What Is a Forensic Structural Engineer?

When a parking deck shows unexpected spalling, a commercial building develops cracks after a storm, or a construction dispute requires technical evidence, the question is always the same: what happened, and why?

That exact question should be asked to a specialized forensic structural engineer. This specialist applies structural engineering principles in an investigative rather than a design context, producing findings that can be used to resolve insurance claims, support or defend litigation, guide repair decisions, and assign technical responsibility for failures. The work is retrospective by nature: a forensic structural engineer starts with an outcome and works backward to determine cause.

Forensic Structural Engineer vs. Structural Engineer: What Is the Difference?

The distinction matters more than it might appear, especially when selecting an expert for a complex claim or dispute.

A structural engineer is primarily a design professional. Their core work involves analyzing loads, selecting materials, and preparing drawings and specifications for structures yet to be built. When a structural engineer becomes involved in a failure, it is typically in a secondary role, such as reviewing plans, assessing repair options, or opining on whether a design met code requirements at the time of construction.

A forensic structural engineer is an investigator first. Their practice centers on examining structures that have already failed or been damaged. They gather physical evidence, review construction records and design documents, apply structural mechanics to reconstruct failure sequences, and produce findings that meet the evidentiary standards required in legal and insurance proceedings. Many forensic structural engineers hold active PE licenses, have served as expert witnesses, and have developed investigative methodologies through years of fieldwork on failure cases.

In practice, a licensed structural engineer can perform forensic work, and many do. But the depth of forensic-specific experience, familiarity with litigation processes, and the ability to produce defensible written findings vary substantially across practitioners. When the stakes are high, the distinction between a structural engineer who does some forensic work and a forensic structural engineer with a deep investigative practice is meaningful.

Types of Forensic Structural Engineering Investigations

NOVA's forensic engineering team handles investigations across the full range of structural failure categories. The table below summarizes the most common investigation types, what is examined in each, and who typically commissions the work.

Investigation Type	What Is Examined	Who Typically Retains
Foundation and Settlement Failures	Differential settlement, slab cracking, pile failures, retaining wall movement	Property owners, insurers, lenders, contractors
Structural Framing and Connection Failures	Steel connection failures, wood framing deficiencies, overloaded members, improper modifications	Insurance carriers, attorneys, building owners
Construction Defect Investigations	Design errors, code violations, improper installation, material substitutions	Attorneys, contractors, owners, developers
Parking Deck and Concrete Deterioration	Corrosion of reinforcement, delamination, spalling, drainage failures, waterproofing breakdown	Owners, property managers, municipalities
Storm and Natural Disaster Damage	Wind, flood, earthquake, and hail damage assessment; cause-and-origin determination	Insurance carriers, public adjusters, owners
Building Enclosure Failures	Water infiltration through roofing, walls, and windows; air barrier failures; facade distress	Insurers, attorneys, property owners
Fire and Explosion Aftermath	Structural adequacy post-fire, repair scope determination, code compliance assessment	Insurance carriers, public entities, attorneys

Each category requires a different investigative approach, different technical expertise, and different documentation protocols. A foundation settlement investigation relies heavily on geotechnical data, boring logs, and soil behavior analysis. A construction defect investigation pivots on design document review, building code research, and installation observation. A parking deck deterioration assessment requires concrete testing, cover depth measurements, and half-cell potential surveys. The forensic engineer must bring the right technical toolkit to each case type.

The Forensic Structural Engineering Process

While each investigation is unique, most forensic structural engineering engagements follow a consistent methodology from initial contact through final deliverable.

1. Engagement and Scope Definition

The engagement begins with a clear statement of the question to be answered. Is the investigation about the cause and origin of a failure? About whether the construction met the design and code? About the extent of damage and repair cost? The scope determines which field investigation is needed, which records should be collected, and which analytical methods will be applied. NOVA's forensic engineering consultants work with clients at the outset to define a scope that produces the findings needed for the specific legal or insurance context.

2. Document Collection and Review

Before visiting the site, the forensic engineer collects and reviews available records: architectural and structural drawings, specifications, permits, inspection reports, maintenance logs, prior investigation reports, correspondence, and photographs. Document review often reveals discrepancies between what was designed, permitted, and built, providing early investigative direction.

