GREEN BUILDING CONSTRUCTION DEFECTS - FAILURE OF GREEN ROOFS

GREEN BUILDING CONSTRUCTION DEFECTS - FAILURE OF GREEN ROOFS

A vegetated roof cover is a veneer of vegetation that is grown on and covers an otherwise conventional flat or pitched roof, endowing the roof (< 30 degree slope) with hydrologic characteristics that more closely match surface vegetation than the roof. The overall thickness of the veneer typically ranges from 2 to 6 inches and may contain multiple layers, consisting of waterproofing, synthetic insulation, nonsoil engineered growth media, fabrics, and synthetic components. Vegetated roofs, also called “green rooftops” can be optimized to achieve water quantity and water quality benefits. Through the appropriate selection of materials, even thin vegetated covers can provide significant rainfall retention and detention functions.

Depending on the plant material and planned usage for the roof area, modern vegetated roofs can be categorized as systems that are intensive, semi-intensive, or extensive. Intensive vegetated roofs utilize a wide variety of plant species that may include trees and shrubs, require deeper substrate layers (usually > 4 inches), are generally limited to flat roofs, require "intense‟ maintenance, and are often park-like areas accessible to the general public. 

Extensive vegetated roofs are limited to herbs, grasses, mosses, and drought tolerant succulents such as sedum, can be sustained in a shallow substrate layer (<4 inches), require minimal maintenance once established, and are generally not designed for access by the public. These vegetated roofs are typically intended to achieve a specific environmental benefit, such as rainfall runoff mitigation. Extensive roofs are well suited to rooftops with little load bearing capacity and sites which are not meant to be used as roof gardens. Semi-intensive vegetated roofs fall between intensive and extensive vegetated roof systems.







All well-designed extensive vegetative roofs include subsystems responsible for:

Drainage: Vegetative roof drainage design must both maintain optimum growing conditions in the growth medium and manage heavy rainfall without sustaining damage due to erosion or ponding of water.
Plant nourishment and support: The engineered medium must be carefully designed to provide for excellent plant growth, no wind scouring, and proper water holding capacity. 

Protection of underlying waterproofing systems: Vegetative roof assemblies must protect the underlying waterproofing system from human activities (including the impact of maintenance) and biological attack, and solar degradation. 

Waterproofing systems: Waterproofing is critical for protecting the structure from water intrusion.
Insulation systems: Insulation is critical for saving energy.








Figure 2. Generic Extensive Green Roof on a Concrete Deck

(Image courtesy of American Hydrotech)






Figure 3. Generic Extensive Green Roof on a Steel Deck

(Image courtesy of American Hydrotech)


A wide range of methods can achieve these functions. For instance, drainage layers may consist of plastic sheets, fabric or synthetic mats, or granular mineral layers. Similarly, the physical properties and performance characteristics of growing media (engineered soils) and plant materials may vary with the climate, plant community, or engineering requirements. Figure 2 shows a generic cut-away of a common type of vegetative roof assembly that utilizes a lower granular drainage layer in combination with an upper growth medium or substrate.


The selection of a particular approach may depend on performance-related considerations, such as runoff control, drought-tolerance, biodiversity, appearance, or accessibility to the public. While many pre-engineered systems are currently available, it is frequently necessary to customize these systems to satisfy specific performance objectives. CONSTRUCTION DEFECT SERVICES


Metropolitan specializes in addressing and resolving disputes involving public work projects, business/commercial disputes, complex construction defect, environmental health and safety issues, construction delay and contractual matters, partnerships, homeowners association, retail centers, and real estate issues. Our three decades of forensic experience includes advanced research and analysis of code, materials and building practices, as well as the development of comprehensive repair methodologies for maximization of repair and restoration efficiency. 

We have financial and legal education, expertise and experience that we used to better focus our engineering arguments and presentations to the various parties. We have successfully participated in dispute resolution mediation, arbitration, and settlement procedures on numerous occasions.






