A portion of a warehouse roof gave way during a snowstorm. Months earlier, solar panels had been installed on the majority of the roof. Concern was raised about the added weight of the solar panels, in conjunction with the snow, on the roof framing. However, that wasn't the case...
In part 1 of this four-part series, we will examine common causes of water damage from mechanical systems. Small, slow leaks—or “stealth” leaks, as well as large floods, cause more obvious and widespread damage. Either of these types of leaks can be caused by many different mechanical systems in...
To anyone that has ever had a water line burst in their house, it is clear, the uncontrolled discharge of water into an occupied space is a problem. To anyone that has ever had a water line burst in their house, it is clear, the uncontrolled discharge of water into an occupied space is a problem...
EDT was called to determine the cause of damage to a building containing a paper machine that had experienced a sudden rupture of one of the paper rolls.
A personal case study of frost-free outdoor faucets and the time a fracture leak was found in a valve of an outdoor faucet due to sub-zero temperatures.
In a more personal Case Study, Tim Himes talks about the time he found an unusual odor that had leaked into his home and had come from his residential HVAC duct(s).
An EDT Case Study on the cause of damage to multiple newly renovated shower installations in an urban-market hotel.
EDT was asked to examine clothing steamers with damaged internal components and determine the cause of the damage.
This post provides suggestions related to establishing project scopes when an assignment is made in order to manage the costs associated with the involvement of a forensic engineer.
With winter (or frozen pipe season) upon us, I’m reminded about misconceptions regarding frozen pipes and pipe bursts that were located in a heated space. The following information will illustrate how this happens.
Ahoy, Mateys! We hear many phrases and words which we think we know the origin of – or at least they seem to have simple explanations. As a marine engineer, Mr. Steve Lindholm knows that words from the sea often wash ashore! Read on, Landlubbers, and we’ll Cut to the Chase.
As a materials engineer with some experience in chemistry, I am often asked to assist other engineers in determining the source of water in a crawlspace or an affected area. Obviously, seawater versus freshwater is not a difficult determination. This can be differentiated by simple turbidity tests...
The "Aha!" Moment - When I realized that an unsafe situation I was in while examining a roof for hail damage could have been solved by a 30-minute drone flight. That was when I decided to get serious about becoming certified to fly drones for commercial purposes through the Federal Aviation...
Air infiltration (air that comes in) and air leakage (air that goes out) negatively impact energy usage and costs in conditioned spaces – for homes and businesses alike. We’ve talked about what infiltration and leakage are and how to combat them at a basic level, but to really fix the problem for...
In this blog, we will discuss air infiltration and leakage, what they are, how they can impact energy costs and simple steps that home and business owners can take to reduce excess costs brought on by air infiltration and leakage.
