Forensic Engineering

Atlanta Louisville Los Angeles Seattle

IEI Advantage
The core business at Innovative Engineering Inc. (IEI) has always been acting as the structural Engineer of Record for buildings and other structures. The founder, Scott L Weiland, PE started the firm in 1995 after acquiring in-depth experience and success in both the design and construction industries. IEI has since grown to become a medium size firm with highly educated structural engineers with broad experience including low to high rise buildings, light and heavy industrial projects, marine facilities and construction.  Unique to the industry, IEI also offers an experienced and highly qualified Rope Access Forensic Team (RAFT) of structural engineers who are able to efficiently access, inspect and conduct sampling and testing of building facades, roofs, bridges, dams, tanks, towers, confined spaces, and natural features not otherwise accessible with ladders or boom lifts. IEI’s RAFT structural engineers are certified rope access technicians by the Society of Professional Rope Access Technicians (SPRAT), OSHA Certified, and have an impeccable safety record.

As a medium size firm, IEI is small enough to ensure principal involvement and nimble response while large enough to handle most any project. They are accustomed to acting as prime consultant and construction manager as requested. Their vast structural engineering abilities, multi-discipline cross training and coordination experience and proven track record of solving some of the toughest forensic engineering cases has resulted in structural forensic engineering capabilities that are second to none.

Forensic engineering is as much art as it is science.

Structural engineers with a strong fundamental understanding of how materials behave when subjected to the environment are good candidates to become accomplished forensic engineers. Structural deficiencies in new buildings are typically directly related to structural or geotechnical design or construction. These deficiencies are often identified during construction or shortly thereafter. In existing buildings, structural deficiencies are typically related to not so obvious causes founded by changes in moisture, temperature and/or loading conditions. Symptoms are typically cracks, sags or rust stains in interior and exterior finishes which building owners are less tolerant of due to the potential liability associated with perceived structural issues. Since the root cause of these deficiencies is typically a non-structural issue, it is important that your forensic structural engineers have extensive multi-discipline building design knowledge, training and experience including:

Furthermore, it is important that your structural forensic engineer has a proven track record investigating similar issues, particularly those where the cause is not so obvious. As identifying the problem is only the first step, it is important that your structural forensic engineer’s core business is building design. Based on many peer reviews, on behalf of the federal government, it appears that many specialty firms that focus on one specialty area of practice such as forensic engineering, have lost touch with practical holistic building design and are therefore unable to develop complete, economical and build-able repair solutions.

Hurt Plaza, Sidewalk Vault Analysis and Repairs

Atlanta, GA
Built in 1926, Hurt Plaza is on the National Register of Historic Places. IEI performed survey and document research to create a composite structural drawing of first elevated building level for condition survey. Conducted condition survey of exterior basement walls and sidewalk support structure. Performed a cursory structural analysis of exterior wall and sidewalk structure for existing conditions and the Atlanta Streetcar. Prepared condition assessment report with recommendations for remedial work and engineered shoring of sidewalk and basement wall to support Atlanta Streetcar surcharge loading.

Day’s Inn Hotel, Forensic Evaluation

Marietta, GA
Structural assessment of an existing 36 room motel including providing visual observations, recommendations, and repairs to restore the structural integrity of building areas observed to its original condition. Specific areas of concern were the exterior balconies, stairs, and building foundations. Among other issues, there was major deterioration of beams supporting the first and second elevated levels and the columns supporting the second level. Recommended shoring the existing beams immediately to insure no structural failure occurred prior to new beams and columns are installed.

Lexington Precision, Retrofit Roof Analysis & Asbestos Survey

Jasper, GA

Conducted survey and analysis of the roofing, retrofit roof framing, and decking on the main plant roof at the Lexington Precision facility. Considering the age and construction of the structure, along with the fact that no report of previous asbestos testing was available, sampling and testing for the presence of any asbestos containing materials was performed. No ACM was identified and results of the testing were provided as an appendix to the Final Wood Decking & Retrofit Roof Analysis Report.

Atlanta Motor Speedway, Tornado Damage

Hampton, GA
Performed a preliminary damage assessment on 41 buildings to determine the structural integrity and to determine if the buildings were safe for entry. Working through the night and weekend, we were able to complete the surveys, and a preliminary report of findings was delivered only 6 days from the initial start of the project. Wind damage caused in excess of $40M in structural damage to the high-profile racing facility.

James Building Chattanooga, TN

Chattanooga, TN
Performed a facade inspection of a lightning damaged terra cotta cornice of the 12-story steel-framed James Building in Chattanooga, TN. A completed assessment revealed that two terra cotta pieces required replacement; one dentil piece and one soffit corner piece.

Forty-One Marietta Street Tower

Atlanta, GA
Performed a due-diligence level facade inspection to identify any deficient conditions. The 1975-built structural steel and reinforced concrete building is 12 stories tall and roughly 100 by 120 feet.

VA Tuscaloosa Campus Water Infiltration Assessment

Tuscaloosa, AL
Performed a facade inspection of over a dozen buildings on the VA campus in Tuscaloosa Alabama. The purpose of the inspection was to develop specifications and drawings to correct water infiltration problems due to settlement and expansion joint cracks on the outer envelope of the buildings.

VA Lexington Exterior Wall Repairs

Lexington, KY
Performed a facade inspection of the exterior walls, dormers, and connecting corridors of eight buildings on the VA campus in Lexington, Kentucky. Many of the buildings were known to be in a state of extensive deterioration. These exterior walls include brick, terra cotta, CMU block, concrete, stone, and other materials. 

Jesse Brown VA Chicago Facade Inspection

Chicago. IL
Inspection included fifteen buildings throughout the VA campus with construction dates ranging from the late 1800s to early 2000s. The buildings ranged from one- to ten-stories in height and utilized numerous different structural and exterior systems.