Our expertise
EFI Global is a well-respected market leader in the UK, delivering world-class engineering failure analysis, origin-and-cause investigations, environmental consulting, emergency response and specialty consulting services to clients across the UK.
Fire
EFI Global is renowned as the world leader in fire origin-and-cause investigations, thanks to our experienced professionals and robust technology resources. We investigate incidents in residential, commercial, industrial, vehicle, equipment and marine environments. We also investigate incidents caused by wildland fires and in renewable energy installations in support of effective claims management and resolution.
We understand the importance of conducting timely, thorough and well-supported fire scene evaluations; that’s why we require that every fire investigator receive ongoing training to stay abreast of changing industry standards. We bring clients the highest technological and scientific services available, and we facilitate careful evidence collection, testing and storage.
Component testing
Our teams of experienced engineers and scientists work together to determine whether a fire was caused by the failure of a component, fixture or piece of equipment and, if so, was the result of a fabrication, material or other type of defect. EFI Global’s in-house laboratories and selected contractors test all kinds of materials, including metallurgy, polymers, composites and ceramics. Our thorough evaluations strengthen any case from the causation side of the investigation and can result in opportunities for recovery or policy defences.
Deliberate fires and fraud
EFI Global understands the ramifications of an incendiary fire cause and the evidence needed to successfully defend a fraudulent claim. We rely on industry standards, sound methodologies and scientific principles to support findings that a fire was set intentionally or fraud has been identified. Our experts are prepared to take a case from the point of assignment all the way to the courtroom.
Evidence collection and storage
The proper preservation, collection and storage of evidence is critical to the integrity of any fire investigation. EFI Global’s team of trained experts and technicians ensures that artifacts from every fire scene are gathered, documented, packaged, labelled, transported, and stored in accordance with the highest industry standards. Having our experts at the scene to gather important data gives them a first-hand look at the loss site and allows them to develop and test hypotheses regarding origin and cause; it’s also how we ensure that nothing is missed.
Expert witness testimony
EFI Global’s experts have years of experience in their respective fields and provide unbiased conclusions supported with expert witness testimony that can withstand the rigours of litigation. Our fire investigators have performed thousands of origin-and-cause investigations for disputes tried at all levels of the judicial system.
Fire protection analysis
Our specialist engineers can help you take proactive steps to protect against fires and fire damage. Based on extensive knowledge of building regulations and fire protection, our forensic engineers evaluate the effectiveness of fire protection features — including sprinkler systems, fire barriers and alarm systems.
Large loss and explosion investigations
EFI Global has the experience, expertise and resources to handle sophisticated and complicated explosion sites, anywhere in the world. Our response teams of fire and explosives experts, engineers and other technicians can mobilise quickly to investigate and conduct the scientific testing needed to objectively determine the cause of an explosion or other large-scale loss event. We can also assist in identifying any hazardous or dangerous chemicals that may be present and providing aerial photography of the loss site.
Marine fire investigations
EFI Global’s fire investigators are strategically positioned for rapid response around the world. We support marine fire investigations involving recreational watercraft, yachts, cruise ships, marinas, commercial shipping, port cargo handling and waterfront structures. Our team conducts thorough origin-and-cause investigations for each marine fire loss, including documenting the fire scenes, conducting on-site interviews, and collecting and preserving evidence, as needed.
Origin and cause
Because fire often masks or destroys much of its own evidence, determining the origin and cause of a fire loss can be a daunting challenge. EFI Global’s team of expert investigators is well trained in the industry best practices and methods needed to make an accurate and reliable determination of the fire’s cause and an assignment of responsibility. By employing scientific methodologies and a systemic approach to fire scene examinations, we can offer sound origin-and-cause conclusions that withstand the challenge of litigation.
Root cause analysis
Root cause analysis is an important part of investigating any fire where an electrical or mechanical component or system is the suspected cause. Since many of EFI Global’s electrical and mechanical engineers are also fire investigators and well-versed in fire patterns and damage, they work closely with our fire investigation team to provide a comprehensive, technical examination that identifies the failure and assigns responsibility when and where possible. Once the fire’s origin and potential ignition sources have been isolated, our engineers examine various components and systems to identify the nature of the failure and whether it resulted from a manufacturing or design defect, negligent installation or third-party liability.
Subrogation, fraud and liability investigations
EFI Global aims to provide an objective investigation, complete documentation and solid determination to optimise potential recovery through subrogation and ensure the facts of the case speak for themselves. If the fire cause is determined to be the responsibility of another party, we will provide the evidence to support a subrogation action.
Additionally, the EFI Global team can provide insight into the technical issues of a claim and a true, independent assessment of liability. Additional review and investigation by our experts can identify evidence or facts that may have been overlooked or not considered in the original conclusions. Our team can assess the raw data, review the documentation and evidence used as the basis for the conclusion in the report from the claimant’s technical expert, and conduct independent verification to provide an objective view of the cause and responsibility of a loss or claim — even in the most complicated cases.
