When most people think of generator hazards, carbon monoxide poisoning is the first concern. And for good reason. Improper use in enclosed spaces has caused countless tragedies. But as a forensic engineer, I’m often called when something more tangible and destructive has occurred: fire. Generators...
As featured on FacilitiesNet Flooding remains a persistent threat to commercial and institutional facilities, with even a single event capable of causing lasting structural and operational damage. Megan Abadie, civil engineer at EDT, recently spoke with FacilitiesNet Assistant Editor Jeff Wardon Jr...
In commercial buildings, HVAC systems are often complex networks of boilers, valves, and chemical treatment systems that have to work in perfect balance. When even one small component fails, the effects can ripple throughout an entire facility. I was called to investigate an incident at a hospital...
Many moisture claims start a similar way: “We’ve got water where it shouldn’t be. Must be the roof.” Sometimes it is. Often, it isn’t. Water has more than one way to become a problem in a building. In addition to wind-driven rain and plumbing leaks, I’m frequently called to losses where the culprit...
Prior to my career as a Consulting Engineer at EDT, I worked for over a decade in the telecommunications industry where I performed structural engineering work and inspections services. In this role, I traveled all over the country and worked on thousands of cellular and broadcast towers which gave...
A common assumption is that house fires start from obvious hazards, such as faulty wiring, unattended cooking, or heating equipment too close to combustibles. But in my work as a forensic engineer, I’ve seen that sometimes the culprits are far stranger. Rodents building nests inside HVAC units...
When I walked up to the property, everything looked perfect. Fresh paint. Tidy landscaping. A “For Sale” sign still in the yard. Then I opened the front door. Inside, it looked like a bomb had gone off. Ceiling on the living-room floor. Paint hanging in sheets like wallpaper. Humidity had permeated...
When a building fails or damage occurs, who do you call? Most people think any structural engineer can assess the situation, but there's a crucial difference between designing new structures and investigating why existing ones have failed. The best forensic engineers bring something textbooks can’t...
When most people think of dryer fires, the advice that follows is often simple: clean the lint filter. While this is important, it is far from the complete picture. In my forensic investigations, I have encountered many fires where the lint screen was properly maintained, yet hidden hazards within...
Windsor, Conn. (October 15, 2025) - Engineering Design & Testing Corp. (EDT) was retained by U. S. Steel to conduct an independent investigation into the cause of the explosion that took place on August 11, 2025, at the U. S. Steel Clairton Coke Works in Clairton, Pennsylvania. Thomas D. Traubert, P...
When a tree hits a building, causation is usually obvious: the wind blew, the tree fell, the structure was struck. The harder part is everything that follows: separating superficial damage from structural damage, defining a defensible scope of repair, and distinguishing new impacts from pre-existing...
Every summer, lawns get mowed, gas cans get filled, and—occasionally—fires break out. Most are small and quickly extinguished, but some cause significant damage or injury. When they do, the question quickly arises: was this a freak accident, or is someone responsible? A Case in Point In one case, a...
In my 30 years of experience working in marine and industrial environments, I’ve seen how small vibration issues can quietly grow into major equipment failures. A slightly unbalanced shaft or a bearing beginning to wear may not seem urgent at first—but left unchecked, these small issues can cause...
When a fire, explosion, or combustion upset shuts down a facility, the clock starts ticking. Claims decisions, liability questions, and repair plans all depend on a clear, defensible answer to a simple question: what really happened. That answer lives in the evidence, the equipment, and the...
When COVID-19 changed the way facilities managed airflow, one commercial building quickly modified its HVAC system to bring in more outside air. The intent was good: improve circulation and reduce viral spread. Unfortunately, those changes had unintended—and costly—consequences. To meet evolving...