Metropolitan’s design experience includes civil site improvements for single family housing, multi-family housing, commercial and industrial land development, roadways, public works construction, pipelines, reservoirs, pump stations, hydraulics and hydrology, and environmental impacts of construction defects. We are also proficient in all aspects of claims handling and management, including damage, liability and coverage issues, reserving, risk transfer, auditing, litigation management and expense control measures.







Metropolitan has extensive experience in the fields of moisture/water infiltration/intrusion, roof system failures, lath, plaster, mortar, stucco, drywall, dimensional stone, handset applications, prefab installations, light-gauge metal stud, fireproofing, architectural pre-cast concrete, and EIFS for all types of facilities. 

Our skills and experience include design, construction estimating, material take-offs, site inspection, corrective construction detail, scheduling, subcontractor and field crew coordination, contract drafting and execution, worker and environmental health and safety.




We have handled thousands of factual issues dealing with:

· Delay, disruption, extra work and impact claims;

· contractual change orders;

· standard of care;

· cost of repair;

· scope of work disputes;

· mechanic’s liens;

· stop notices;

· bid protests;

· errors and omissions;

· environmental matters, including mold;

· construction defects, as well as contract drafting and review;

· green technology defects, including vegetative roof systems and wind turbines;

We are very competitive. We will beat every competitor’s prices and quality of work. We provide discounts for multiple assignments.






We look forward to serving you.

Sincerely,

Metropolitan Engineering, Consulting & Forensics (MECF)
Providing Competent, Expert and Objective Investigative Engineering and Consulting Services
P.O. Box 520
Tenafly, NJ 07670-0520
Tel.: (973) 897-8162
Fax: (973) 810-0440
E-mail: metroforensics@gmail.com
Web pages: https://sites.google.com/site/metropolitanforensics/

CAUSE AND CONTRIBUTING FACTORS OF FAILURE OF TEMPORARY PIPE AND FLOWLINE CONNECTIONS AT FRACKING SITES

CAUSE AND CONTRIBUTING FACTORS OF FAILURE OF TEMPORARY PIPE AND FLOWLINE CONNECTIONS AT FRACKING SITES

 

There have been a number of fluid discharge incidents and other accidents at gas production sites throughout the United States.  Based on our forensic investigations, quite a few of these releases have been caused by the failure of hammer unions or hammer joints.  Considering the skyrocketing increase in the number of these gas production sites, and since this is an on-going and recurring issue in the Oil & Gas, the chemical and steel industries, it is important to advice the insured and the insurers on the critical issue of mismatching and subsequent failure of hammer unions.

The danger of mismatched hammer unions

Hammer unions are connectors for flowline and temporary pipe installations.  Sometimes people use them instead of the flanged connection called for in the design. 

Property damage, injury and environmental release reports continue to come in involving pressurized lines and the unions used on these lines.  Workers have been observed mismatching unions.   In addition, workers have been observed hammering on lines while still under pressure.  Several accidents within the industries that use these unions, including fatalities, have occurred due to pressurized lines being improperly connected or being hammered on while under pressure.

FMC acquired the original Weco company that used to make these unions in the 1950s. The design is old, and used in steel and chemical plants, marine dredging vessels, strip mines and the oil & gas industry.  The problem is that Weco had made quite a few of these unions using different design standards they developed; in addition, there is no industry-wide standard.  There is a real potential for mismatch of the most commonly used hammer unions in the oil & gas, chemical and steel industries:  2-inch Figure 402, 2-inch Figure 602, 2-inch Figure 1002, and 2-inch Figure 1502.  The 2” Figure 1502 will make-up with 2” Figure 602 and 1002 and Guiberson 607.

You can eliminate the hazards involved with the mismatching of the various unions, by destroying 2″ 602 & 1002 Weco unions or old Guilberson Unions found in your operation and use only 1502 Thread Halfs (female sub) Use only Unions supplied by FMS and in good condition to ensure they hold rated pressure.

