Archives

Raw Material Specification Changes Resolve Problem with Cured Silicone

Post by:

Silicone elastomers, foams, coatings, and adhesives are widely used in virtually all aspects of manufacturing, in construction, the automotive industry, and medical and personal care products. The properties that contribute to making silicones indispensable in many applications, such as their ability to repel water, their excellent heat stability and chemical resistance, are also responsible for […]

Read More

PVC Pipe Failure Results from Improper Installation

Post by:

Polyvinylchloride (PVC) is one of the most widely produced plastics in the world and accounts for approximately 70% of new buried water distribution and sanitary sewer pipes being installed in the U.S. and Canada today. With so much more PVC in use today, there are more situations in which pipes can fail. Whether caused by […]

Read More

Failure Analysis Determines Faulty Workmanship, Not Defective Building Materials, Caused Damage

Post by:

Defining the Challenge Upon completion of a high-rise residential structure, cracks and delamination appeared on exterior surfaces of the tower compelling building owners to initiate a lawsuit against the general contractor. The contractor, in turn, blamed faulty materials used by subcontractors. With so many subcontractors involved in this large construction project, it seemed an almost […]

Read More

Did a Cracked Pipe Cause a Landslide?

Post by:

A landslide that released fly ash materials into a drainage stream causing environmental concern was attributed to a failed municipal water pipe. The section of pipe that was removed had been examined by others and specimens had been cut from it during the previous examinations. Once we were afforded access to these specimens, we performed […]

Read More

Delamination Problem Requires Multi-Layered Approach

Post by:

RJ Lee Group was retained to investigate the cause of the delamination of acoustic fireproofing applied to steel beams of a number of large public facilities. To examine the materials in-situ, we worked in collaboration with a well-known fire protection expert already retained by the client to assess the situation. During inspection we investigated several […]

Read More

Product Failure Analysis: Consumer Product Affected by Inappropriate Raw Material

Post by:

Soon after roofing shingles were installed, the shingle manufacturer received complaints from numerous homeowners who observed rust-colored staining discharging from the shingles. The manufacturer replaced the shingles and began an investigation into the cause of the discoloration. Their in-house testing using an industry-standard method revealed the presence of corrosion-susceptible particles that were thought to be […]

Read More

Establishing the WTC Dust Signature: Managing Post 9/11 Environmental and Damage Assessments

Post by:

The collapse of the World Trade Center Towers following the catastrophic events of 9/11 produced a dust cloud that covered much of lower Manhattan. Thousands of private and public buildings were contaminated by the dust. Building owners in the vicinity of the collapse, worried about environmental impact to their damaged buildings, retained RJ Lee Group […]

Read More