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Responding to Catastrophes

[fa icon="calendar'] Aug 17, 2021 6:30:00 AM / by Kenneth R Quigley, PE

Disaster can strike at any time—natural disasters like hurricanes, wild fires, earthquakes, tornadoes; and human-caused catastrophes like pipeline leaks, criminal acts, bridge or building collapses, or industrial, air, or rail accidents. After the initial emergency response, property owners and public officials turn their attention to restoring properties and restarting commerce. Business and property owners and their insurance companies want to know:

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Construction Defect Litigation: Hiring an Expert Witness

[fa icon="calendar'] May 11, 2021 9:00:00 AM / by Mark McGivern, CSI, Aff. M. ASCE

Great expert witnesses are a critical part of a construction defect litigation team from start to finish. They can make or break your case, so it is critical to work with an expert who understands the technical side of the case and who can communicate clearly and objectively with all parties involved.

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Why Hire a Forensic Architect?

[fa icon="calendar'] Apr 19, 2021 10:15:00 AM / by Kenneth R Quigley, PE

Forensic architects serve multiple purposes throughout construction projects. Most commonly, they are brought in to investigate the root cause of damages caused by construction defects or other damages to buildings. Owners, architects, and contractors also hire forensic architects during the design and construction phase to help identify potential trouble and advise on how to avoid it. These professionals are especially useful when a project team is unable to identify or come to a consensus about the source of a problem. The role of a forensic architect is to be an unbiased, third-party expert, identifying issues within the construction or building, determining causes, and suggesting solutions.

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Construction Defect Litigation: The Critical Role of the Expert Forensic Witness

[fa icon="calendar'] Apr 12, 2021 9:45:00 AM / by Mark McGivern, CSI, Aff. M. ASCE

Expert witnesses are a critical part of construction defect cases, whether the outcome of a case is determined through a trial or arbitration. Attorneys rely heavily on expert witnesses to support them in understanding the facts of the case, the cause of the defect, and what is required to repair the defect.

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Specifying rigid foam insulation for masonry cavity walls

[fa icon="calendar'] Aug 20, 2019 9:45:00 AM / by Clark Griffith, AIA

The use of masonry cavity walls dates back over a hundred years and is still thriving today. However, the use of masonry in cavity walls has evolved to meet the performance needs and building specifications of 21st century buildings.

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The Rising Use of Drones in External Building Inspection

[fa icon="calendar'] Jun 27, 2019 10:00:00 AM / by John O'Rourke

The process of inspecting the façade or roof of a building is changing.  Advances in programming and battery technology have made unmanned aerial vehicles or “drones” both viable and affordable. Engineering and architectural companies are incorporating these tools into the practice of inspecting the façade and roof of structures, surveying large landscapes, and monitoring construction progress. The drone can be used as a tool, in the aforementioned tasks, that can safely produce visual and or thermal data faster at less cost than using tradition means and methods.

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The Most Commonly Claimed Issues in Construction Defect Litigation

[fa icon="calendar'] Jun 20, 2019 8:45:00 AM / by Clark Griffith, AIA

As forensic architects, engineers, and construction consultants CCA regularly investigates construction defect claims and provides litigation support.

David M. McLain of Higgins, Hopkins, McLain & Roswell, LLC recently wrote a very relevant post, What are the most commonly claimed issues in construction defect litigation?, which was based on a prior study regarding the most cited types of construction defect cases. David McLain concluded that the most commonly cited claims fall into three core areas:

  1. Civil Issues
  2. Building Envelope Issues
  3. Roof Issues
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Identifying Tile Failure

[fa icon="calendar'] Jun 6, 2019 9:45:00 AM / by Clark Griffith, AIA

The devil is in the details. One year following the completion of a building in the Mid-Western United States, the tile on the exterior had begun to loosen and fall. The tile was selected for commercial-outdoor use, and could withstand freeze-thaw, thermal-shock conditions, and were frost resistant. If the above was true, then what was causing the failure?

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Women in Construction

[fa icon="calendar'] May 29, 2019 8:30:00 AM / by Diana Bass

Even though women are making their voices heard, depending on the industry, the number of women in leadership positions is still low.  Historically the construction industry has always been weighted heavily towards the male gender. In fact, only seven percent of all construction executives are women.

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Add decades to your commercial roof life

[fa icon="calendar'] Nov 1, 2018 8:00:00 AM / by Kenneth R Quigley, PE

Commercial roofs are often subject to high levels of wear and tear due to sun exposure (UV rays), frigid winter temperatures, and unpredictable weather patterns. This wear and tear, many times, leads to roof damage and issues such as leaks. Unfortunately roofs usually do not receive attention until an issue like a leak occurs. As Doug Kramer, author of the article Add decades to your commercial roof life states, “Roofs are the black sheep when it comes to commercial building maintenance.”

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