lies in the practical fields, areas typically not covered in colleges and universities. Interestingly, often those growing up in rural environments have better entry-level skills in this field than those being raised in urban environments; most likely this is because they must be creative problem-solvers (i.e., cause versus effect) with limited resources given the environment in which they live.

Regardless of experience, the forensic investigator must be able to recognize when they may not have the skill sets to solve a given situation and must feel comfortable to rely on other, m...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Half Title
• Title Page
• Copyright Page
• About the International Code Council
• Dedication
• Table of Contents
• Preface to the Second Edition
• Acknowledgments
• Editor
• Contributors
• Chapter 1 Introduction
• Chapter 2 Hail Fundamentals and General Hail-Strike Damage Assessment Methodology
• Chapter 3 Hail Damage Assessments for Residential and Light Commercial Exterior Finished Surfaces and Steep-Slope Roof Systems
• Chapter 4 Hail Damage Assessments to Low-Sloped Roof Systems
• Chapter 5 Synthetic Storm Damage (Fraud) to Roof Surfaces
• Chapter 6 Wind Damage Assessments for Residential and Light Commercial Roofing Systems and Finished Surfaces
• Chapter 7 Wind Damage Assessments for Low-Sloped Roof Systems
• Chapter 8 Water Infiltration – Cause and Origin Assessments Steep- and Low-Sloped Roof Systems
• Chapter 9 Water Infiltration – Cause and Origin Assessments Exterior Residential and Light Commercial Building Envelope
• Chapter 10 Water Infiltration into Basements
• Chapter 11 Indoor Environmental Quality
• Chapter 12 Attic and Crawlspace Ventilation
• Chapter 13 Mold and Bacteria
• Chapter 14 Forensic Inspection Assessments of Residential Wood Framing Systems
• Chapter 15 Forensic Inspection Assessments of Foundation Walls
• Chapter 16 Forensic Inspection Assessments of Brick Masonry Chimneys, Veneer Walls, and Porches/Decks
• Chapter 17 Fire Damage Structural Property Assessments
• Chapter 18 Vehicle Impact Structural Property Assessments
• Chapter 19 Tornado-Related Structural Property Damage Assessments
• Chapter 20 Blast and Explosion Damage Property Assessments
• Chapter 21 Lightning Damage Property Assessments
• Chapter 22 Plumbing/Piping/Tubing Failures
• Chapter 23 Equipment Failures and Investigations
• Chapter 24 Serving as an Expert Witness
• Index