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Hurricane
Building Damage
Insurance and
Litigation
Investigations
Our team of
construction
professionals,
building
scientists, and
engineers
provide the
insurance
community and
their attorneys
with
investigation
and evaluation
assistance on
property loss
claims. We
investigate
commercial,
industrial,
institutional,
and residential
properties
damaged by wind,
water/flooding,
hail, and fire.
We have
extensive
experience with
investigating
and identifying
markers
indicating
pre-existing
damage after
sudden weather
events such as
hurricanes. We
can assist
adjusters with
both emergency
site
mobilizations to
help with their
evaluation
process or post
hurricane
evaluation of
claims during or
after the
repair/remediation
process.
Our team of
construction
management
professionals
provides
evaluation of
Builder's Risk
Claims following
catastrophic
events such as
wind, flooding,
and fire.
Property damage
can be
evaluated. The
existing
Schedule of
Values at the
time of the
event can be
established.
Impact of delays
on schedule and
costs can be
quantified.
Our team of
environmental
professionals
and certified
industrial
hygienists
provides
environmental
assessments
after
catastrophic
events involving
water
infiltration and
flooding that
may lead to
mold, bacteria,
and other
microorganisms
in the air,
water, and/or
ventilation
system. When an
Indoor
Environmental
Quality (IEQ)
evaluation
reveals active
or potential
indoor air or
water
pollutants, we
can conduct
subsequent
sampling and
analysis to
identify and
quantify the
pollutant. We
also can analyze
scopes of work
by others to
identify
potential
excessive scopes
of work and
associated
expenditures.
Our team of fire
investigation
professionals
has extensive
experience in
the
determination of
the cause and
origin of fires
and explosions
in any
environment.
These include,
but not limited
to industrial
manufacturing,
chemical/petroleum
facilities,
commercial and
residential
buildings. We
have the
expertise to
address fires
stemming from
fuel gas
distribution or
equipment
failures,
electrical
system failures
and/or
lightning.
Investigations
include
evaluation of
the pre-storm
conditions,
potential code
violations,
equipment or
piping failures,
or failures in
storm
preparation that
may have
contributed to
the loss.
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Property Loss Claims
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Assessment of property damage
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Cause and origin of damages; identification of deficiencies in design, construction, owner maintenance or operation that have contributed to damages
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Document and data management, photo documentation of loss, itemized identification of damaged components
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Identification of pre-existing conditions
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Analysis of repair scopes of work
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Analysis of betterment
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Identification and evaluation of repair upgrades due to code changes
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Expert testimony
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Development of trial exhibits including demonstrative graphics, computer animations and simulations, courtroom mock-ups and physical models
Builder's Risk Claims
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Assessment of property damage
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Cause and origin of damages; identification of deficiencies in design and/or construction that have contributed to damages; damages resulting from Acts of God.
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Evaluation of required site protection
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Construction means and methods analysis
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Date of loss ‘Schedule of Values’ analysis
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Impact of delays on schedule and costs
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Site safety and OSHA related issues
Environmental Impact
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IEQ evaluations
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HVAC system evaluations
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Air and water pollutant sampling and evaluation
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Develop written IEQ programs that address controlling indoor environmental quality in occupied buildings under renovation
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Evaluation of remediation scopes of work and cost
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Water quality audits for Legionella and other bacterial contamination
Identifying the cause of damage to a building following a hurricane is complex and requires specialized experience. It is important to consider evidence of conditions that existed prior to the storm, conditions immediately after the storm, and conditions that have occurred weeks or months after the storm. Previous construction deficiencies, lack of owner maintenance, lack of proper safeguards in place during the storm, and lack of proper damage mitigation after the storm can all influence the level of damages and the cost to remedy. The timeliness of BEC's inspection allows for better analyses of the gathered data, opinions of cause and origin, and evaluation of pre-existing conditions.
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