Forensic Engineers and Consultants

Archive: Residential

Water Removal In Windows and Doors – Part 3: Sill Risers

Welcome back to my multi-part series about water resistance in windows and doors. Last time we discussed weatherstripping. Today, we move on to a product common to sliding doors and coastal areas – sill risers.

Sill risers offer a brute force way to reduce water infiltration when a LOT of water is expected to hit a fenestration product. Unlike weathersealing, buried drainage, or weep systems, sill risers block water by providing a dam. Coastal homes with wind driven rain frequently have sill risers. They are practical and require less maintenance than weep holes or buried drainage systems, plus Read More

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Water Removal In Windows and Doors – Part 2: Weatherstripping

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Welcome back to my multi-part series about water resistance in windows and doors. Last time we discussed weep holes. Today, I’d like to talk about weatherstripping (also known as weathersealing).

During the life of typical exterior fenestration products, every driven rain is a test of the product’s water weathersealing system. Most windows and doors handle water without much homeowner input, but racked or misaligned windows, poor weatherstripping corner joints, and torn piles all contribute to reduced water infiltration resistance. They can allow moisture into the structure, where damage to flooring, walls, and Read More

Don’t Get Burned With Your Gas Grill!

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If there is one thing Americans can agree upon, it is the enjoyment that comes from an outdoor barbeque.  Whether a summertime cookout or a fall BBQ to watch a football game, we all love the fun and fellowship that comes from sharing a meal that was prepared outdoors on a grill or smoker.  In fact, 64% of Americans own a grill or smoker.  The great majority of these are LP fueled gas grills with comparatively few natural gas fired grills.  These products can be enjoyed safely when designed, installed, and used in a proper manner.  However, given the grill’s use of flammable fuel gas and high temperatures, the potential exists for things to go wrong and result in burn injuries or uncontained fires that spread to the surroundings. Read More

Water Removal In Windows and Doors – Part 1: Weep Holes

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In architecture, the word fenestration is used to encompass the windows and doors in a building. During my twelve-year career as a design engineer in the fenestration industry, water infiltration resistance (I.E., stopping leaks) consumed almost as much time in the test lab as pressure or impact testing. During the life of typical exterior fenestration products, every driven rain is a test of the product’s water evacuation system. Most windows and doors handle water without much homeowner input, but poor, clogged or covered water drainage systems can allow moisture into the structure, where damage to flooring, walls, and molding may occur. Poor water infiltration resistance also increases the humidity in a living space. Read More

Hidden Dangers at Home 3 Surprising Household Hazards You Shouldn’t Ignore

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Most folks think that chemical hazards are strictly limited to manufacturing or other industrial sites.  The fact that there are potential chemical hazards in the safe confines of their homes often comes as a surprise.

A surprising number of residential fires are caused by the spontaneous combustion of stain application materials.  When an oil-based stain is applied to furniture or flooring, the oils react with the oxygen in the air to form very large polymer chains.  The process of the liquid stain turning to solid barrier is called curing (it is not drying via evaporation) and the reaction is oxidation.  This reaction generates heat.  On the floor or chair, the heat dissipates into the room without an issue.  That same oxidation reaction is occurring on the brush, towel, sponge, or rag that was used to apply the stain.  If those materials are piled in a corner or in a trash can, the heat cannot dissipate.  If there is enough product present, enough heat can be generated to Read More

Pollen Can Cause More Than Allergies

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Slip and falls occur when there is an unexpected loss of traction between a person’s foot and the walking surface, causing them to lose balance and fall.  This type of injury is common and can occur in any setting where people walk, including homes, workplaces, and public areas. Slips can result in serious injuries, particularly for older adults.

The human gait cycle consists of four phases: the Read More

Fire Sprinkler History and Development

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Did you know that I’m passionate about fire protection? Instead of proving it with stories recounting soakings by numerous fire hydrant, fire pump, and deluge system tests, I will share more about fire sprinklers! (Working on solidifying my fire sprinkler nerd status!)

Automatic fire sprinklers have an over 150-year history, with Henry S. Parmelee being credited with Read More

WARREN Welcomes Mechanical Engineer Brian Tenace, M.S.M.E., P.E.

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Brian’s Areas of Expertise Include:

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How Fire Alarm Information Can Fill in a Loss Puzzle

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Did I lose you in the title? Fire alarms! Ah, those mysterious systems required by, discussed in, and described by hundreds of pages of sometimes baffling and circular code text. They can be intimidating to think about. Have you considered that these mysterious red boxes could have information helpful in a loss? Let me describe why it could be advantageous to have a knowledgeable person to check out the fire alarm system after a loss, and not just for fires. Just as an airplane’s black box may hold information Read More

The Potential Leak in Your Kitchen Cabinet – Flexible Supply Connectors

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One of the more innovative products to emerge on the plumbing scene in the past 20 years or so (in my opinion) is the flexible supply connector.  A lot of people have seen but probably not paid much attention to them under their sink or perhaps from the toilet supply valve to the toilet tank.  Most have Read More

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