Recent representative releases caused by mismatched hammer unions at gas sites

·         A failed hammer union resulted in (21) gallon spill of production fluid that impacted the surface of the ground on the Well Pad. The spill was discovered around 3:40 PM on 11/30/2013.

·         One incident occurred when a 1502 wing nut male sub union holding a pressure sensor was attached to a 602 female union on the mud pump. The 1502 union and pressure sensor blew off the discharge of a mud pump. Another incident occurred when one service company’s 1502 wing nut for the male sub was made up to another service company’s 602 female half. While attempting to test the surface casing, the rams were closed and the standpipe pressure was slowly brought up. The intended test pressure was to be 1500 psi. When the pressure reached 1300 psi, the 1502 union stripped out and blew off and struck a third party service employee causing serious injury.

·         A spill occurred on 1/8/13.  An unknown amount of re-use water was released onto the ground.  A hammer union was leaking into the secondary containment of the frac tanks.

·         A spill occurred on 11/21/12 at 12:54 PM.  According to the incident report, the result of the release was due to a hammer union coming apart on the line to the production tank associated with the E Bunnell 6H Well. 

·         A drill crew was drilling ahead when a third party pressure sensor attached to the stand pipe stopped working. The sensor was made up to the standpipe with a size “602″ hammer union rated at 6,000 psi working pressure. The crew removed the faulty sensor and replaced it. The hammer union on the new pressure sensor had a size “1502″ wing nut rated to 15,000 psi. The “1502″ female threads in the wing nut appeared completely made up to the “602″ male threads coming off the standpipe

·         A spill occurred on 2/1/2014 when a dump line froze which caused a hammer joint to loosen and subsequently release production fluid to the ground.  Reported spill volume was 42 gallons. 

Figure 1.  FMC Hammer Union

The dangerous problem

The thread (or male half) of a 2” 602 and 1002 hammer union will make-up to the wing nut (or female half) of a 2” 1502 hammer union leading a worker to believe he has mated two compatible components that will withstand fluid pressures up to 6,000 psi.  As the threads on the two halves are of the same pitch and design, they will actually screw together.  However, because there is a 5/16” difference between the diameters of the thread and wing-nut halves described above, the two mismatched components will not actually hold high pressures very long.  The hammer unions will eventually separate.  When the union halves blow apart three immediate hazards are created:

1.                  The wing-nut becomes an 8 lb. Projectile that moves in an undetermined direction, maybe at personnel.

2.                  Uncontrolled release of high-pressure fluids that may or may not strike an employee in its path.

3.                  Uncontrolled release of potential toxic fluids (acids, oils, fuels, diesel base mud) that may cause harm to persons or the environment.

Figure 2.  Differences between the 1502 and the 602 female sub

These hammer union components have a history of failing under pressure due to incorrect matching of components (pressure ratings and/or incompatible geometry).

The above list is not meant to be all-inclusive and users should establish controls to ensure hammer union combinations are safe, especially when more than one manufacturer’s components are used.

The Recommended Procedure by the American Petroleum Institute

The recommended procedure (RP) alert by the API is intended to raise awareness of the incompatibility and dangers of these hammer unions.  Even though these parts mate up, they are likely to fail below the working pressure of the hammer union segments (male and female). Failures typically result in personnel injury or death in addition to extreme equipment damage.

Figure 3.  Compatible hammer unions.  Note the smaller diameter of the lips of the male sub.

The RP also describes a recommended procedural solution to the industry that will reduce the likelihood of a 2-inch Figure 402, 602, and/or 1002 hammer union component being made up inadvertently to a 2-inch Figure 1502 hammer union.

Additionally the RP describes and proposes an engineering solution to the industry that makes impossible the mating of female 2-inch Figure 402, 602, and/or 1002 subs with the wing nut of the 2-inch Figure 1502 hammer union.

