I - E N G - A ® [ I N - J U H ] V O L U M E 1 8 , I S S U E 4

T H E F O R E N S I C

E N G I N E E R I N G R E P O R T

I N S I D E T H I S

I S S U E . . .

The Role of the

Investigative Engineer in

Flood Damage

Assessment

1

Assessing Wind Versus

Surge Damage—Reflecting

on What We Learned from

Hurricane Katrina

1-2

I-ENG-A Convention 2014 2

The Sharknado

Returns?

2

Looking for Expertise?

Case Closed!

3

America’s Top 10 Most Stolen Vehicles of 2013

4

UPCOMING PLRB EVENTS::

Central Regional Adjusters Conference

Minneapolis, MN

September 16 - 17, 2014

Large Loss Conference

Scottsdale, AZ

October 29 - 31, 2014

Eastern Regional Adjusters Conference

Providence, RI

November 18 - 19, 2014

A P U B L I C A T I O N O F T H E

I N V E S T I G A T I V E E N G I N E E R S A S S O C I A T I O N ( I - E N G - A )

W W W . I E N G A . C O M | W W W . E N G I N E E R I N G Q U O T E S . C O M

THE ROLE OF THE ENGINEER IN FLOOD DAMAGE ASSESSMENT

By Stephen R. Ternullo, P.E., I-ENG-A of Southeast Michigan

Damage assessment by an engineer following a flood event may be broken down into categories. First, there will be questions regarding the origin of the damage and second, engineers may need to evaluate the extent of damage and

provide a scope of repair.

The source of the water must be deter-mined; was it flood waters flowing from a creek, river or other water way, or was it ground water, sewer back up, sump pump failure, or a combination of sources. The source of the water will likely affect insurance coverage and should be clearly defined by the evaluat-

ing engineer.

Flood and water damage assessments may include evaluations of structural damage due to hydro-static and hydrodynamic pressures. Structures may be lifted as a result of being buoyant in a flooded condition. Evalua-tion of foundations may need to be performed. Depending upon the forces of the floodwater, the weight of the building components and the connections to the foundation system,

the structure may float from its foundation.

While the cause of the damage may seem obvious, condi-tions following a flood such as cracking in walls or ceilings, may not be related to the flood event. It is important to determine whether or not the damage existed prior to the

flood event. Often damage that was present prior to a catastrophic event was unnoticed by the insured, who now believes the damage was the result of the event. The investigating engineer should be able to determine if the suspect damage was the result

of a specific event.

Other services that may be required once the extent of the damage has been determined, include a scope of repairs to assist the claims adjuster in determining the value of the loss.

Additionally, identification of construction or design defi-ciencies may be important factors to consider as they may have caused or contributed to the flood damage. All con-tributing parties must be identified as subrogation will be allocated to all parties who may have contributed to the loss. Moisture intrusion, microbial issues and air quality

may also become issues or come into play.

ASSESSING WIND VERSUS SURGE DAMAGE

REFLECTING ON WHAT WAS LEARNED FROM HURRICANE KATRINA

A tremendous amount of information about the as-sessment of damage to structures in the determination of wind versus surge became available following Hur-ricane Katrina and the damages experienced there. Aerial photographs published by NOAA became of particular value as did topographical maps and aerial photographs taken prior to the hurricane. Utilizing these resources provided a means for engineers to

supplement on-site observations.

Forensic meteorologists were also of particular value in providing opinions of the timing of events with re-gards to the wind versus surge components of hurri-cane damages. In many instances without this data, it would be impossible to determine the cause of dam-ages. Professional engineers had a very daunting task to determine the forces that caused the destruc-

tion.

Structural engineers must understand the forces from surge water versus those of wind, including dynamic and hydrostatic conditions. The velocity of wind gusts

and surge forces are taken into consideration.

Complete demolition of superstructures was consistent with powerful forces of storm surge, while structures located at higher elevations may be more prone to

damage from greater wind forces.

The ethical pressures being faced by engineers in the determination of flood versus storm serge were also daunting insomuch that many property owners had no flood insurance. The determination of wind versus flood damages could bring financial ruin to individuals or families. Following the ASCE Code of Ethics pro-vides some key factors to deal with these pressures such as honesty, integrity and objectivity.

