Construction Failure Analysis & Forensic Engineering Investigation
Construction forensic work combines document review, site examination, selective sampling and laboratory analysis — petrography, metallography, chemistry and mechanical testing — to establish what failed, how, and usually why. Laboratory results support, but do not replace, the engineering opinion.
What does it measure?
- Material condition and distress mechanisms (petrography, metallography, fractography)
- Mechanical properties of failed versus reference material
- Corrosion products, contaminants and water pathways
- Conformance of materials to the specified requirements
When is it used?
- Cracking, spalling, deflection or collapse of structures
- Water intrusion through roofs, walls or below-grade elements
- Corrosion of reinforcement, connectors or structural steel
- Dispute resolution, insurance and litigation support
Sample considerations
- Preserve failed components in as-found condition; document locations before removal.
- Chain of custody and neutral sampling protocols matter where litigation is possible.
Laboratories with relevant capabilities
- Keighley Laboratories Ltd (Keighley, West Yorkshire) — Failure Analysis, Metallurgical Testing, Corrosion Testing
- Element Materials Technology (Aberdeen, Scotland) — Materials Testing, Mechanical Testing, Metallurgical Analysis
- Metallurgical Technologies (Mooresville, NC) — Failure Analysis, Metallurgical Analysis, Mechanical Testing
- Applied Technical Services (Marietta, GA) — NDT/NDE, Metallurgical Analysis, Materials Testing
- CSA Group (Toronto, Ontario) — Product Safety, Electrical & EMC, Environmental Testing
- Pace Analytical Services (Minneapolis, MN) — Water & Wastewater, Air Testing, Chemical Analysis
Frequently asked questions
- Does Laboratory Vortex perform the investigation?
- No. Laboratory Vortex is a coordination service — we route your request to independent laboratories and investigators, and you engage them directly.
Confirm standard edition, jurisdiction and actual laboratory scope. Service references are not partnerships or endorsements.