Forensics

The practice of forensic engineering and architecture is considerably different and nuanced from the design of new buildings and structures. In the design of new buildings, design professionals rely on building codes, standards and design software to analyze and size structural members, to layout an occupied space, or to detail a building enclosure system. However, when evaluating damage, distress, or the expected performance of an existing building or structure these same tools are sometimes not helpful and oftentimes meaningless.

For instance, an engineer may be called upon to evaluate the expected seismic performance of a building that was constructed before modern seismic codes. Or an architect may be requested to determine why a cladding system is leaking when the as-built construction doesn’t conform to any published standards. Forensic engineering and architecture applies engineering principles to investigate failures in materials, products, structures or components and determining why they failed, and it often involves providing expert legal opinions for litigated cases and insurance claims.

YA Group has over 100 licensed professionals in civil/structural engineering, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, architecture, and geotechnical engineering dedicated to the practice of forensics. Our professionals are experts at investigating existing buildings, structures, materials and building systems to determine why and how damage and distress occurs. We also have a deep bench of related experts that assist in our investigations including materials scientists, product specialists, non-destructive testing specialists and certified consulting meteorologists.

Whether you need a seismic performance analysis of a historic brick-clad high-rise, a roofing hail damage evaluation, or evaluation of a failed plumbing component, we have the forensic experts and the supporting team available to help you determine what caused the issue and why.

YA’s professionals have been in the field of forensics for decades. We’ve come to understand the three most reported pain points for clients are timeliness, communications, and quality of findings. YA built our forensic engineering platform to consistently meet these criteria for our clients.

We respond immediately upon project engagement and coordinate a site visit at the earliest possible opportunity. In damage related claims, it is often critical to document the site and gather evidence before additional weather events occur, conditions change and/or evidence is spoliated.

We communicate with our clients to understand the type of information they are seeking in the forensic investigation so that we can tailor the investigation to answer the questions they need answered. We inform our clients of when we will be on site and when the report will be completed. Then we prioritize ensuring that we meet the necessary reporting deadlines.

As experts, there is nothing more important to YA than providing accurate, defensible findings and opinions. We employ a rigorous review process of all work to ensure our findings are supported by facts, evidence, industry-accepted analytical methods, and engineering principles. We understand that clients rely on our findings and opinions to make critical decisions, often with large sums of money at stake.

Clients return to YA time and again because we provide high-quality work product on-time, allowing them to make critical decisions with confidence.