Engineering Specialties, Hydrology, Disaster, Code & PM Forensics

The Practice

Man-Made Disaster Forensic Engineering Investigation

Mother Nature is not the only potential source of damage to a property. Human error, including construction and planning defects and even malicious actions, accounts for much of the damage that can occur to structures. It is crucial following a major impact to a property to sort out the sources of damage, including which sources are man-made and which may be attributed to natural causes.

Cause & Extent

Unraveling the truth behind a property disaster.

MarcorSEN Engineering has performed many investigations to identify the cause and extent of man-made impacts. Clients have included attorneys, homeowners, other property owners, insurance companies, and others, across residential, commercial, and industrial properties.

Licensed in over half the United States, the firm offers services to clients in many industries and locations, and knows exactly what it takes to unravel the truth behind a property disaster situation.

Defects

Construction defects
Design flaws
Material defects
Material deterioration

Other

Fire
Vehicle impact
Vessel impact
Bridges over highways
Damage due to tree roots
Patios and Walls

Get the true cause established

Selected Cases

Recent forensic work in this practice area.

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Porte cochère impacted by a garbage truck

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Impact vs. Wind, Causation Dispute

Porte cochère impacted by a garbage truck

MarcorSEN Engineering investigated a porte cochère impacted by a garbage truck, discovering damage at multiple locations including an eyebolt connection for a tension tie rod. Another forensic engineer claimed the damage was due to wind. Detailed calculations of both wind and truck-impact forces versus the connection capacity showed the maximum probable wind forces were well below capacity, while the truck-impact forces exceeded it.