It is important that all users and suppliers adopt the procedural solution as it could possibly be a number of years before the new hammer union designs are implemented and the original hammer unions taken completely out of service.

Briefly, the procedural proposals include using one or more of the following measures depending on the fleet or equipment package:

•        Replace all 2-inch hammer union components to a 2-inch Figure 1502.

•        Use Go/No-Go gauges on all 2-inch female subs to determine whether the component is acceptable for use with a 2-inch Figure 1502 male sub and nut.

•        Perform inspection and marking to ensure all hammer unions are repaired or removed from service as required. Marking should be either by stamping or branding and large enough to easily see.

•        Train all personnel on the hazards of mismatched hammer unions and include identification of all components, wear and tear, and out of service criteria.

•        Management of change process should be utilized.

•        Permit-to-Work (PTW) and/or Job Safety Analysis (JSA) should be used in all work requiring hammer unions.

•        Jobsite inventory of hammer union component.

•        Color-coding

The RP also notes that the engineering design solution is in three areas of the female sub:

1)      reduced thread major diameter,

2)      raised shoulder, and

3)      a mark indicating the design.

Other areas covered in the RP include mitigating the effects of mismatched components parting, as well as several general safety recommendations.

The dangers of mismatched hammer unions have been in the patch for far too long.  But by following the recommended procedural solution contained in this RP, as an industry, we can protect our workers to the best of our ability while using hammer unions. It is of the utmost importance that all employees are trained and retrained in the proper handling, use and make-up of hammer unions.

Figure 4.  Incompatible hammer unions.  Note the almost same diameter of the male and female lips.

Metropolitan Engineering, Consulting & Forensics (MECF)

Providing Competent, Expert and Objective Investigative Engineering and Consulting Services

P.O. Box 520

Tenafly, NJ 07670-0520

Tel.: (973) 897-8162

Fax: (973) 810-0440

E-mail: metroforensics@gmail.com

Web pages:  https://sites.google.com/site/metropolitanforensics/

We are happy to announce the launch of our twitter account.  Please make sure to follow us at @MetropForensics

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Metropolitan appreciates your business.

Feel free to recommend our services to your friends and colleagues.

We know you need to process damage claims quickly and knowing the facts is now faster than ever – within 24 hours of site visit.  Our Pegasos Forensic Investigation Services (PFIS) feature:

·                     Expert Forensic Investigators on-site.

·                     Defensible, Readable, Conclusive Reports.

·                     Fixed-Prices starting at $499 per chimney or roof inspection (volume discounts are also available).  Flood loss assessments start at $999.0.  HVAC equipment only inspections start at $299 for local (within one hour one-way drive) assignments.

·                     10-State Coverage Area.

All of our employees and associates are subjected to full FBI background investigations and security clearance.

Metropolitan Engineering, Consulting, Forensics, and Environmental Remediation Services. Construction, Investigation, Remediation and Forensic Expert Engineers

Construction Defects, Construction Claims, Engineering, Property & Casualty Investigations, Assessment, Site Investigation, Remediation, Litigation and Indoor-Air Expert Engineers

Bill Stephan, PhD, PE, CIH, CHMM, JD, MBA

Principal Engineer

P.O. Box 520

Tenafly, New Jersey 07670-0520

Phone: (973) 897-8162

Fax: (973) 810-0440

E-mail: metroforensics@gmail.com

______________________________________________________________________

Firm Overview

The engineering and forensic firm of Metropolitan Forensics and Consulting Engineering and Environmental Services was established for the purpose of providing a high value service to the insurance industry and to the insured companies or individuals. Our founding principal (Bill Stephan) is a licensed professional engineer in several states, including, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and Delaware.

