Agenda

Registration:                        8:00 – 8:30 am

Morning Session:                8:30 am – 12:00 pm

Lunch (On your own):         12:00 – 1:00 pm

Afternoon Session:             1:00 – 4:45 pm

Examining the Role of Forensic Engineering

    Causes and consequences of structural failures
Importance of good design
Impact of codes and standards
Legal and economic impacts of failures
Results and consequences of forensic engineering

Understanding the Forensic Engineering Process

Documenting the failure
Conducting investigation and research
Test protocols and tests
Determining causation and responsibility
Learning from failure

Preparing the Forensic Engineering Report

Identifying the report’s purpose and its audience
Examining content
Organizing the report
Evaluating sample reports

Understanding Causes of Structural Failures

Material deficiencies
Design errors
Construction errors
Excessive loadings
Deterioration and degradation

Forensic Examination of Structures

Investigation of steel structures
Investigation of wood structures
Investigation of concrete structures
Investigation of masonry and building facades
Load testing and instrumentation of existing structures

Using Forensic Engineering Information in Litigation

Examining the nature of post-failure conflicts and disputes
Understanding the use of forensic engineering information
in arbitration, litigation and mediation
Presenting forensic engineering information as an expert witness
• Expert witness qualifications
• Offering testimony as an expert witness

Credits

Professional Engineers
     6.5 PDHs

Architects
     6.5 HSW LUs/CE Hours
6.5 AIA HSW Learning Units

Contractors
     Non-Credit Continuing Ed.

Continuing Education Credit Information

This seminar is open to the public and offers 6.5 PDHs to professional engineers in all states. HalfMoon Education is an approved continuing education provider for Maryland engineers.

This course offers 6.5 HSW LUs/continuing education hours to architects in all states, except Florida architects. Courses approved by the American Institute of Architects are accepted in Maryland.

The American Institute of architects has approved this seminar for 6.5 HSW Learning Units (Sponsor number J885). Only full attendance can be reported to the AIA/CES.

HalfMoon Education is an approved continuing education sponsor for engineers in Florida, Indiana (License No. CE21700059), Maryland, New Jersey (Approval No. 24GP00000700), New York (NYSED Sponsor No. 35), North Carolina, and North Dakota. HalfMoon Education is deemed an approved continuing education sponsor for New York architects.

This course offers a non-credit continuing education opportunity to construction contractors. It has not been approved by any state contractor licensing entity for continuing education credit.

Attendance will be monitored, and attendance certificates will be available after the seminar for most individuals who complete the entire event. Attendance certificates not available at the seminar will be mailed to participants within fifteen business days.

Speakers

Michael Drerup, P.E., F.ASCE

Drerup Building Performance Engineering, PLLC

Over the past 28 years, Mr. Drerup has investigated performance concerns at hundreds of buildings and structures. His work has ranged from single family homes to large building collapses. Mr. Drerup has evaluated damage attributable to earthquakes, blast, impact, fire, water intrusion, corrosion, construction defects, and other factors. He has served as a testifying expert in several cases. Mr. Drerup has also developed and retrofit designs for existing buildings. He has previously worked for two prominent forensic engineering firms and an international structural design firm. In 2014, he established Drerup Building Performance Engineering, PLLC with his partner Alicia Díaz de León, PE, SE, AIA, and continues to collaborate with other consultants and laboratories nationwide to investigate a broad range of issues pertaining to structure, enclosure, and construction materials. Mr. Drerup recently completed two terms as a voting member of ASCE’s Board Committee on Technical Advancement. He serves on ASCE’s Joint Task Committee with CROSS-US, and is past chair and a 22-year member of ASCE’s Forensic Engineering Division.