A trailer truck on its way to pick up a load lost its rear wheel assembly. The debris then impacted another vehicle in the on-coming traffic side of the road, injuring its driver. An ACS engineer was assigned to investigate. By the time the trailer was available for inspection, the only remaining portions of the … More From the Archives: Trailer Wheel Separation
An outboard motor boat experienced propeller disengagement and damage to the transom area where the motor connected to the boat. An ACS engineer investigated and found fiberglass stress fractures as well as a fracture in the metal mount bolt plate on the port side oriented to the left (away from the keel and stern). Striations … More From the Archives: Motor Boat Damage
Two vehicles were involved in a collision at a traffic signal intersection. An ACS engineer was tasked to examine the damage. One vehicle had damage to the passenger side bumper and the other had no damage of significance. The support brace to the damaged bumper collapsed. Occupants in the vehicles would not be injured unless … More From the Archives: Low Speed Impact
An outside clothes dryer caught fire and caused some damage to the residence. An ACS engineer investigated the cause of the fire. The dryer was not under any recall, and the extension cord to the dryer was ruled out. Significant lint accumulation was observed outside the drum, but only the portion on the left side … More From the Archives: House Fire #2
A contractor was attempting to survey roof damage from a storm. As he climbed the ladder provided by the property owner, he fell on reaching the top of the ladder while attempting to step off onto the roof. An ACS expert was assigned to investigate. The fiberglass extension ladder was rented while lacking foot pads. … More From the Archives: Ladder Safety #2
A residential home was destroyed by fire that had originated in the attic in the vicinity of a propane furnace vent. An ACS engineer investigated the fire. After ruling out electrical systems in the area of origin, it was determined that the propane furnace had been venting into the attic space rather than externally from … More From the Archives: House Fire #1
A woman working at a retail store fell from a ladder and was injured while reaching for a product on one of the shelves. The shelf was 8 feet from the ground, the employee was 5 feet tall, and the 4 foot step ladder could only accommodate a 2 foot climb safely. The decals on … More From the Archives: Ladder Safety, #1
Following a hail storm, a homeowner’s roof damage was reported to their insurer. An ACS engineer investigated and found small regions of lighter-colored aggregate amongst the three tab composition asphalt shingles as well as other regions in which the asphalt protection in the layer below the aggregate was exposed. Other indications of hail damage were … More From the Archives: Hail damage to roof shingles
This month’s (February 2019) Plumbing Engineer magazine featured an article discussing insulation engineering considerations. The general topics covered are the major points that need to be addressed: (a) the basics (b) history of thermal insulation (c) how heat transfer works and (d) applicable codes and standards. This makes it a great reference article. An expert … More “Thermal Insulation for Buildings, Pipe and Mechanical Equipment”, a Complication
A swivel office chair failed while in use causing injury. ACS engineers studied the damage to the chair and found that it had separated between the seat support assembly and the supporting pedestal. Inspection of the insert portion of the seat support assembly showed that the failure occurred on the bottom side of the insert’s … More From the Archives: Chair Failure
