HVAC Engineering & Peer Review Insights
Technical guidance for litigation attorneys and insurance carriers on HVAC and plumbing engineering issues in construction defect, personal injury, and coverage matters.
Why HVAC Systems Must Be Designed to Manufacturer’s Written Instructions — and What Happens When They’re Not
Manufacturer’s installation and application instructions are not suggestions. When an HVAC system fails and those instructions weren’t followed — wrong clearances, incorrect refrigerant charge, improper venting, unapproved controls — a mechanical engineer can establish exactly where the deviation occurred and whether it caused the loss.
Read moreWhat Insurance Carriers Should Ask When Evaluating an HVAC or Plumbing Loss
Not every HVAC or plumbing loss is what it appears to be. Before closing a claim or pursuing subrogation, carriers should understand whether the loss stems from a covered cause — design error, installation defect, or maintenance failure — and what evidence a mechanical engineer needs to make that determination.
Read moreWhat to Look for in an HVAC Expert Witness — and What to Ask Before You Retain One
Not every PE has forensic experience. Here are the questions that separate a strong HVAC expert from a credentialed witness who will fall apart under cross-examination.
Read moreStandard of Care in Mechanical Engineering: What It Means, How It’s Measured, and Why Contract Language Can Create Liability
The standard of care is what a reasonably competent mechanical engineer would do under similar circumstances — not a guarantee, not perfection. Engineers who use words like “guarantee,” “all,” or “required” in proposals and contracts inadvertently elevate their legal exposure far beyond what the standard of care requires. Here’s what that means in litigation.
Read moreHow Carbon Monoxide Claims Are Evaluated: What Attorneys Need to Know About HVAC Expert Analysis
Carbon monoxide exposure cases involving HVAC systems require a mechanical engineer who can trace the source — flue gas spillage, backdrafting, improper venting — and establish whether the condition resulted from design error, installation defect, or deferred maintenance.
Read moreGeothermal System Failures: Design Problems vs. Installation Defects
Ground-source heat pump systems fail for two very different reasons — and the liability sits in different places. Here’s how a forensic engineer separates an undersized bore field from a poorly installed loop.
Read moreWhen HVAC Causes Moisture Damage: How Engineers Determine Root Cause
Moisture damage in buildings is frequently blamed on the envelope — but HVAC systems are a common culprit. Condensate failures, duct leakage, and improper ventilation all cause water damage that looks like a roofing problem.
Read more