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    Leaders in Complex Loss Assessments

    Losses can appear straightforward but often grow to be more complex. Learn how we dig deep to find the answers.

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Fires & Explosions

Understand the ignition, growth, and spread of fires. We offer forensic engineering for fires and explosions.

Assessing the Damage

Our professional engineers have the expertise to investigate fires and explosions and assess the damage to a variety of structures, systems, and settings.

  • Buildings & Structures—residential and commercial buildings, bridges and dams, maritime facilities
  • Machinery & Equipment—HVAC equipment, electrical equipment, agricultural and heavy equipment, appliances
  • Industrial Facilities, Systems & Processes—manufacturing plants, chemical plants, electrical systems 
  • Energy Infrastructure—power plants, pipelines, coal mines, offshore platforms, refineries 
  • Marine—Cargo, engine rooms, fuel storage areas, fuel tanks, oil leaks 
  • Vehicles—passenger and commercial vehicles, railways, aircraft, and boats

Finding the Cause

We'll help you understand where the fire originated and evaluate the immediate and underlying causes.

  • Electrical Failures—faulty wiring, overloaded circuits, appliance or equipment failures
  • Chemical Reactions—unsafe practices, incompatible substances
  • Combustible Materials—flammable substances and their storage and handling, gas leaks
  • Heating Systems—HVAC systems, furnaces, boilers, space heaters
  • Human Factors—negligence, inadequate safety measures, arson
  • Structural Failures—compromised fire protection systems, inadequate compartmentalization, collapse of load-bearing elements

Find the right expert

We'll help you find the right engineer to assess your fire and explosion damages.

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Forensic Engineering for Fires & Explosion 

Our professional engineers provide fire investigation forensics, examining fire patterns, fire scene evidence, ignition sources, and more as well as explosive forensics which can involve industrial explosions, explosive devices, blast dynamics, and more.

Certifications

All of our forensic consultants are professional engineers, and many of our engineers hold additional certifications: 

  • National Association of Fire Investigators (NAFI) Certified Fire and Explosion Investigator (CFEI) 
  • Certified Vehicle Fire Investigator (CVFI) 
Origin & Cause

Origin
Our forensic engineers will help you understand the origin—the specifics behind where the fire or explosion initiated (or originated). 

Cause
We'll help you determine the cause—the immediate factor or factors that led to a fire or explosion. Mechanical failures, code violations, or human errors are all examples of causes we assess. 

Technology & Lab Testing

Our investigation can include laboratory examinations of fire debris and equipment to determine a more defined cause of the fire. We also use our technical expertise to examine:

  • Combustion
  • Flammability
  • Chemistry
  • Heat transfer
  • Thermodynamics
  • Alarm systems
  • Accelerant analysis
  • Construction techniques
Codes & Standards Interpretation

Knowledge of codes and standards provides a means for assessing the cause of a fire or explosion and the effectiveness of fire protection measures that did or did not exist at the time of the incident.

Codes:

  • National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 
    • NFPA 921
    • NFPA 1033
  • National Electric Code (NEC) 
Scope of Damage/Cost of Repairs

Scope of Damage/Value of Loss
We help identify and quantify the physical damage, interpret the sequence of damage, and differentiate between damage that existed before the loss. 

Cost of Repairs
Based on our assessment, we can provide recommendations to repair or remediate the damage. This includes cost details like material estimates, labor costs, and other expenses. And it can also detail instructions for repairs, materials to use, and fire safety improvements to make.

We also work closely with forensic accountants to do this work. This means we're familiar with the questions they ask and the expertise they need to provide an efficient and complete audit of the damages. 

Loss Investigation & Multi-Disciplinary Teams

Choose EDT when you need a complete solution for complex losses. Our wide range of forensic engineering expertise means we can help you assess fire damage to structures, equipment, wiring, machinery, vehicles, marine vessels, and more. 

We have 40+ years of experience in the industry and a deep roster of professional engineers to help you handle large loss claims and in-depth investigations. When fires and explosions happen in or near pipelines, fleets, warehouses, industrial facilities, and more, we can deploy multi-disciplinary teams with ease.

When working with a multi-disciplinary EDT team, an Engineer in Charge manages the file and coordinates with multiple engineering disciplines to offer you comprehensive and seamless forensic engineering services. 

  • Cause & Origin
  • Root Cause Analysis
  • Scope of Damage
  • Cost of Repairs 
  • Coordination with Contractors, Forensic Accountants, and more 

Why EDT?

Complete Solutions After a Loss

All EDT fire investigators are also licensed professional engineers. This means that one person can evaluate the fire origin and cause, as well as work on more complex losses involving vehicles, industrial equipment, appliances, electrical equipment, and more. We're able to provide a complete solution after a loss.

Collaborative Expertise

When additional expertise is needed, our professional engineers can pull in other experienced civil, electrical, or mechanical engineers to evaluate the damage involved in a complex loss. 

We can also host joint evaluations when additional parties are involved, such as local fire departments, building ownership, or insurance companies. 

Direct, Unbiased Approach  

You'll speak directly with an engineer when you work with EDT, not go-betweens or intermediaries. As professional engineers, we're held to the highest standard in our profession and trusted as credible experts. 

Get Started with EDT

Assign a File to start working with our forensic engineering experts. 

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Industries We Serve

Manufacturing

Energy

Transportation

Recent Blog Posts

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Tractor at Wrecking Yard

Large Tractor Fire

portrait photo of Michael

Michael W. Dickenson, P.E., CFEI, CVFI

September 29, 2021

With loss investigations, the engineer/investigator will often encounter situations which can present safety challenges and even hazards. In some cases, such as machinery breakdown or fires, many potential hazards exist. The engineer must be aware of the situation; proper safety is critical to...

Plasma Cutting Machine

Plasma Cutting Machine Explosion

portrait photo of Michael

Michael W. Dickenson, P.E., CFEI, CVFI

May 14, 2020

EDT was asked to investigate a computerized numerical control/analysis (CNC) plasma cutting machine which had been involved in an explosion. The purpose of the EDT investigation was to determine the cause of the explosion.

Wasp on a nest

Wasp Disables Tractor-Trailer

portrait photo of Tony

EDT

April 16, 2020

A tractor-trailer traveling on an interstate, hauling a load weighing an estimated 50,000 pounds, suddenly catches on fire. The culprit? A single wasp.

Post-Fire Structural Damage

Post-Fire Structural Evaluations

EDT

August 16, 2018

Post-fire structural evaluation by a forensic engineer is necessary to determine the extent of damage, whether the structural components of a building involved in a fire remain adequate to meet their original design intent, and/or to consider repair or replacement options.

Man Adjusting Fluorescent Bulb

Can I Put an LED Bulb in a Fluorescent Light Fixture?

EDT

July 11, 2018

Many people have energy savings on their minds these days. With the advent of LED tubes as a drop-in replacement for fluorescent tubes, the return on investment for LED conversion can be very appealing; the fluorescent fixture can be reused, with only some minor rewiring. However, the differences...

Hay Bale Fire / Combustion

Understanding Spontaneous Combustion

EDT

March 20, 2018

When discussing “spontaneous combustion,” the first thing many people think is the myth of spontaneous human combustion. While a myth, there is a similar, well-documented phenomenon in fire science that doesn’t involve humans. Considered a bit of a misnomer, “spontaneous combustion” is anything but...

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