George Van Horne

PE

Senior Managing Engineer

Biography

George is a forensic mechanical engineer with thirty-nine years of experience in understanding how mechanical systems work and why they do not. This experience, combined with his education, specialized training, and innate curiosity, has become a valuable tool for insurance adjusters and attorneys who need to understand large or complex losses. He has a proven history of providing clients with an accurate assessment of their situation and, typically, timely notice well before other parties are aware of the same information. George is an experienced expert witness, having provided testimony at depositions and arbitrations. More important, his credentials and attention to detail result in his testimony withstanding the strongest scrutiny. He has exceptional experience in origin and cause determinations for boiler explosions, industrial fires, and combustible dust explosions. George has formal training and credentials in Process Safety Management (PSM). He is also certified by the International Code Council (ICC) as both a plumbing and a mechanical inspector. His expertise with heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) extends to indoor air quality investigations and moisture intrusion. George is specifically trained in investigating construction site and workplace accidents involving cranes, product and component failures, and standard of care reviews.

Credentials

  • PE | Professional Engineer

Representative Consulting Assignments

  • Process Safety Management (PSM) | Brunswick, GA | Led forensic investigation of a contractor burned by a sodium chlorate spill caused by a failure to comply with Lockout / Tagout procedures
  • Wet Sprinkler System Freeze Failure | Sandy Springs, GA | Utilized infrared imaging to identify insulation deficiencies in the exterior walls of a senior living facility which were resulting in multiple, delayed-action pipe freeze failures
  • Boiler Explosion | Atlanta, GA | Determined that the origin and cause of an explosion in a commercial boiler being services was actually attributable to installation deficiencies
  • Dust Explosion | Port Wentworth, GA | Led an origin and cause investigation of the original explosion and subsequent fire spread for the insurance carrier of the first party to be sued after an explosion which claimed fourteen lives
  • Plumbing Failure | Savannah, GA | Successful subrogation investigation of failed lavatory supply line without the need for litigation
  • Mechanical Failure Analysis | Cordele, GA | Analyzed the distinct and separate causes for the failures of two adjacent, high-speed, mechanized log flaker line which occurred one month apart
  • Hail Damage to HVAC Equipment | Atlanta, GA | Inspected 57 individual rooftop HVAC units, spread across 64,000 square foot of commercial roofs, and established that the evidence of hail strikes to rooftop condenser fins did not support a claim of damage from a single event
  • Vandalism Investigation | Villa Rica, GA | Determined that the reported vandalism of a shuttered printing plant was actually a cover for an ongoing, phased removal of salvageable equipment, intended for unauthorized resale
  • Dry Sprinkler System Unintended Discharge | Canton, GA | Identified inappropriate sprinkler head specifications and construction deficiencies which combined to cause a series of unintended, hot weather dry sprinkler head activations
  • Scalding Investigation | Atlanta, GA | Field tested apartment hot water heating system to establish cause of bathtub scalding incident
  • Industrial Fire | Macon, GA | Determined the origin and cause of a fire which completely burned a 235,000 square foot production facility

Professional Experience

  • 2021 - Current | Senior Managing Engineer | YA Engineering Services
  • 2019 - 2021 | Senior Engineer I | J.S. Held LLC
  • 2005 - 2019 | Forensic Mechanical Engineer | George Van Horne, PE
  • 2005 - 2005 | Consulting Engineer | George Van Horne, PE
  • 1995 - 1996 | Industrial Planner | Lockwood Greene Engineers
  • 1994 - 1994 | Plant Engineer | Southern Cellulose, Inc.
  • 1991 - 1993 | Senior Project Engineer | Mead Packaging Co.
  • 1988 - 1991 | Industrial Control Engineer | Lashley, Van Horne & Neuman Consulting Engineers
  • 1987 - 1988 | Mechanical Engineer | American Combustion, Inc.
  • 1985 - 1987 | Field Service Engineer | W. R. Grace and Co.
  • 1982 - 1985 | Plant Engineer | Union Carbide Corp.

Area of Practice

  • Failure Analysis
  • HVAC and Mechanical Systems
  • Infrared Thermography
  • Litigation Support
  • Plumbing Systems

Education

  • Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute - Bachelor of Science - Mechanical Engineering - Troy - New York

Affiliations

  • Georgia Fire Investigators Association (GFIA)
  • National Association of Fire Investigators (NAFI)
  • International Association of Arson Investigators (IAAI)
  • National Academy of Forensic Engineers (NAFE)
  • International Institute of Ammonia Refrigeration (IIAR)
  • National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)
  • National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE)
  • International Code Council (ICC)

Licenses

  • 35767 - Alabama - Professional Engineer
  • PE 85676 - Florida - Professional Engineer
  • PE 016321 - Georgia - Professional Engineer
  • 24GE05211500 - New Jersey - Professional Engineer
  • 92242 - New York - Professional Engineer
  • 30847 - South Carolina - Professional Engineer
  • 119416 - Tennessee - Professional Engineer