J.S. Held Acquires GLI Advisors, Strengthening Our Construction Project Support Services in the Western US and Hawaii
Read MoreJ.S. Held’s core engineering capabilities span civil, structural, seismic, fire, geotechnical, environmental, marine, mechanical, materials, chemical, electrical, patent analysis and reverse engineering, and biomechanical engineering.
We provide forensic engineering consulting services and serve as engineering expert witnesses in engagements spanning insurance claims, subrogation, litigation, and arbitration.
Our engineers bridge the gap between scientific theory and practical application, based on real-world experience and industry expertise, to help insurance professionals and legal advisors answer tough questions – what happened, why, what was the root cause, what is the extent of the impact, can it be repaired, and beyond – with clarity and confidence.
Our forensic engineering services include detailed analyses of defects, failures, and collapses, covering causation, timing, damage assessment, repairability, and code compliance.
Below is an overview of the forensic engineering experts within our firm, as well as our forensic engineering capabilities.
For current engineering licensure information, click here.
LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR SERVICES & AREAS OF SPECIALIZED EXPERTISE
Building Envelope Assessments >
Building Failure & Collapse Analysis >
Construction Defect Investigations >
Environmental Investigation & Remediation Services >
Equipment Damage & Failure Analysis >
Our forensic engineers deliver independent technical and scientific analysis as expert witnesses in disputes requiring structural, civil, mechanical, electrical, geotechnical, marine, and biomechanical engineering expertise. Our subject matter experts include:
Our structural forensic engineers investigate damage, failures, and collapses of buildings and infrastructure. We utilize advanced technology and techniques to reconstruct failure scenarios and identify root causes including design deficiencies; deterioration and material failures; wind, water, and fire damages; and construction defects. Our experts develop detailed reports and analysis to address insurance claims, disputes, and regulatory inquiries.
Our forensic geotechnical and geological engineering experts investigate the origin and cause of losses or failures involving earthen materials such as soil and bedrock, surface and groundwater influences. Our experience includes both natural and built environments, involving energy, natural resource, commercial, industrial, and heavy civil and infrastructure establishments.
We deliver comprehensive expertise— from initial investigations and failure evaluations through litigation support in mediation and trials—to ensure our findings are clearly and effectively communicated.
Our mechanical and electrical engineering experts conduct forensic investigations to determine the cause of failures in industrial, commercial, and residential systems.
Our engineering experts perform on-site inspections, damage assessments, materials assessments, and lab testing services to identify the root cause of failure, such as design flaws, material defects, or improper installation. Our mechanical engineering and electrical engineering experts advise in insurance claims, product liability investigations, and construction defect disputes.
Our team investigates building envelope failures and water intrusion across a variety of building materials and systems - roofing, waterproofing, cladding, and façade. Employing advanced diagnostics, including infrared thermography, moisture mapping, and core sampling, we identify defects, breaches, and damage, often collaborating with in-house forensic architecture experts to provide comprehensive building envelope assessments.
Our seismic engineering experts assess seismic risk to advise clients on property vulnerabilities, analyze applicable code and statutory requirements, evaluate structures against mandatory and voluntary performance-based objectives, and provide tailored retrofit solutions to meet unique client needs.
Our expertise includes seismic risk assessment, disaster preparedness planning, building code and statutory compliance, structural evaluation, seismic retrofit, and earthquake damage inspection and repair advisory.
Our biomechanical engineers evaluate injury biomechanics based upon environmental conditions and incident dynamics.
We deliver specialized expertise in injury causation investigations for accidents related to transportation, falls, machinery, heavy equipment, workplace safety, and premises liability claims.
We are able to determine the effects of impact and torque on the human body by leveraging our forensic engineering experience and knowledge of how forces impact bones, ligaments, tendons, organs, blood vessels, and nerves under various mechanical loads.
Our materials engineers, metallurgists, and chemists conduct root cause failure analyses and materials evaluations to investigate and determine whether an incident was the result of contamination; corrosion; a manufacturing or design defect; or equipment, product, or system failure.
Leveraging advanced technology and investigative techniques—including microscopy, chemical and materials analysis, fractography, spectroscopy, and metallurgical/materials testing—our experts advise in insurance claims and disputes requiring specialized materials science and metallurgical expertise.
Our insights cover a variety of topics impacting businesses, society, the economy, and the environment. Check out our latest white papers, research reports, educational seminars, industry speaking engagements, and perspective articles.
Gold Mine Conveyor Collapse
Colorado Mills Mall
Hampton Inn
Residential Construction Defects
Blue Knob Bar
Flores Middle School
19th Century Carriage House
Light Train Line
Solar Farm Design Issue
Institutional Infrastructure Design / Construction Assessment
Desalination Plant Pipeline
Oil Well Failure
Cotton Gin Facility
Jefferson County School District
Investigating A Collapsed Concrete Block Wall
Causation of Chimney Collapse
Use of Paint Leads to Corrosion at a Mushroom Composting Facility
Standard of Care Assessment
Novel Foundation System Failure
Forensic Engineering Analysis of Roof Collapse
Home Contractor Repair Investigation
Penstock Damage Assessment: Finite Element Modeling, Rockfall Analysis & 3D Animation
Aulani Resort & Spa
Exclusive High-Rise, Down Under Manhattan Bridge Overpass (DUMBO)
