Construction

A marine accident investigator certified with the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA). He also has over 20 years of experience in the litigation and claims industries and more than 10 years’ experience in commercial construction operations and management. he leads RTI’s visual aid consulting Imaging Sciences Group, the Unmanned Aircraft (drone), and Evidence Inspection Programs. When in the field, he takes the lead on marine accident investigations, scene documentation and preservation as well as mechanical roof damage inspections. He is also an experienced interactive design and graphic communications professional, specializing in visualizing complex matters for litigation and settlement.

Consulting Engineer in Civil Engineering, specializing in Highway and Street Design, Traffic Engineering, Utilities Construction, Storm Drainage, Pedestrian Safety, Walkway Surface Evaluations, Concrete and Asphalt Pavement Evaluations. Extensive experience in Construction Management, Project Related Claims, Job Site Safety, Codes and Standards, ADA Compliance.

Senior Civil and Structural Engineer

Summary
He is a Senior Civil and Structural Engineer with over thirty-six years experience in the construction industry with specialization in construction project management, construction cost estimating, and investigation of civil and structural engineering design, defects, and failures.

He provides consulting on structural engineering issues with regard to building damage, repair, and collapse.  He has also investigated numerous cases involving origin, cause, and remediation of water infiltration and damage, including water entrance into building structures and site drainage issues.

He has provided professional construction consulting with regard to construction cost estimating.  He is a registered Certified Cost Engineer (C.C.E.) and has been an expert witness on construction claim issues. 

This expert is internationally recognized for his research on the effects of chemicals and chemical processing on the structural performance of wood and wood-composites. This research has resulted in over two dozen peer-reviewed publications on the effects of preservatives and preservative treatment on the physical and mechanical properties of wood. This research has been resulted in several new design adjustments or process limitations in National Codes and Standards in the US and Canada.

He is also internationally recognized for his research and technological development of the concepts of using engineered biocomposites as a value-added tool to promote and to fund sustainable forest management. He formerly led this emerging approach through his long-work with the International Union of Forest Research Organizations (IUFRO) Division 5 Forest Products. From 2003-2012, he was the vice-chair of the Division 5.05 Composites Research Group of IUFRO in which he focused on enhancing the performance and durability of engineered biocomposites and the long-term sustainability of bio-based composites.

He started his own consulting firm specializing in forensic wood science, wood durability and bioresource sustainability in 2008. He served as Project Leader from 2001 to 2008, of the Engineered Composites Science Research Work Unit. He had primary responsibility for the processing and serviceability of wood-based and wood-plastic composite products. This research group is recognized by the building codes, the wood industry, and standard organizations as having a leadership role in providing unbiased technical information on manufacturing of and serviceability requirements of wood-based and wood-plastic composite products.

The multidisciplinary FRT-Serviceability Team received national recognition by the building codes, the wood industry, and standard organizations for having taken a leadership role in providing unbiased technical information on serviceability assessment of fire-retardant treated plywood roof sheathing. The team also pioneered mechanical- and chemical-based techniques for residual serviceability assessment and predictive models to estimate residual serviceability of wood products in-service. This research resulted in over another two dozen peer-reviewed publications. It has also resulted in four National Standards (ASTM D5516-94, D-5664-95, D-6305-98, and D-6841-02) and major revisions to FR-Treating Standards (AWPA C20 & C27, now AWPA U-1 & T-1).

His work on the very early stages of biological decay showed that changes in the chemical composition of the wood cause significant reductions in wood strength before measurable weight loss occurs. From an engineering perspective, estimating strength loss and residual strength is the critical element in assessing wood serviceability/durability for structures in-service as affected by wood decay. Collaborative studies have shown close a relationship between the degradation of hemicellulose and wood strength losses. Residual strength of degraded wood can be predicted using models developed by this collaborative team. The changes in chemical composition appear to be similar in both the biological and chemical systems. Understanding the relationship between chemical composition and strength loss is critical in developing models to estimate strength loss caused by biological, chemical or thermal agents.

Has over thirty years of experience in structural materials forensic work, materials testing, engineering design, project management, and construction management.  During the early stages of his career he performed basic engineering duties prior to specializing in diagnostic and forensic work.  His responsibilities included structural engineering design and construction of single-family subdivisions, small multi-family complexes, and evaluation of building and other structures for their structural components and the materials that make up of those components.  He has conducted numerous investigations regarding the structural aspects of buildings, including shear walls, framing, concrete failures (cracking, spalling, sulfate attack), and regarding the architectural aspects (envelopes) of buildings including curtain walls, waterproofing (building paper, sealers, sealants, membranes) and veneer (EIFS, GFRC, glazing, stucco, thin brick, tile, and wood siding).  Other materials tested and consultations include vapor moisture transmission through concrete floors, drainage and waterproofing of below grade concrete walls, shotcrete construction, gypsum concrete underlayment, asphalt, ABS pipe coefficient of friction of floors and window/storefronts for water penetration.

His current work emphasizes the evaluation, investigation, analysis and recommendations for remedial work of existing buildings and structures.  He provides support as an expert witness to attorneys in construction defects and personal injury litigation and has testified on structural aspects of construction, on performance of materials and workmanship, on compliance with codes and industry standards, and on slip and fall cases.

He has testified extensively on the standard of care in the construction industry.

