Architect/Engineer, Expert Witness

12/06/05

In recent years because of the highly competitive nature of the business climate and the depressed nature of the industry many Architect/Engineer (A/E) firms have reduced staff in certain areas, including equipment specialists, electrical, mechanical and structural analysts, third party design reviews and forensic engineering. Under normal circumstance this is not a problem.

However, when unusual problems arise for which the A/E firm either does not have the expertise or has only one person (no qualified independent reviewer) with the required expertise then it becomes a problem.

CCC fills this gap on a just-in-time basis. CCC can act as an extension of the A/E's staff in the areas listed below to allow the A/E to perform the work for its client without taking on the permanent overhead of one or more experts.

Design Reviews - Provide an independent review of the A/E's design as it progresses to avoid expensive and embarrassing changes late in the project. These include

Design calculation review

Compliance with National and Local Standards

Constructability review

Review of Contractor charges

Training - Provide training to the A/E's staff in the following areas:

Running voltage and motor starting voltage drop calculations

Short circuit calculations including motor an generator contributions

Circuit breaker and fuse selection

Equipment sizing

Cable selection, sizing and installation

Procedure/Process Review - Review of the A/E's design processes in the following areas:

Identification of required drawings

Defining drawing content

Choice of databases versus drawings

Application of technology to design process