Forensic Engineers and Consultants

Category Archive: Tips and Advice

FORKLIFT Etiquette: DON’T BE A LOUSY TIPPER!

That is always good advice to follow if you are a forklift driver!  Operating a forklift can be a dangerous occupation.  There are approximately 1 million forklifts (powered industrial trucks) in the US workplace today, and it is estimated that just over 10% of those are involved in some type of accident every year.  Forklift accidents result in dozens of deaths and thousands of non-fatal injuries annually.  About one out of every four of those accidents involves a tipping or overturning forklift, making this the most common type of industrial truck accident.  Read More

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Understanding Heat Transfer: A Guide for Fire Investigators

In the realm of fire investigation, understanding heat transfer is crucial. Heat transfer plays a significant role in how fires start, spread, and ultimately, how they can be analyzed and investigated. There are three primary modes of heat transfer: conduction, convection, and radiation. In this article, we’ll delve into each of these modes and explore examples of how fire investigators can apply this knowledge to their work. Read More

Dive Into Suction Tank Issues and Inspections

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Privately-owned water tanks supplying fire protection systems have a long history. The NFPA published the Standard on Gravity Tanks in 1909. It is one of the oldest NFPA codes, predating even the Life Safety Code’s precursor, the Building Exits Code, first published in 1927. The Standard on Gravity Tanks evolved over the years to become NFPA 22, Standard for Water Tanks for Private Fire Protection. The inspection, testing, and maintenance requirements for all types of private fire water storage tanks are laid out in NFPA 25, Chapter 9 – Water Storage Tanks. While there are about eight different types of fire water tanks, I’d assert that the most common type today is the steel suction tank. Read More

A Primer On The Elements Of Fire Protection Water Supplies

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Get primed!

Fire protection water supplies can be made up of one or more common elements, including tanks, pumps, water sources and water systems. Sometimes elements are used together to develop an adequate supply for fire protection.

An adequate water supply for a fire protection system will meet the needs of the fire protection system (plus safety factor) in three terms: Read More

Hot ’til It’s Not Part II – Heating System Maintenance

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As cold weather sets in for those of us that actually get a winter in the Northern Hemisphere, a property owner needs to think about another expensive home system that is often taken for granted, your HVAC system.

Whether you have a heat pump with electric backup, a gas fired furnace, a fuel oil fired furnace, or even  electric strip heat, your heating system requires some routine attention to maximize efficiency and get the most life out of the unit.

As a homeowner, the easiest and cheapest thing you can do to maximize the efficiency of your heating system is Read More

Civil Twilight Pedestrian Collision: A Case Study

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Susan, a 45-year-old runner, was jogging in the early morning approximately an hour before sunrise, also known as “civil twilight.” Civil twilight occurs both before sunrise and after sunset when the sun is below the horizon and the sky is partially illuminated. Susan was wearing dark athletic clothing and grey tennis shoes for her morning run. She was running on the sidewalk in a suburban area and began to cross the four-lane road at an unmarked crosswalk. Read More

Hot ’til It’s Not…Water Heater Maintenance

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An often overlooked item in your home’s infrastructure is the water heater.  Most people don’t think a lot about their water heater until they turn the tap and are surprised with water that is less than hot.  Water heaters are just like many other major home appliances, they need a little attention to get their maximum life and performance. Read More

Turkey Fryers- Product Design is Critical to Consumer Safety

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As the holiday season nears, thoughts turn to wonderful home-cooked meals with family.  Few things in life are more pleasurable than a traditional holiday turkey feast. Yet for an unfortunate few, holiday meal time can turn tragic if a turkey frying accident occurs.   While fried turkeys may be tasty, many fire safety experts feel that the reward is not worth the risk.  Read More

Warren’s Product Failure Evaluation & Laboratory

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Many losses stem from a failure of a household appliance (i.e. dishwasher, water heater), plumbing component (supply lines and fittings), or HVAC system.  For over 25 years, Warren experts have utilized their diverse and highly specialized education, training and experience to investigate these types of losses.

Warren conducts product failure investigations at our laboratory, where we evaluate and test items sent to us from across the United States. All testing and reporting is done by experienced and licensed professional engineers.  We have the facilities to provide for examinations ranging from a non-destructive examination of a single component to large multiple-party destructive examinations of complex systems. When needed, we provide a written protocol for complex or destructive examinations. Read More

Fire Pumps are Cool 😎; Lets Keep Them That Way

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In my last blog, we discussed the small PRVs that go on wet sprinkler systems to limit their pressure below 175 psi. That brought to mind a small PRV in another application that is used to keep something different cool: an electric motor-driven centrifugal fire pump. I can’t talk about electric fire pumps without also talking about diesel fire pumps, so let’s dive in and take a look at both! Read More

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