3. Site Investigation

The field investigation is the core of most forensic structural engineering engagements. The engineer visits the site to observe and document conditions firsthand: measuring crack widths and patterns, probing concrete for delamination, observing connections and bearing conditions, photographing distress indicators, and collecting samples for laboratory testing. Early site access is critical, particularly in post-event investigations, where weather, demolition, or cleanup can degrade or destroy evidence.

4. Testing and Laboratory Analysis

Physical samples collected during the site investigation are analyzed in the laboratory to characterize material properties and identify deficiencies. Concrete cores reveal compressive strength, carbonation depth, and chloride content. Extracted steel samples confirm yield strength and ductility. NOVA's AASHTO-accredited laboratories provide in-house testing support for forensic investigations, reducing chain-of-custody complexity and accelerating turnaround on results.

5. Engineering Analysis

With field observations and laboratory data in hand, the forensic engineer performs structural analysis to test hypotheses about the cause of failure. This may involve load calculations to determine whether a member was overstressed under normal service conditions, a review of design adequacy against applicable codes and standards, or an evaluation of whether as-built conditions matched the design. The analysis must be documented clearly enough to withstand peer review and cross-examination.

6. Report and Expert Opinion

The forensic structural engineering report presents methodology, observations, analysis, and conclusions in a format suited to its intended use, whether that is an insurance claim, a dispute resolution process, or trial litigation. Expert reports in litigation contexts must satisfy additional disclosure requirements under applicable civil procedure rules. NOVA's forensic engineering reports are prepared by PE-licensed engineers with direct experience in deposition and expert witness testimony.

NOVA Forensic Structural Engineering: Selected Project Examples

The following projects illustrate the range of forensic structural engineering and condition assessment work NOVA has performed across the Southeast.

Georgia Pacific Center Parking Garages and Pedestrian Bridge Location: Atlanta, GA | Client: Jones Lang LaSalle This project included three parking deck facilities and a connecting pedestrian bridge. NOVA was selected to perform condition assessments of all three parking structures and the pedestrian bridge, evaluating concrete deterioration, reinforcement corrosion, waterproofing system performance, and structural capacity. Findings supported capital planning and repair prioritization for a major downtown commercial property.

CNN Center Parking Deck Location: Atlanta, GA | Client: Turner Properties This project involved a 14-acre, 2-story parking deck facility adjacent to the CNN Center. NOVA performed a comprehensive structural and waterproofing condition assessment, documenting concrete deterioration patterns, evaluating the existing waterproofing membrane system, and providing repair recommendations with associated cost projections.

CNN Center Elevated Ramp Condition Survey Location: Atlanta, GA | Client: Turner Properties, Inc. NOVA completed an evaluation and oversight of repairs to the elevated ramp system at CNN Center, providing technical oversight to confirm that repair work was performed in accordance with specifications and that treated conditions were resolved.

H-JAIA North and South Parking Decks Location: Atlanta, GA | Client: The City of Atlanta This restoration project involved concrete and waterproofing repairs on the top deck of both the North and South parking structures at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. NOVA provided forensic assessment, repair design oversight, and construction inspection services.

Atlanta Dairies Development Location: Atlanta, GA | Client: Larkin Owner, LLC / Paces Properties The subject property historically operated as the Atlanta Dairies facility. NOVA performed forensic engineering assessments of existing structures on the site to evaluate structural adequacy, document existing conditions, and support adaptive reuse planning.

150 Worth Retail Facility Location: Palm Beach, FL | Client: The Goodman Company NOVA professionals performed a forensic structural and waterproofing assessment of this retail facility, investigating water infiltration and structural distress, and providing findings to support repair scoping and insurance documentation.

Miami Dade Airport Stucco Study Location: Miami, FL | Client: Miami Dade Aviation Department (MDAD) NOVA was retained by MDAD to perform a stucco investigation across airport facilities, evaluating adhesion, substrate condition, and failure mechanisms. The investigation provided technical findings to support repair planning and contractor direction at a major South Florida aviation asset.