Wildfire investigations
With changes in land use and climate driving a sharp increase in wildfires around the world, it’s more critical than ever that the cause of wildfires be thoroughly and accurately investigated. Wildfire origin-and-cause determinations differ significantly from those related to structures, and the skills and equipment required to conduct a wildfire investigation are just as specialised. The EFI Global team has the required expertise in forestry, terrain, weather and fuels to get the job done right, anywhere on Earth. With the potential for high-cost wildfire losses, having a well trained and experienced professional handle the loss investigation is the smart investment.
Engineering
EFI Global can serve as a single provider for all your engineering service needs. Our engineers are equipped with the technology, testing equipment, tools and experience needed to solve even the most difficult cases. Whether your project requires a simple evaluation or an exhaustive investigation, we pride ourselves on delivering the same quick response, in-depth analysis and timely reporting on each assignment.
Catastrophe response
Whether the result of a hurricane, earthquake, flood, hailstorm, lightning strike, blizzard, tornado or fire, EFI Global’s team of forensic engineers can deliver timely damage assessments to evaluate the impact of a natural disaster. Our catastrophe response team comprises structural, mechanical and electrical engineers who can conduct a wide variety of investigative, analytical and consulting services. These include:
- Electrical/mechanical engineering
- Fire investigation
- Hail damage assessment
- Reconstruction consulting
- Roof damage investigation
- Seismic damage evaluation
- Storm surge determination
- Structural evaluation
- Water intrusion analysis
- Wind induced failure analysis
- Wind vs. flood assessment
Civil and structural engineering
EFI Global has performed thousands of forensic structural investigations, ranging from single-family residences to multi-lane highway bridges and high-rise buildings. Our civil and structural engineers have the diverse experience in forensics, design and construction needed to evaluate complex, failure-related losses in all types of structures; they also have industry-specific specialisation in particular systems, components and facility types. Our core services in this area include structural condition assessments, cause of loss determinations, destructive and non-destructive qualitative analysis, retrofit design, and third party review.
Expert witness testimony
EFI Global’s seasoned experts have years of experience in their respective fields and provide unbiased conclusions supported with expert witness testimony that can withstand the rigours of litigation. Our highly trained engineers have performed thousands of investigations and evaluations for disputes tried at all levels of the judicial system.
Fire protection analysis
Our specialist engineers can help you take proactive steps to protect against fires and fire damage. Based on extensive knowledge of building regulations and fire protection, our forensic engineers evaluate the effectiveness of fire protection features — including sprinkler systems, fire barriers and alarm systems.
Mechanical and electrical
EFI Global’s mechanical and electrical engineers have the extensive training needed to handle losses of any size. We provide expert investigations, analysis and reporting in a timely, professional manner for a range of clients. Our team specialises in analysing electrical failures associated with fires, explosions, mechanical system malfunctions, electrocutions, lightning strikes, and other perils.
Property condition assessments
Our assessment professionals help clients determine whether the current condition of a facility may interfere with operational continuity, lead to depreciated property value, or create an ongoing maintenance issue due to materials or system defects. EFI Global conducts thorough site evaluations; visual inspections of building system components; interviews with personnel and tenants; inquiries to the local fire prevention, building, planning and zoning departments; and reviews of available construction documents, plans, capital expenditure schedules and specifications. Our team can provide professional opinions on probable costs to correct deficiencies or to complete work during a reserve term. We can also provide detailed roof assessments; lead, mould or asbestos consulting; water and air infiltration testing; and qualitative evaluation services, such as infrared thermography. Our unique, multidisciplinary perspective on design, condition assessment, building management and quality assurance enables us to identify and solve issues during the design and construction phase — before they turn into larger, costlier and more disruptive problems.
Telecommunications consulting
EFI GIobal has specialised expertise in the architectural and engineering (A&E) needs and compliance requirements of the telecommunications industry. We offer a broad array of solutions to businesses in this complex space, including real estate services, A&E services, field surveys, site assessments, forensic engineering and more.
Environmental
Our complete line of environmental consulting services is designed to help property owners, managers, developers and insurance professionals maintain compliance with current environmental regulations, minimise risks, and optimise business objectives.
EFI Global’s multidisciplinary professionals specialise in environmental compliance, hazardous materials management and facility health and safety. Our credentialed experts around the world include certified industrial hygienists (CIHs), professional engineers (PEs), certified safety professionals (CSPs), professional geologists (PGs), licensed asbestos consultants, environmental scientists, environmental permitting specialists and more.
As a complement to our environmental consulting services, EFI Global also provides corrective action by enlisting our in-house forensic engineers and building consulting specialists — a significant market differentiator.
Due diligence services
Environmental assessments focus on potential environmental concerns, the cost of addressing those concerns and possible environmental liability, based on a review of the property’s history, available regulatory databases and visual observations. Because significant business and risk management decisions are based on the data generated, they require extreme care and diligence in their execution. EFI Global’s skilled engineers, geologists and environmental scientists have the local knowledge and expertise needed to provide feasible project solutions — from inception to completion — for financial institutions, real estate developers, property management firms, lawyers, real estate investment trusts (REITs) and the manufacturing, healthcare and government sectors. We offer clients the benefit of in-depth knowledge of properties so they can make informed decisions on purchasing, managing, or financing assets.