We specialize in the in-situ remediation of petroleum and chlorinated spills, the defense of liability claims, the investigation and defense of first or third party insurance claims and the handling of subrogation claims.  We are also experts on oil and gas energy sector issues (design, investigations, construction oversight), renewable energy sector (wind turbines, solar panels, biofuels, etc), vapor intrusion evaluation, vapor phase and transport and in design on vapor mitigation systems.  Additionally, we offer forensic engineering services, including age-dating of contaminant releases, construction defects, oversight, evaluation of remedial alternatives, sub-slab ventilation system design and installation.  The list of our core services is:

• Cause and Origin Investigations
• Construction Failure Analysis (Residential, Industrial and Commercial)
• Structural Integrity Evaluation
  
• Site Investigation
• Tank removals and tank installations; licensed and insured to perform entire UST work
  
• In-Situ Remediation of Soil and Groundwater
  
• Vapor intrusion, indoor air evaluation and mitigation
  
• Causation
• Forensic Investigations (age-dating)
• Oversight
• Review of Remedial Action Work Plans
• Reserve Estimation
• Cost Allocation
• RAWP Preparation
• Site Remediation
• Cleanup Level Development and Negotiation
• Subrogation
• Expert Witness/Litigation Support
• Licensed Site Remediation Professional (LSRP) Services
• Construction Claims (Delay, Differing Site Conditions, Loss of Productivity, Acceleration, and others)
  

Additional Specialty Service Areas

Age Dating
Boilers & Burners
Bridges
Building Codes
Building Inspections

Construction Accident
   Reconstruction
Construction Defects
Construction Delay Claims
Construction Surety Claims
Construction Disputes
Construction Differing Condition Claims
Construction Oversight
Construction Management
Construction Acceleration Claims

Construction Failures
Construction Injuries
Contractor Performance Issues
Corrosion

Defective Designs
Defective Roadway Design
   Evaluations

Earthquake
Electrical Accidents/Injuries
Electrical Equipment Failures
Electrical Fires
Elevators, Escalators
   & Conveyors
Embedded Software Hazards
   & Analysis
Equipment Failures
Errors and Omissions
Explosions
Failure Analysis
Fire
Fire Codes
Fire Protection Systems
Fire Suppression Systems
Flood Damage Assessment

Foundation Systems

Gas Systems
Hailstorm damage

Heating & Ventilation Systems
Heavy Construction
Highway/Roadway Design
Human Factors

Indoor Air Quality
Laboratory Services
Ladders, Scaffolding Falls
   & Failures
Lightning

Mechanical Defect Evaluations
Metallurgical Age Dating
Mold Causation
Natural Disasters/Weather
   Related Issues
Nuclear Energy
Occupational Hazards
   & Illness
Piping
Playground Equipment Injuries
Plumbing
Product Failures
Roofing Problems & Failures
Safety Codes
Safety & Human Factors
   Engineering
Scalding
Scene Mapping and Photographs
Sick Building Syndrome
Sports Equipment Injuries
Standardized Codes
Steam Systems
Subrogation Issues

Transportation Issues
Trips, Slips & Falls
Underground Storage Tanks
Utilities Expertise
Vibration
Water Damage
Windstorm

Mission Statement

Our mission is to work as an extension of our clients to expeditiously achieve the most economically favorable resolution of claims on their behalf and on behalf of their insured. We have developed and will continue to create new solutions to the technical problems and issues which are facing the insurance industry and the insureds today.  

Metropolitan provides forensic engineering work (age-dating or fingerprinting), site remediation, auditing, cost control and litigation support services to insurance carriers, their insureds and to private or public companies.  In its risk management role, examines, manages and audits environmental claims to ensure that assessment and remediation services provided to both carriers and policy holders are reasonable and necessary, properly rendered and appropriately charged. 

In its litigation support role, Metropolitan assists carriers and their counsel to ensure that litigious disputes are resolved fairly and reimbursement benefits are provided when appropriate.  The corporations service area includes the entire United States, with our corporate office located in Northern New Jersey.  The Firm's professional staff also travels regularly throughout the United States on assignment.

