Litigation Support

There is a “standard of care,” or level of skills and professional diligence, in the performance of services expected by an architect. A mistake or flaw in the design and construction documentation is considered to be an error. Something that was left out of the design or construction documentation that should have been included is considered to be an omission. In situations where an error or omission may have occurred, SFE can analyze existing documentation; investigate site conditions (where applicable); determine where culpability may lie; and make recommendations for any necessary corrective action.

The building “envelope”—the materials that make up the enclosure of a building and its roofing system—is critical to ensure that the occupants are protected from any conditions that might jeopardize their health and safety, as well as the integrity of the building itself. SFE can analyze any situation where the building envelope may be compromised, determine the reasons, and make recommendations for remediation.

The outermost layer of a building enclosure, or the outermost layer of a building interior, is considered to be the finish layer. If this is compromised in any way, it can jeopardize the ability of the occupants to use that portion of the building or interior space. SFE can analyze any situation where this has occurred, determine the reasons, and make recommendations for remediation.

Construction projects can be fraught with challenges, leading to disputes that can derail progress and increase costs. SFE specializes in identifying, assessing, and mitigating construction damages that may be the result of delays, cost overruns or quality issues.

A building component that fails, or is subject to failure, is defective. SFE can determine the reasons for the failure (or potential failure), and make recommendations for repair or replacement.

Today’s construction projects are becoming increasingly complex and subject to unforeseen complications despite best efforts to avoid them. SFE’s team of construction delay experts bring decades of experience to each engagement, providing comprehensive support to our clients navigating disputes.

Construction vibration refers to the ground and structural vibrations generated by activities such as pile driving; excavation; blasting; and heavy equipment operation. These vibrations can impact nearby structures, sensitive equipment, and occupant comfort. If these activities are not conducted properly, the vibrations from them can result in damage to existing or adjacent buildings or structures. SFE can determine the root cause of any damage, and recommend options for remediation.

Controls panels and systems operate motors and valve actuators; monitor open/close switches; and instrumentation transmitter units.  This can be via relay logic or by PLC, (programmable logic controllers). SFE can analyze any situation where controls may not have been designed to meet applicable codes; are not operating properly; may not have been installed properly; and make recommendations for remediation.

Completing projects on time is a crucial element of any construction project. Effective scheduling is the key to on-time completion. At SFE, we recognize that disputes often arise from scheduling challenges. With a focus on precision and clarity, we provide detailed scheduling assessments that pinpoint critical paths, delays, and resource allocation issues. By leveraging our advanced project management techniques, we assist clients in navigating disputes by providing comprehensive documentation related to timelines and deliverables.

Engineering errors and omissions refer to mistakes or failures in the design, analysis, documentation, or execution of engineering work that result in deficiencies, inaccuracies, or oversights, potentially leading to structural failures, system malfunctions, safety hazards, or financial loss. In situations where an error or omission may have occurred, SFE can analyze existing documentation; investigate site conditions (where applicable); determine where culpability may lie; and make recommendations for corrective action.

Fatigue, fracture, and failure analyses are essential for identifying the root causes of structural failures. They are performed by examining how materials and structures respond to cyclic loading and the processes of crack initiation and propagation over time. Leveraging our expertise in fatigue and fracture mechanics, we evaluate damage, estimate service life, and deliver actionable recommendations for repairs and mitigation of future risks. This data-driven approach promotes long-term structural integrity and safety.

A properly designed and installed building fire protection system is critical to ensure the safety of the building’s occupants, and the timely response of the fire department, in the event of a fire. When a fire protection system may not have been installed properly; isn’t functioning properly; or wasn’t designed to the requirements of the applicable codes, SFE can analyze the existing documentation, investigate site conditions, and make recommendations for remediation.

Fuel systems and quality encompasses the management and handling of fuels, including their storage, dispensing, accounting, and quality control, across various industries such as aviation, transportation, and energy. This includes everything from purchasing and receiving fuels to monitoring their usage and ensuring compliance with safety regulations. A lapse in any of these areas can have catastrophic consequences. SFE can analyze the source of the problem, quantify the steps needed to remedy the situation, and identify any potential cost and operational impact.

Highway and bridge structures are critical components of transportation networks, enabling safe and efficient travel across challenging terrains. SFE can analyze any conditions that might jeopardize their safety and longevity, and make recommendations for solutions to ensure that they continue to function as they were originally designed to.

HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) performance issues such as temperature fluctuations and the ability to maintain temperatures; elevated relative humidity; and a system that doesn’t meet the client’s requirements can be frustrating, costly ,and debilitating to business. SFE can analyze design and operational deficiencies related to the HVAC system design and/or equipment installation and make recommendations for corrective action.

Industrial and Power Generation Facilities are faced with unique operational challenges due to their mission critical nature. Many facilities operate 24/7 and any outages must be minimized and properly planned and coordinated. Planned outages can be as brief as a few hours and the consequences of missing outage timelines can be very serious, and the impacts can be widespread “downstream” of the outage. For this reason, failures in the design and construction conducted during and in preparation for such outages can result in loss of operation and revenue, and costs can mount very quickly. Our experts can assess the design and construction of industrial systems at various scales. From simple equipment swaps to facility wide renovations and new construction, we have the experience to evaluate the cause of the failure, design the required remedy, and quantify the damages in terms of both hard and soft costs.

A Lost Profits forensic analysis is typically used to quantify the cost of a development project that either was never developed or built or, in some cases, was delayed long enough that the owner suffered economic harm. SFE’s pool of experts can develop cost and scheduling models quantifying every aspect of the development process necessary to bring the project to fruition or completion.

With SFE’s expertise in the safe and efficient design of tall and complex timber structures, we are able to analyze mass timber construction to ensure structural integrity, fire resistance, and compliance with building codes.

When a piping system or component fails—or shows signs that it may fail—it can lead to operational disruptions, safety concerns, and legal disputes. SFE investigates piping-related issues to determine how and why a failure occurred; assess contributing factors such as design flaws, installation deficiencies, material degradation, or operating conditions; and identify where responsibility may lie. Our evaluations may include Fitness-for-Service (FFS) assessments and stress analysis under applicable code requirements. We provide clear, defensible findings and recommendations to support remediation and dispute resolution.

Issues with the proper sizing and application of centrifugal pumps, specialty valves, and piping systems can result in operational issues that potentially affect health and safety. SFE can analyze these conditions and make recommendations for corrective action, including cavitation and pressure surge. SFE’s diverse staff brings this expertise to a variety of industries, including chemical, power, HVAC, food processing, pulp & paper, and water/wastewater.

SFE can perform a vibration analysis of centrifugal pumps, mixers, and centrifuges to identify problems of misalignment, uneven loading, mechanical wear, or resonance, and recommend corrective actions.

Where there may be issues of stormwater detention and treatment, or run-off, in urban, suburban, and rural developments, SFE’s experts can create and analyze hydraulic and hydrologic (H&H) models to determine what corrective action is needed.

The design and engineering of instrumentation and controls for municipal water and wastewater treatment plants includes pumping stations; water analyzers; pressure transmitters; level transmitters; flow meters; and motor centers. It also includes control panels housing industrial computers and touch screens, panelboards, and transformers. Proper installation and operation of these systems are health and safety issues. SFE can analyze conditions where all or a portion of these systems are not operating, or not operating properly, and make recommendations for corrective action.

Severe weather can disrupt construction, damage structures and sites under construction, and damage existing structures and sites. SFE reconstructs and analyzes historical weather patterns using weather data, satellite images, and radar data to determine their impact on specific events.