We conduct phase I environmental site assessments (ESAs) and can provide seamless transitions to phase II or III assessments, where warranted. We also offer property condition assessments (PCAs), seismic risk assessments (SRAs), flood plain analysis, vapour intrusion investigations, mould testing and more.
Ecological services
To address land development needs, EFI Global performs environmental feasibility studies and environmental permitting services. These help our clients make informed decisions about property purchases, real estate development and planned construction activities as they relate to nearby ecological risks. We can also provide expert reviews of permitting information and interpretive guidance or required regulatory interaction. Our team has extensive experience in assisting clients with permitting, as well as developing mitigation plans. We can conduct ecological surveys involving amphibians, reptiles, fish and small mammals to determine the impact of proposed projects.
Emergency planning and response
We help clients develop site-specific emergency action and management plans to ensure preparedness for when a potential hazard urgently becomes a real one. When emergencies do occur, our environmental experts can quickly be on-site to manage the situation, control the damage, and ensure safety. We offer immediate responsiveness 24/7, providing coverage during weather-related catastrophes, emergency situations in public/private sector buildings and more. EFI Global works with restoration and abatement contractors who can complete remediation scopes of work and restore building operations under aggressive deadlines.
Environmental spill response
EFI Global provides environmental consulting and emergency response services for transportation spills and catastrophes in which the release of petroleum products and other hazardous materials result in property contamination. We offer immediate assessments of site conditions, environmental regulatory guidance, preparation of remedial action plans, oversight of remediation contractors, regulatory reporting and cost management consulting. Our remediation monitoring programs assist clients in managing and resolving environmental risks to soil and groundwater associated with emergency spills and uncontrolled releases. EFI Global’s experienced project managers work to control the costs associated with spill cleanup and can provide third-party audits of contractor invoices for spill response projects — whether or not our team is directly involved.
Expert witness testimony
EFI Global’s seasoned experts have years of experience in their respective fields and provide unbiased conclusions supported with expert witness testimony that can withstand the rigours of litigation. Our colleagues have reviewed and evaluated thousands of incidents that occurred in manufacturing, industrial, commercial and agricultural settings, drawing on their expert knowledge of the particular regulatory standards in those sectors. Their findings have been used successfully in trials at all levels of the judicial system.
Hazardous materials consulting
EFI Global’s hazardous materials (hazmat) management team has the necessary expertise, training and regulatory knowledge to provide comprehensive investigation, analysis and consultation.
Hazardous materials consulting projects are often associated with the renovation or demolition of existing structures. Our services include comprehensive building surveys, abatement design and bidding, abatement project oversight and monitoring, development of management plans and litigation support services. We can address pre-demolition/renovation building issues — such as asbestos, lead paint, PCBs and universal waste — in all types of facilities.
Indoor air quality assessments/microbial consulting
EFI Global’s team evaluate indoor air quality (IAQ) issues caused by microbiological materials, such as moulds and bacteria. We also test using recommended commercial and residential standards for carbon dioxide, formaldehyde, temperature, humidity, carbon monoxide, radon gas, particulates and volatile organic compounds.
Petroleum management
Our geologists, environmental scientists and engineers employ creative and cost-effective strategies in response to losses from underground (UST) and above-ground (AST) petroleum storage tanks. We conduct site assessments to identify tank leaks, develop corrective active plans, and provide oversight of implementation and remediation activities. EFI Global has performed assessments as part of emergency response activities for major oil, pipeline, insurance, automotive and banking companies, as well as governmental regulatory agencies.
Site assessment and remediation services
EFI Global is well-versed in the complexities of property redevelopments that may be complicated by the presence of pollutants, contaminants or hazardous substances in soil, soil vapour, sediments, indoor air and ground and surface waters. We collaborate with clients on full-cycle site assessment and remediation services — from initial contaminant discovery through complete characterisation, risk assessment, remedial design and cleanup implementation. Our approaches are tailored to site-specific conditions utilising a risk management framework, which allows our clients to make informed decisions on engineering designs, remedial activity, operations and maintenance. Our expert team is experienced in working with landowners, developers, government agencies and regulatory bodies on evaluating and executing successful solutions at all types of facilities.
Soil and groundwater contamination management
EFI Global’s geotechnical and environmental experts around the world conduct soil and groundwater research and investigations, as well as develop remediation plans for cases where contamination is detected. Our team of biologists, chemists, geologists, geographers, hydrologists, physicists, bioengineers and civil engineers is highly experienced in professional sampling, measuring, assessing and reporting techniques. We can help clients determine the composition of soil layers or identify possible contamination of groundwater or a parcel of land.
Third party review and data verification
To assist clients in methodically analysing project details, regulatory requirements, cost considerations and industry standards, EFI Global provides third party review and data verification services. Our experts work to ensure that client projects are being executed in a responsible and practical manner, without cost overruns or delays. We review work performed by contractors, restoration and remediation firms, and environmental services providers, with an eye toward efficiency and compliance.
Environmental services
Head of Environmental Consultancy
Phone
+44 750 003 1509