Forensics at Metropolitan

There are many issues associated with disputes over responsibility for cleanup. Who, what, when, where, and how chemicals were released can be investigated. The tools of forensic investigation include mathematical models, statistical models, fate and transport calculations, chromatography, lead isotope analyses, time of travel assessments, library search site characterization, tracer additives, and recently developed software applications.

Effective forensic project management should include an evaluation of multiple forensic tools based on site specific circumstances. The process of evaluation and the ultimate selection of the forensic tool are critical to a successful outcome. When project budgets allow, combining forensic methods for corroborative evidence can substantially strengthen your client’s position in an effort to prevent or support litigation. The effective forensic consultant must be well acquainted with an ever expanding list of analytical methods, environmental regulations, assessment procedures and remedial technologies.

The forensic field is one that utilizes a wide range of scientific tools to identify and characterize complex adverse environmental events. Some of the scientific disciplines involved in forensics include engineering principles (biological, physical and chemical), hydrology, lithology, geology, site history, site practices, mathematics, and statistics. These areas may be combined with technologies such as respiratory analyses, chromatography/mass spectrometry and chemical fingerprinting methods to answer complex questions with the ultimate goal of establishing responsibility for a particular event. Accurate, defensible forensic analyses are an essential component of any strategy that attempts to resolve the extent of the insurer or insured client responsibilities in the cleanup of contaminants.

Contact us online or call 973-897-8162 to learn more about our forensic services.

Property Damage Services at Metropolitan

Metropolitan assists property owners, claims professionals, businesses, and attorneys in   the assessment of the cause & origin (C&O), extent of damage and required restoration after pipe bursts, settlements, manufacturing and construction failures, fire, flood, earthquake, or storm damage.  Our teams of engineers have extensive experience in the many systems that make up a building including structural, mechanical and electrical systems.   We also have the necessary background to evaluate property damage to items such as communications towers or solar panels. We can help determine alternative, appropriate, and cost effective solutions for repair or restoration of any damaged property, both commercial and residential. 

Providing Competent, Expert and Objective Investigative Engineering and Consulting Services.

Our experts are multi-skilled, competent, and objective professionals who apply their analytical and common sense skills to reconstruct, determine the root cause, and document the events that give rise to property, casualty, and liability claims.  Thorough investigations and detailed measurements/research help us distinguish between pre-existing conditions and sudden and accidental losses.

Our investigations are:

·         Comprehensive & Accurate

·         Legible & Easy to Understand

·         Timely Performed

·         Delivered Quickly

·         Cost Effective

·         Clear & Concise

·         Developed by Professionals

·         Dependable

·         Our own uniform reporting system saves time and money.

Our Fast Track Investigation and Uniform Format Reporting systems allow us to conduct and deliver a comprehensive response to the assigned claim.  In most cases, we will obtain findings based on a site visit, visual observations, photographs, interviews, and field measurements.  Further investigations and testing will be provided upon request and approval by the client.

Forensic Investigation of Property Damage Claims

Metropolitan Consulting, Engineering & Forensics understands your need to complete a claim investigation accurately and efficiently as possible.  Whether it is accident reconstruction, damage due to environmental forces such as wind, water, hail, snow, tornado, etc.; fire origin & cause investigation or any other claim, the engineers at Metropolitan understand both you and your client want to resolve the claim.  The analysis you receive from Metropolitan will be accurate and complete, giving you the information needed in the claim adjustment and analysis.

Our services have extended beyond the forensic analysis phase into the remediation and repair phase of many large loss claims.  Upon the completion of the cause and origin (C&O) investigation, Metropolitan can provide our clients with complete working drawings and specifications needed to repair or rebuilt damaged buildings or other structures.  Metropolitan Consulting & Engineering’ staff possesses many-many years of experience in rehabilitation design, construction management, and project oversight to ensure the loss is restored in a timely and cost-effective manner without sacrificing quality.  Building code knowledge allows us to identify possible code upgrades as needed.  Metropolitan understands constructability and realizes making an insured whole goes beyond forensic investigation and design. We pride ourselves in providing practical solutions contractors can understand and follow.