Morgan Corporation Manufacturing Facility Location: Rydal, GA | Client: Morgan Corporation This project involved a structural condition survey and capacity analysis of a truck body manufacturing facility. NOVA evaluated existing structural members, connections, and overhead crane systems to assess load capacity adequacy and identify structural deficiencies requiring remediation.

Owens Corning Manufacturing Facility Location: Gastonia, NC | Client: Amec Foster Wheeler The project consisted of a new 170,000-sf manufacturing facility with 30,000-sf of office space. NOVA provided construction materials testing and special inspection services throughout the project, with forensic oversight of structural systems.

Who Retains a Forensic Structural Engineer, and When?

The clients who commission forensic structural engineering investigations fall into several distinct categories, each with different needs and timelines.

Insurance Carriers and Adjusters

Insurance carriers retain forensic structural engineers to investigate the cause, origin, and extent of structural damage claims. The forensic engineer provides an independent technical opinion on whether the damage is consistent with the claimed cause, whether the building performed as expected, and the scope and cost of necessary repairs. Claims involving storm damage, water infiltration, fire aftermath, and sudden structural failure all commonly require forensic structural input before coverage determinations are made.

Attorneys and Law Firms

Construction defect litigation, property damage disputes, and contractor claims all require technical expert support. Attorneys retain forensic structural engineers to develop expert opinions, review opposing expert reports, prepare expert disclosures, and testify in depositions and at trial. The forensic engineer must be able to translate complex structural analysis into findings that a judge or jury can understand, and to withstand cross-examination on methodology and conclusions.

Commercial Property Owners and Asset Managers

Owners who discover unexpected structural distress, persistent water infiltration, or accelerating deterioration often retain forensic structural engineers independent of any insurance claim or litigation. The goal is to understand the cause before committing to repairs, so that the correct scope is addressed rather than treating symptoms. This is particularly common in parking structures, building enclosures, and aging concrete-frame buildings, where the cost of a forensic assessment is small relative to the cost of an incorrectly scoped repair program.

Developers and Contractors

Developers facing construction defect claims commission forensic investigations to understand the technical basis of allegations against them. Contractors similarly retain forensic engineers when disputes arise over whether work was performed in conformance with plans, specifications, and applicable standards. General contractors managing complex projects sometimes retain forensic engineers proactively to document as-built conditions at key construction milestones.

Forensic Structural Engineering in the Southeast: Regional Factors

The Southeast's construction environment introduces specific factors that shape forensic investigations in the region.

• Concrete parking structures: Atlanta, Charlotte, and South Florida markets have large inventories of aging concrete parking decks with corrosion-induced deterioration driven by deicing salts in northern markets and chloride-laden coastal environments in Florida and the Carolinas. Condition assessment and forensic investigation of these structures is a significant and recurring practice area.
• Hurricane and storm damage: Florida and coastal markets in Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina experience recurring hurricane and tropical storm events that require post-event structural assessment, cause-and-origin determination for insurance claims, and evaluation of whether structures were built in accordance with applicable wind design requirements.
• Foundation and geotechnical conditions: Expansive clays in the Georgia Piedmont, soft coastal soils in Charleston and Savannah, and limestone karst formations in Florida all contribute to foundation settlement and soil-structure interaction problems that require coordinated forensic structural and geotechnical engineering investigation. NOVA's combined structural and geotechnical engineering capabilities allow both disciplines to be deployed on investigations where both soil and structural factors are in play.
• Building enclosure and water intrusion: The hot-humid climate of the Southeast accelerates building enclosure deterioration and makes water infiltration a chronic source of structural and non-structural damage. Many forensic investigations begin with a water intrusion complaint and expand to include structural distress caused by prolonged moisture exposure. NOVA's building enclosure consulting and forensic engineering capabilities are frequently deployed together on these investigations.

Need a Forensic Structural Engineer in the Southeast? NOVA's PE-licensed forensic engineers have investigated structural failures, construction defects, and building enclosure failures across Georgia, Florida, North Carolina, and South Carolina since 1996. We serve insurance carriers, attorneys, property owners, and commercial real estate clients on investigations ranging from single-building disputes to complex multi-party litigation. Learn more: usanova.com/what-we-do/forensic-engineering