Investigative Engineers Association

About I-ENG-A

INVESTIGATIVE ENGINEERS ASSOCIATION (I-ENG-A_®)

I-ENG-A_® Spelled Pronunciation [in-juh] : The Investigative Engineers Association; a nationwide network of forensic engineering firms, highly trained in providing services to investigate, document, test and secure property/evidence for the property and casualty insurance industry.

I-ENG-A’s standardized reporting methodology, database of information and networking ability assists with comprehensive, cost-effective and fastidious claims settlement.

CNN Features Elvin Aycock, PE, I-ENG-A Advisor

Last Updated on Wednesday, 31 March 2010 13:41

I-ENG-A Catastrophic Event Response Team

The Investigative Engineers Association (I-ENG-A) is a network of nationwide engineering firms that are trained and equipped to provide investigative engineering services to the insurance related industry.

Typically, I-ENG-A member firms work individually in their local region. However, the network of member firms are also experienced in working together as teams, when the need arises.

One such instance is the I-ENG-A Catastrophic (CAT) Event Response Team where members unite in teams to serve the insurance companies and the legal community with engineering expertise after large losses and major catastrophic events (i.e. hurricanes, floods, hail storms, wild fires, tornadoes, earthquakes, acts of terrorism, etc.).

Some of the highlights of the I-ENG-A CAT TEAM are as follows:

Capable of supplying multiple engineering teams at one time
Multi-disciplined engineers available from network
Team(s) can handle large numbers of assignments concurrently
Timely response time of team(s) to disasters
Rapid field investigations and report development
Local firm to serve as team leader/coordinator
Long term local involvement with projects

Efficient and cost effective investigations Investigative/Forensic CAT Services include:

Pre-existing vs storm damage determinations
Origin and Cause (O&C) Investigations
Structural damage assessments
Geotechnical evaluations
Wind damage assessments
Storm surge assessments
Wind vs. surge/flood damage determination
Seismic damage evaluation
Hail damage assessments
Mechanical/Electrical evaluations
Environmental assessments
Moisture mapping
Moisture intrusion/IAQ

The I-ENG-A CAT TEAM is also supplemented by an emergency restoration contractor network, First General Services, which can be brought into a project if needed for board-up, repairs and estimating.

Last Updated on Wednesday, 10 March 2010 15:47

CONTAMINATED DRYWALL: GROWTH AND RISK FOR INSPECTORS AND RESTORERS

Tuesday, 26 January 2010 15:57 David Dybdahl, CPCU, ARM, MBA

By David Dybdahl, CPCU, ARM, MBA January 2010

Contaminated drywall remediation is shaping up to be the largest single source of potential new revenue for restoration contractors in history. Before the contractors a can do their work an inspector will need to diagnose the presence of the contaminated drywall. According to the actuarial consulting firm Towers and Perrin the total economic losses from contaminated drywall as reported in the publication Business Insurance on November 2, 2009 could fall between $15 billion and $25 billion dollars. These projected costs represent 2/3 of the entire current annual revenue base of the fire and water damage restoration industry. Inspectors and restorers who plan for this new source of revenue can expand their operations with undue risk. However without risk management planning, contaminated drywall inspection and remediation will be high risk work that may be totally uninsured for all the stakeholders associated with remediating a contaminated property.

Last Updated on Tuesday, 26 January 2010 16:00 Read more...

I-ENG-A Network Advantages

NETWORK ADVANTAGES

Industry needs are served by a highly-qualified, local grassroots professional firm, recognized in its own right, and with a hard-won reputation to protect.
The local representative has the support of national advisors and the membership at large who consult by phone, internet and/or by fax (at a fraction of the cost such experts would require for their services on-site), working hand in hand with the local representative. The local affiliate is there to assure close coordination of the investigation and sees to the adjuster's and attorney's interests as it does the evaluations requested.
Experts are available directly in high profile cases requiring their specialized expertise or their expert witnessing capabilities.
All member firms have professional investigative engineers who have received cross training in all fields of engineering damage assessment from cause and origin to structural damage assessment, accident reconstruction, personal injury and products liability. This arrangement saves both time and money while providing a comprehensive approach to loss investigation and cost containment.
All member firms have been trained in appropriate evidence handling procedures.
You have the benefit of investigators who do not work exclusively for the insurance industry and are design professionals, thus assuring credibility should litigation requiring their testimony occur.
You have an international network that more than 65 offices and hundreds of engineers, technicians and specialists, experienced in every aspect of investigative engineering, along with countless sub-consultants and testing facilities throughout North America and abroad.
We have a standardized reporting investigative process so that no matter what geographical area of the country you are in, you can expect the same quality of investigaiton.