At the forefront of available technology, we provide professionals and staff capable of handling a variety of engineering evaluations.  Our reports are clear, concise, complete and efficiently produced.  Our engineering objectives are achieved in an ethical manner consistent with the traditions and character of engineering professionals.

Contact us online or call 973-897-8162 to learn more about our property damage services.

Extensive Experience helping Sureties

Metropolitan also has extensive experience helping sureties fulfill their bond obligations resolve disputes after a contractor has defaulted.  This work includes the evaluation of contractor bid pricing, evaluation of the contractor’s ability to perform work, risk assessment, evaluation of termination, construction completion services, claim and litigation support services, loss recovery services, evaluation of payment bond claims, negotiation and settlement of payment bond claims, and construction defects investigation services.  Metropolitan has provided these services for commercial, development, educational, and assisted living projects.

Construction is a business fraught with risk.  Disputes over even the smallest of issues can quickly escalate, with crippling consequences to the project and the parties.  Over the years, the construction industry has developed various methods of contractually allocating the risk of project delay and disruption.  Some of these methods include liquidated damages provisions, "no damages for delay" clauses, mutual waivers of consequential damages, provisions that limit liability, claims notice provisions, and provisions addressing responsibility for the adequacy of the construction plans and specifications.  Parties frequently litigate the sufficiency of these risk-shifting efforts in conjunction with the underlying merits of delay and disruption disputes.

Construction Claims & Disputes

The most frequently encountered claims include:

1.            Construction Delay Claims

2.            Disruption and Loss of Labor Productivity Claims

3.            Design and Construction Defect Claims

4.            Force Majeure Claims

5.            Acceleration or Compression of the Schedule Claims

6.            Suspension, Termination and Default Claims

7.            Differing Site Conditions Claims

8.            Change Order and Extra Work Claims

9.            Cost Overrun Claims

10.         Unacceptable Workmanship or Substituted Material Claims

11.         Non-payment Claims (stop notice (or Notice to Withhold) claims, mechanics’ lien (only for private construction projects) and payment bond claims)

Forensic Engineering Experience Case Studies

Metropolitan staff has developed and utilized scientific methods to assist clients in a variety of ways related to their claim issues. The following is a partial list of such projects:

• Provided expert witness services for plaintiff seeking remediation of contaminated groundwater that caused indoor air inhalation problems;
• Testified that engineering and scientific evidence was improperly collected and analyzed and was inadequate to show the age of the release;
• Origin and cause of retaining wall failures.  
• Lightning damage to structures or electrical systems and equipment
• Roof failure or collapse as a result of accumulated load, additional weight and snow drift at hundreds of commercial and residential properties.
• Demonstrated that solvents in groundwater at client's property originated from off-site dry-cleaner and that client's site actually provided remediation for the off-site release of dry cleaning solvent;
• Expert witness for property owner impacted by industrial waste disposal from industrial manufacturer;
• Demonstrated that environmental analysis by a previous consultant for a manufacturing site was inadequate; as a result, the lender's concerns were alleviated and financing proceeded;
• Chemical "age-dating" and contaminant transport analyses of petroleum in groundwater at a gas station showed that contaminants originated from other parties;
• Age-dated petroleum release at a former gas station to show that the previous owner of the gas station caused groundwater contamination;
• Age-dated petroleum releases at an industrial facility to show that the on-site plume was the result of an off-site source;
• Prepared age-dating reports for over one-hundred residential fuel oil spills;
• Assisted insurance companies attorneys in defending subrogation claims; was able to demonstrate that the forensic data collected by the first party consultant were collected and analyzed using invalid methods;
• Demonstrated that structural damage to a residence was from a source other than the alleged high lake level
• Collected evidence (for the primary responsible party) that identified other responsible parties to share in the cost of a Superfund cleanup;
• Review of the site data at a bulk petroleum facility indicated that the site releases were not the result of regular oil transfer operations and that they were caused by the negligent actions of the insured’s agents; the case was settled in favor of the insurance company;
• Was able to demonstrate that the majority of the removal actions at petroleum release sites were neither reasonable nor necessary; as a result of our opinion, the insurance client settled the claim in favorable terms;
• At several drycleaner sites we were able to demonstrate that the age of the release was much earlier than the parties originally believed; as a result, the insurance client settled the claim at a fraction of the alleged liability;
• We performed numerous flood and wind damage assessments at commercial and residential properties.