General Contractor and Construction Specialist with over forty-one years experience in the construction industry. His experience includes general contractor/construction manager for interior renovations and light structural modifications for office, retail projects.  Also complete custom renovations and additions to existing residences in the metropolitan area.  Work involves the project management of lump sum projects, negotiated projects, design/build with activities including estimating, bidding, contract negotiations, award, scheduling, construction management and cost accounting; managed design and construction of the Washington Office Center in Washington, DC. at a cost of $62,000,000; supervised design and construction of tenant fit out of this new building; managed leasing, operations and tenant construction for all Washington D.C. properties, approximately 900,000 SF; provided engineering and construction support for properties in various states; and directed $175M renovation of the one of the world's largest commercial buildings, the 4.2 MSF Merchandise Mart, and the 1.8 MSF Apparel Center in Chicago, IL while occupied by tenants including new roofing, windows, HVAC, plumbing, elevators, electrical, addition of a pedestrian bridge and conversion of first two floors to a retail mall; designed and installed world's largest thermal ice storage cooling system; estimated budget; selected architects and engineers; supervised design, bidding, award, contract negotiation, scheduling, construction, inspection and cost accounting.

While in the United States Air Force, he coordinated the design and construction of $60,000,000 of office buildings, retail space, dormitories, recreational and religious facilities and housing units; planning and congressional approval of a base master plan and support facilities for Bolling AFB, Washington DC; coordinated activities with Naval Facilities Engineering Command and Headquarters USAF; budgeted, programmed, and scheduled all maintenance and operations work on the base.

More than forty years experience in engineering, construction and facilities management.  He is a graduate of Penn State University and holds a Master’s degree from the University of Pittsburgh.  He is a Registered Professional Engineer in six states and holds an Asbestos Inspection license in Virginia.  Served 7.5 years on active duty in the Navy’s Civil Engineer Corps and retired in 2001 with thirty years active and reserve combined service. 

As a member of the Adjunct Faculty in ODU’s Continuing Engineering Education program, he taught basic contract law and various management courses.

This expert has over 35 years of experience in building construction specializing in roofing, waterproofing (below grade, between slab, blind-side, surface, and chemical), curtain walls, fenestrations, and exterior finish systems, and building envelope technology.  He is experienced with architectural and engineering design principles and practices, drawings, construction means and methods, construction contracts, and project management. This expert has specialized knowledge of the practical and technical skills that are required for preventing infiltration of liquid water and excess water vapor into buildings. He specifies roofing, waterproofing, and building envelope systems and products, as well as conducting building envelope component failure analysis. He also has experience as a specialty construction project manager and with contract administration and technical construction specifications consulting.

This expert is experienced with construction litigation procedure, litigation support, and trial testimony.

Joseph R. Reynolds, PE, MEWI, MAE
Principal Forensic Electrical Engineer

Summary

Joseph R. Reynolds, PE, MEWI, MAE is internationally recognized as a forensic electrical engineer and an authority regarding the investigation and evaluation of utility system incidents and equipment failures including electrical contact accidents, fires and explosions. He has served as the team leader and technical director, as well as principal testifier, in large complex investigations and research. Services to the industry have included: conducting forensic root cause analyses of major power generation, transmission, distribution, and telecommunications incidents, system failures, accidents, fires, and equipment condition and performance audit issues; providing recommendations for improved equipment reliability; assessing the expected life and condition of aging equipment for repair/replace options; and addressing prudence issues related to rate base and regulatory hearings.

Mr. Reynolds is the founder and president of RTI Group, LLC based in the US, as well as the founder and chairman of the London based UK firm Reynolds Technological Inquiries Limited, and RTI Ltd, with offices in South America and the Middle East. The RTI companies are an international consultancy of experienced expert witnesses with a new research centre to determine the cause of electrical, material, and mechanical failures. An advance multimedia studio provides the visuals to effectively present our findings. A highly diversified firm, RTI specialized in accident and failure analysis of various size matters involving aviation, marine, rail, telecommunications, power utilities, and high risk industries.

RTI also provides proactive consulting services from Safety Management and Security Risk Assessment to implementation of controls.

Mr. Reynolds has represented public and government utilities, state regulatory commissions, and insurers in numerous electric power matters, including the following examples:

• Appointed by a utility regulator to serve as lead investigator and team manager for the state’s analysis of a high profile and lengthy outage resulting in recommendations to improve system reliability, which were adopted through the legislative rule-making process.

• Provided testimony at a rate base hearing before a state public service commission involving the utility’s handling of unpredictable and highly unusual nuclear reactor component failure, and evaluation of the resulting repair costs.

• Authored several publications on behalf of the Electric Power Research Institute, EPRI, including a guideline to assist utilities in improving the reliability of power plant electrical equipment as an alternative to the cost of constructing new plants.

• Evaluated the options to restore the performance of a damaged hydroelectric generator station when compared with the availability of replacement power.

Mr. Reynolds has given expert testimony in arbitration hearings and courts of law, and has appeared before state and federal boards, commissions, counsels, press conferences, and international professional forums.

Senior Welding Engineer and Inspector

Summary

He is an experienced Welding Engineer with a diverse background in Welding Engineering and Quality Assurance. He is a graduate of The Ohio State University’s Welding Engineering Program and is a current American Welding Society Certified Welding Inspector (CWI). He is highly skilled in reviewing welding, quality assurance, procedural, and inspection documentation to assess compliance with required codes, standards, and governing project documentation.  In addition to his engineering experience, he has decades of practical hands-on experience in various sectors of industry, including systems repair (automotive, truck, equipment, etc.), quality assurance (welding, casting, forging, testing, etc.), and vendor development. He excels at relaying information in a relevant fashion; providing easily understandable explanations of complex concepts, distilling jargon down to everyday relatable terms for the layperson while maintaining the use of technically correct terminology and language where appropriate.