(Continued on page 2)

Recent Floods in Michigan, Over 18,000 Homes

Flooded, Photo by NOAA

B Y I - E N G - A . . . A S I N ‘ E N G I - N E E R ’

Page 2

THE FORENSIC ENGINEERING REPORT, VOL 18. NO. 4

The tremendous volume of buildings that needed to be inspected was also a problem. The Investigative Engineers Association put together guidelines for member professional engineering firms to provide catas-trophe response in a organized fashion that would allow for a greater volume of investigations to happen in a more timely fashion. Time was an important factor to consider as there were over 250,000 people dis-placed by Hurricane Katrina and rebuilding efforts were not likely to start

until insurance issues were resolved.

The Investigative Engineers Associa-tion organized a Catastrophe Re-sponse Committee consisting of professional engineers who were dealing with the situation in Louisiana and the gulf coast following the storm, to ascertain issues experi-enced and a way to deal with major catastrophic events such as this that may cause widespread damage in the future. The project included deal-ing with ways to organize a team of professional engineers and the distri-bution of assignments by area coor-dinates to eliminate as much wind-shield time as possible. Additionally the association put together the www.ienga.com website which enables its users, whom are all members of the I-ENG-A organization, to search for engineers by discipline, by state licensure and by availability. Technical training for CAT response including report formats, report timelines, safety, briefing, debriefing, structure of the CAT response team, the roles of Team Leaders, Investi-gative Engineers and Registered Professional Engineers, etc., were

discussed as well as insurance requirements.

While the role of the I-ENG-A headquarters includes CAT response training and assistance with job processing, tracking, and data collec-tion, the local member firm is to serve as the host or as the event man-agement office. The models discussed teams of 3-4 engineers who would complete 6-8 assignments /day depending upon the complexity

and travel time involved.

In conclusion, having engineers who are trained in these efforts with a plan in place before a catastrophe occurs can save a lot of time and money for all parties involved when a catastrophe does strike. If you would like to discuss catastrophe response with firms who may serve as your host, please feel free to contact association headquarters or visit www.ienga.net or www.ienga.com to locate the firm or firms near your

areas of concern.

Sources: Forensic Engineering: Proceedings of the 4th Congress, Octo-

ber 6-9, 2006, Paul A. Bosela, Norbert J. Delatte

(Continued from page 1)

THE SHARKNADO RETURNS?

I-ENG-A CONVENTION 2014—NOVEMBER 9-12

FORT LAUDERDALE, FLORIDA

The next Investigative Engineers Association Convention will be held November 9-12, 2014 at The Riverside Hotel in downtown Fort Lauder-

dale, Florida. Topics include:

Floor Collapses – Water and Mold Causing Structural Failures by

Aubrey Shrock, PE;

The Role of Professional Engineering in Fire Investigation by

Edgar K. Riddick III, PE;

Buildings with Failing Roof Structures & Ceiling Collapses with

Esteban Pauli, PE;

Product Failure Presentations with Babar Khan, PE and Peter

Vallas Jr., CFEI;

2014 NFPA 921 and 1033 Update with Edgar K. Riddick III, PE,

I-ENG-A Advisor;

New Technology Presentation — Drone Applications & Legal

Issues, John Curtis, Prioria Robotics, Inc.;

Ethics and Forensic Engineering with Ken Discenza, PE and Babar

Khan, PE;

Microbial / Mold Testing with Leo Gordon, MVP Environmental

Solutions, Inc. and Amrita Paul, EMSL Analytical, Inc.;

Accident Reconstruction — Hydroplaning with Elvin Aycock, PE,

ACTAR, I-ENG-A Advisor.

Professional development hours for professional engineers will be

awarded in the amount of 14.75—16.50 hours.

ASSESSING WIND VERSUS SURGE DAMAGE

REFLECTING ON WHAT WAS LEARNED

FROM HURRICANE KATRINA

New Orleans underwater after Katrina

(http://densitykatrina.wordpress.com)

A boston based CAT modeler estimates insured losses from the 'SharkNado" event, would likely exceed $100 billion. The massive figure outranks three recorded catastrophes in

US history combined.

The hardest hit areas in California are where one can find some of the most expensive homes in the state, but include those that were impacted by great white sharks, "although isolated pockets of hammerheads also caused

severe damage".

California’s official spokesperson for insurers postulated that most of the damages via flying sharks, raging winds and mass-scale flooding would be perils that may be covered under various insurance policies. “It’s one of those things that really stretches the realm of imagination,” said Pete Moraga, a spokesman for the Insur-

ance Information Network of California.

Source: www.insurancejournal.com

The Syfy made-for-

television flick and Twitter

phenom caused $100B in

damages, according to cat

modeler AIR Worldwide.