Contact us online or call 973-897-8162 to learn more about our forensic engineering services.

Site Remediation Services

 Characterizing and remediating contaminated sites involve some of the most complex and difficult issues for environmental lawyers and their clients. Problem areas include responding to regulators; negotiating enforcement settlements; negotiating or litigating cost allocation and recovery claims; working with the insured or insurer client, lawyers and regulators to develop efficient, cost-effective remediation approaches; and selling, buying, or developing contaminated properties.

Metropolitan staff has developed and applied an innovative approach to the use of sodium persulfate for the sequential in-situ treatment of subsurface contaminants through chemical oxidation followed by enhanced biological degradation through sulfate reduction. This approach has broad applicability to a wide range of contaminants, and shows strong cost-saving benefits through reducing the initial volume of chemical oxidant necessary and enhancing the in-situ biological degradation of contaminants.

Through proper subsurface geochemical characterization and chemical dosing design, the approach focuses on utilizing the oxidant for immediate mass reduction at the source area, followed by degradation or polishing of the residual contamination using sulfate reducing bacteria.  Depending upon the oxidant activation method, this approach is applicable to petroleum hydrocarbons including both volatiles and PAHs, chlorinated volatile organic compounds (CVOCs) including chlorinated ethene, ethane and methane groups, as well as PCBs.

Contact us online or call 973-897-8162 to learn more about our Site Remediation Services.

Vapor Intrusion and Indoor-Air Studies

Vapor intrusion has received increased attention over the last few years near contaminated sites because some contaminants have the potential to migrate into nearby buildings and negatively affect indoor air quality. The accumulation of these volatile vapors in buildings can result in significant safety and health concerns.
To properly evaluate vapor intrusion a thorough evaluation of the building's ventilation system and subsurface conditions needs to be conducted by a knowledgeable professional in accordance with state and federal established procedures. 
The evaluation process typically includes a thorough building chemical inventory, the advancement of soil gas probes and the collection of soil gas samples. When indoor air quality problems are identified they can normally be resolved through the modification/installation of a properly designed ventilation system.
Metropolitan is well experienced with U.S. EPA and State vapor intrusion investigation techniques. We have completed numerous vapor intrusion and indoor air quality studies at commercial and residential properties. We have the experience to identify and resolve indoor vapor intrusion problems and the practical know-how to resolve indoor quality issues in an efficient and cost effective manner.
Contact us online or call 973-897-8162 to learn more about our Vapor Intrusion and Indoor Air Studies.

Metropolitan Engineering, Consulting, Forensics, and Environmental Remediation Services.

Construction, Investigation, Remediation and Forensic Expert  Engineers

P.O. Box 520

Tenafly, New Jersey 07670-0520

Ph.: (973) 897-8162

Fax: (973) 810-0440

metroforensics@gmail.com

Contact: Dr. Bill N. Stephan, PhD, PE, JD, CIH, MBA, CHMM

Insurance claim examiners, insureds, insurers, insurance adjusters and risk managers use Metropolitan for determining cause, evaluating the extent of damage, determining the age of the release, separating unrelated damage, analyzing loss scopes and managing restoration data, determining costs to repair, restore or replace, and preparing for insurance appraisals.

Attorneys call on Metropolitan for help when preparing for Litigation and Alternative Dispute Resolution such as arbitration and mediation