In a prior blog post I introduced you to the basic steps involved in the manufacture of paper, from trees to paper using the Kraft Paper Process. In this blog we will review an integral component in the Kraft Paper Process known as the Black Liquor Recovery Boiler. To refresh your memory, the Kraft...
Wear and tear, it happens to everything as it ages, including roofing. During the examination of roofing, wear and tear need to be taken into account by the examiner for it can be mistaken for damage resulting from wind uplift. A common form of wear and tear observed to asphalt shingles is granular...
In 2018, a friend who owns a small strip mall asked me for assistance in dealing with a wetlands issue. A wetland/floodplain is located behind, and abuts, the strip mall property. The floodplain drains via an intermittent stream which runs along the side of the property and crosses beneath the road...
A sixteen-year-old thermoplastic roof installed on a factory roof in Southern Alabama was reported to have been damaged during a hailstorm. The thermoplastic roofing at the facility was manufactured in rolled sheets, which were installed in parallel overlapping rows. Visual examination of the...
For those who live in hot or cold environments, double pane windows are a great way to increase the energy efficiency of your home. Double pane windows consist of two panes of glass that have been sealed together in a frame, with a pane of glass on the interior and exterior surface of the window...
With loss investigations, the engineer/investigator will often encounter situations which can present safety challenges and even hazards. In some cases, such as machinery breakdown or fires, many potential hazards exist. The engineer must be aware of the situation; proper safety is critical to...
Have you ever turned on the hot water faucet and after a short period of time, heard creaking noises coming from inside the walls or below the floor? While such noises could be unwelcome guests, such as rodents or space aliens, chances are, the noises are being generated by thermal-related pipe...
EDT was notified of an issue regarding conductors overheating in conduits contained in an underground duct bank at a large commercial building. It didn’t take long to notice the cables in the duct bank were undersized and the conduits were overfilled, meaning they had too many cables. The cables...
If a transformer sample shows that gases are present within the oil, is the transformer damaged?”. Key gases are defined as gases generated in oil-filled transformers that can be used for qualitative determination of fault types, based on what gases are typical or predominant at various temperatures...
As summer approaches, air conditioners around the country will start running over time. With that increased usage and warmer weather, instances of water damages related to the operation of “ACs” will increase. In this article, we will review two ways that water damages can occur from an AC.
You may be familiar with the consequences of applying too much air pressure to an item such as a balloon or a tire. Most people intuitively understand that there is only so much air that can be added to your car tires before they burst. Items that are designed to contain pressurized gases or liquids...
The design and analysis of the foundation system are equally important to provide support to the building. However, more often than not, an adequate investigation, design, and preparation of the ground where the structure and its supporting foundation system are to be built are not taken into...
In our previous blog post, Not So Good Vibrations (Part I), we discussed waves related to blasting type applications as well as why we perceive vibrations from blasting inside our home and not outside. In this blog post we will discuss the question, can vibration responses from nearby blasting...
In part one of this blog series, the discussion centered on a non-uniform weight spinning on an axis – rotational imbalance – which is excited by the spinning of the mass. In part two of this series, the weight is not necessarily non-uniform or off-center – it is a mass mounted on a structure, where...
Have you ever wondered, as you passed a heavy truck on the interstate, whether that driver was on top of his game or not, that is, is he as alert as he should be to operate that 18-wheeler?