I N V E S T I G A T I V E E N G I N E E R S A S S O C I A T I O N

LOOKING FOR EXPERTISE? CASE CLOSED!

In the world of investigation it is important to consider ‘The perfect world scenario’. In a perfect world, the loss would not have happened, so

‘what went wrong?’. This is a question we must ask ourselves from time to time in order to determine all causes or potential contributors to

the loss scenario. Then again, in a perfect world where no losses exist, what would we all do (that’s a joke, lighten up!)? Here are a few inter-

esting cases the I-ENG-A member firms have helped to resolve recently:

DID FERTILIZER START THE FIRE?

The Fire Marshall suspects that fertilizer started the fire at the residence. Could this

be the case? It was 100 degrees outside that day. Give us a call for fire cause

and origin investigation.

IS IT OVERLOADING OR WATER DAMAGE?

Your claimant says water damage from ice dams caused the web of the joist to bow out-

ward. But there are no signs of decay or water damage. Could it be a case of

overloading? Give us a call.

WAS THE FLOOR REFINISHED PROPERLY?

In general, how many times can a ¾ solid wood floor be sanded and refinished? In general, how much flooring should be removed in a single

sanding? Did refinishing the floor contribute or cause the damage? Give us a call.

HAIL DAMAGE TO SOLAR PANELS?

Your client has solar panels and suspects they have been damaged by a recent hail

storm. Need to determine the origin and scope of damages to solar panels due to claimed hail

damage? Give us a call.

SPONTANEOUS COMBUSTION?

A fire investigation reveals linseed oil was being stored in the attic space of your client. Is it

possible this is a case of spontaneous combustion? Give us a call.

DID YOU USE ALGAEBRA TODAY? WE DID!

Determining the correct size for an electrical wire is something engineers need to do from time to time. What gauge wire should have been

run in order to ensure that it meets the current electrical code and not cause a fire? Is it the correct wire type, i.e., aluminum or copper? Give

us a call.

COMMODE WATER SUPPLY LINE CAUSES MAJOR DAMAGE

The water supply line to your insured’s commode caused major damage. Could this be a manufacturer defect? Was it installed properly?

Give us a call.

WHY WOULD A SPRINKLER HEAD DISCHARGE WITHOUT SMOKE OR FIRE?

WHAT CAUSED IT TO FAIL?

An IT room on the 8th floor of a high rise experienced water damage originating from a

fire sprinkler head. There was no physical evidence of a fire or heat buildup in the room.

The high temperature alarm did not trigger and the high trigger temperature was 155 deg F.

So, what caused the sprinkler head to discharge / fail?

Let the I-ENG-A experts investigate!

C O M P L I M E N T S O F Y O U R L O C A L M E M B E R F I R M : FORENSIC ENGINEERING SERVICE TO THE PROPERTY

AND CASUALTY INDUSTRY SINCE 1991

INVESTIGATIVE ENGINEERS ASSOCIATION

(I-ENG-A, as in Engi-Neer)

www.engineeringquotes.com

Toll Free: 844-217-6975 Fax: 954-537-4942 E-mail: info@ienga.net

The commentary contained in The Forensic Engineering Report

is not intended, nor should it be relied upon, to replace specific

professional advice. We recommend that readers consult their

professional advisors regarding issues raised in this

publication.

COMPLIMENTS OF YOUR

LOCAL MEMBER FIRM

FRAUD

America’s 10 Most Stolen Vehicles

A 50-50 Split between Domestic and Import

On 8/18/2014, the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) released its annual Hot

Wheels report which identifies the 10 most stolen vehicles in the United States. The report

examines vehicle theft data submitted by law enforcement to the National Crime Infor-

mation Center (NCIC) and determines the vehicle make, model and model year most report-

ed stolen in 2013. For 2013, the most stolen vehicles* in the nation were (total thefts in

parentheses):

1. Honda Accord (53,995)

2. Honda Civic (45,001)

3. Chevrolet Pickup (Full Size) (27,809)

4. Ford Pickup (Full Size) (26,494)

5. Toyota Camry (14,420)

6. Dodge Pickup (Full Size) (11,347)

7. Dodge Caravan (10,911)

8. Jeep Cherokee/Grand Cherokee (9,272)

9. Toyota Corolla (9,010)

10. Nissan Altima (8,892)

Stolen recovered vehicles are often investigated by member firms of the Investigative Engi-

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I-ENG-A OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

23—OSGOOD STREET

WINDHAM, NH 03087

603-647-4581

603-386-6022 (F)

NEWHAMPSHIRE@IENGA.NET