Investigative/Forensic Engineering Services is a specialized practice of Nannis & Associates, Inc., whose experienced professional engineers apply their analytical skills to unravel the technical mysteries of failures and apply their practical skills to mitigate their consequences.
Over the past 20 years, Nannis & Associates has performed more than 800 Investigative Engineering Services ranging from minor hairline cracks to the total collapse of a structure.
The following areas are included in Investigative/Forensic Engineering Services:
Nannis & Associates has investigated losses due to tornados, hurricanes, floods, lightening damage as well as damages caused by fire.
Nannis & Associates has surveyed and documented existing conditions of buildings both prior to and after the completion of adjacent construction projects to protect the interest of both the insurer and the insured.
Faulty design can only be determined by another professional of the same discipline. As a professional structural engineering firm with 50+ years of experience, Nannis & Associates is highly qualified in discovering faulty design problems in all types of structures and building materials.
A building, over time, is subjected to deterioration induced by pollution, wind, temperature variations, rains, and other natural forces, but it also can be greatly affected by changes in the constructed environment surrounding it and by additions to its own structure. Nannis & Associates is well experienced in recognizing problems of this nature.
Nannis & Associates is frequently called upon to prepare a scope of repairs for property loss claims. This generally includes surveys, inspections, material testing, engineering analysis, drawings and/or specifications and cost estimates of the work.
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Providing quantum of damage estimates for the client helps him/her in evaluating the reasonableness of repair quotations submitted for the work.
Betterment and up-coding is carried out on most building losses of significant size. Nannis & Associates may be retained to identify and prepare cost estimates for up-coding and betterment that is incorporated into the repair of any building loss.
After investigating and determining a structural problem or failure, Nannis & Associates has, on numerous occasions, been retained to provide corrective measures to bring the building to a safe condition and/or to meet current codes. This may include structural analysis, preparation of plans and specifications. With the aid of Nannis & Associates’ in-house computer analysis programs, the 3 dimensional simulated behavior of the deflected structure under any loading condition can be analyzed.
Nannis & Associates can provide on-site observations of construction at certain stages of the repair work to verify its adequacy when completed.
Both Insurers and Insured have a stake in reducing their exposure to claims and losses thru the implementation of Risk Management. Nannis & Associates can help in reducing their exposure by performing a “Construction Survey” to determine if the facility is structurally sound, meets current codes, and document any existing structural deficiencies.
Drawing on their technical expertise and extensive experience, Nannis & Associates professionals have been retained as expert witnesses to assist the court as an interpreter of technical matters and to render expert opinions.