Home - [ PEC ] Principled Engineering Consultants.

Our Expert Opinions Build the Strongest Basis of Your Case

When a natural disaster strikes, the experts and Principled Engineering Consultants are equipped and ready to assist you, the attorney, to assess the cause, origin and extent of damages attributable to the covered peril. We deliver repair scopes and estimates of damages prepared by insurance professionals and sealed by a professional engineer.

We make the right call

We pride ourselves on making the right evidence-based cause and origin call and verified estimate of damages to form the basis of the most defensible case in court.

Extensive Expertise

We’ve performed forensic structural property damage assessments related to insurance claims for thousands of residential, commercial and industrial structures. Detailed inspection, documentation and testing protocols, knowledge of building-codes and strong technical writing skills result expert opinions you can rely on in court.

Unquestionable Impartiality

PEC experts’ opinions are always unbiased and based on empirical data/evidence, storm related data, testing protocols and sound engineering and construction principles.

Geographic Response Capability

PEC specializes in providing property damage assessment services to self-insureds and law firms of all sizes throughout the continent Continental US and Territories

Don’t come out
of pocket

No law firm should have to slow its growth when assets are tied up in litigation. Your experts should work
for you exactly like your contingent fee contracts work for your clients.

SERVICES

Cause and Origin Investigations

PEC engineers are experts at establishing cause and origin of damages – an important factor in deciding whether a claim should proceed to be reported and whether the damages result from maintenance or construction related issues. The cause, origin and duration of the damage is vital to the determination of coverage on any specific claim.

Wind Damage

Generally, wind uplift forces develop when elevated winds blow across a sloped roof creating both positive and negative (uplift) forces from the redirection of the airflow. Since the flow of air cannot negotiate sharp discontinuities in building surfaces, such as wall corners and roof eaves and ridges, higher wind forces are typically experienced at these locations during a strong wind event. PEC engineers understand wind design, strength of materials and claddings and are able to look for evidence and damage patterns that are consistent with wind damage.

Roof Damage Assessments

Having performed thousands of roof damage assessments to commercial (modified bitumen, TPO, Ballasted) and residential roofs (tile, shingle or metal), PEC engineers have developed a keen eye for spotting various types of roof damage, damage patterns and locations and rendering opinions on the cause and extent of damages. Establishing the cause of damage and extent of such damage are important in determining required repairs per applicable building codes.

Flood Damage

Flood damage to structures is narrowly defined by the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) as damage resulting from Hydrostatic and hydrodynamic forces or scoured and eroded foundation soils. Many site specific factors must be considered in flood damage assessments in evaluating flood damage and PEC has extensive experience in assessing damages to structures that fall under a covered flood damage category.

Wind Vs Storm Surge

Having performed thousands of Hurricane Damage Assessments and Flood Damage Assessments, PEC expert engineers are uniquely qualified to differentiate between the effects of high velocity winds on structures and storm surge or flood damage.

Independent Engineer’s Repair Estimates

Based on the scope of work provided by our engineer’s cause and origin analysis, PEC can develop “Independent Engineer’s Repair Estimates”to for our clients. This is a valuable tool in resolving disputes when the plaintiff and defense estimates are far apart and can often be the most credible basis of settlement. Our experts use industry-leading technology and tools to properly estimate covered damages, adhering to engineering and construction industry protocols for restoration and application of building codes.

Other Damage Assessments

PEC has substantial experience in performing moisture damage assessments, foundation damage assessments, construction defect evaluations for many of the major insurers in Florida.

Expert Witness Services

With significant experience providing expert witness testimony on causation, and structural damages, we’re always prepared to support investigations and estimates with expert reports. Our portfolio of Expert Testimony includes a balance of both the plaintiff and defense cases to continuously qualify us as unbiased and objective experts within the fie

Insurance Policy Analysis

PEC has access to advisors/experts in Insurance policy that analyze specific insurance policies and determine the questions that need to be answered during field investigations. Real solutions stem from the right answers to the right questions.With over 80 years of combined experience in fields of underwriting, inspection and claims management, PEC insurance advisors, including in-house counsel, provide expert analysis of insurance policy coverage when requested or required.

SUCCESS COMES IN ALL SIZES

Over 100’s of Millions of dollars in structure damages assessed

Over the past 15 years, key PEC staff have assessed over 100s of Million of dollars in property damages related to 8 Hurricanes as well as disaster recovery efforts for local government entities..

Hurricane Jeanne and
Francis (Florida 2004)

PEC staff assisted the Solid Waste Authority of Palm Beach County with the FEMA Hurricane Debris Disposal Efforts. The project entailed the establishment of local temporary disposal sites, oversight of curbsite pickups, debris classification, temporary disposal, processing and final disposal as well as processing of FEMA reimbursement documentation.

Hurricane Wilma
(Florida-2005)

PEC staff assisted the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) with FEMA Project Worksheets (PWs) and Hazard Mitigation applications for the canal bank erosion repairs and armoring following the passage of Hurricane Wilma.

Hurricane Ike
(Texas 2009)

In 2008, PEC staff assessed and assisted commercial and residential property owners reaching settlements of over 2,500 property damage claims with a total value of $84,000,000 in one of the U.S.’s costliest storm events, Hurricane Ike.

Daily Claims (Florida 2016)

PEC staff performed hundreds of residential moisture damage assessments, foundation damage assessments and construction defect evaluations on behalf of many of the largest insurers in Florida.

Hurricane Harvey
(Texas 2017)

PEC staff helped assess storm damage for one of Texas’ largest state universities. The resulting claim assessed against insurers was $15,600,000. The assessment included inspection by 3 teams of engineering firms and field inspectors of 59 buildings.

Hurricane Irma
(Florida 2017)

PEC engineers performed over 180 storm damage assessments of residential properties in South Florida following the passage of Hurricane Irma. In addition, PEC staff also performed dozens of flood damage assessments throughout the Florida Peninsula.

You have claims. We have solutions.

Schedule a consultation with a Principled Engineering Consultants advisor today.