Developing Investigation Protocols Following Structural Failures
When a structure fails to perform as expected or, in extreme cases, collapses, the various affected parties tend to ask the same two questions: Why? and Who is responsible? These parties, which often include insurance carriers and attorneys, turn to consultants to help by investigating a failure’s technical and procedural causes. Investigations involving multiple consultants working on behalf of multiple parties require these professionals to develop investigation protocols to coordinate forensic efforts and align expectations for the investigation. Investigations can include protocols for safety and security, as well as evidence preservation, identification, dismantlement, storage, sampling, and testing. In this webinar, we will share key features of investigation protocols and discuss how they were developed in two investigation scenarios.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
After attending this webinar, participants will be able to:
- Understand the basis for conducting forensic investigations following a structural failure or collapse.
- Discuss when investigation protocols are required to meet the varying needs of interested parties.
- Review common protocol features involving information collection, evidence preservation, sampling, safety, and security.
- Identify appropriate investigation protocols based on case study examples.
Participants will earn 1.0 AIA CES Learning Unit (LU/HSW) for attending the live webinar. Registration is free. Please note that space is limited – email events@sgh.com to join our waitlist if the session is closed when you register.
About the Speaker
Robert Antes has diverse experience with concrete, steel, masonry, and timber structures of various types. He specializes in investigating and analyzing existing buildings and structures in response to structural failure, performance problems, and deterioration. Much of his work involves the evaluation, repair, rehabilitation, and associated construction administration of existing structures, including parking garages. He has experience with adaptive reuse and historic preservation of existing buildings and is trained in the use of a variety of non-destructive evaluation techniques. Robert is Vice-Chair of the International Concrete Repair Institute (ICRI) Committee 110 on Guide Specifications and participated in ICRI Committee 150 – Guide to ACI 562 Repair Code. He is a qualified parking structure inspector (QPSI) approved by the New York City Department of Buildings.
Jeffrey Viano has broad consulting experience providing structural engineering services for a range of investigation, rehabilitation, and design projects. He possesses a keen understanding of the behavior of various construction materials, including concrete, steel, post-tensioned and prestressed concrete, masonry, wood, and cold-formed steel. He has managed structural engineering projects for highly sensitive government buildings, including the Embassies of Australia and the Republic of Belarus in Washington, DC. He is a member of the District of Columbia Construction Codes Coordinating Board and chairs its Structural Technical Advisory Group, and also contributes to the International Concrete Repair Institute’s Committee 330 – Strengthening and Stabilization.
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