Category: News

Justin Kestner presenting at the SCL Conference in Montreal

Lessons learned from a building collapse by Justin Kestner

Justin Kestner and Peter Billis present on lessons from Champlain towers collapse

Principal Forensic Engineer and Senior Managing Partner, Justin Kestner, is presenting with attorney, Peter Billis, on the lessons learned from the Champlain Towers South Collapse. Beyond the engineering and construction lessons there were many unique aspects of ensuing litigation and legislation that could impact the industry for years to come. This presentation provides information about factors that led to the fatal collapse and delves into the ramifications going forward.

Justin Kestner, P.E., MS, MBA, leads the Haag forensic team for Salas O’Brien. In addition to leading Haag, a Salas O’Brien Company, Justin provides forensic engineering consulting and expert witness services in cases involving roof and building envelope performance/damage, bridges, foundation-related issues, building collapses, storm damage, installation issues, alleged product defects, and more. Justin serves as a Senior Managing Principal at Salas O’Brien.

For more information, visit the SCL NA conference registration page. 

About SCL

The Society of Construction Law North America (SCL NA) is one of the many international sections of the SCL, founded in 1983 to promote the study and research in the field of construction law. The SCL has over 3,000 members internationally, and in 2017 the final gap in the global SCL network was closed with the founding of the SCL NA Section, which includes the USA and Canada.

About Salas O’Brien

Salas O’Brien is an engineering and technical services firm focused on advancing the human experience through the built environment. Our team is engineered for impact, helping clients achieve critical goals, advancing our team members through growth and opportunity, and operating at the center of important global issues including sustainability and decarbonization. We are a top firm as ranked by Engineering News-Record and Consulting-Specifying Engineer, and we have appeared for the past ten years on the Inc. 5000 list of North America’s fastest-growing private companies.

For more details or to set up an interview, please contact Stacy Lake, Director of Corporate Communications.

Introducing the Haag Geoportal: Comprehensive Weather Event Data for Insurance and Legal Professionals

Geoportal US weather Maps

Introducing the Haag Geoportal:
Comprehensive Weather Event Data for Insurance and Legal Professionals

Dallas, TX – June 25, 2024 – Haag, a Salas O’Brien Company, the United States oldest and most respected forensic consulting firm and leader in forensic meteorology, announced today the launch of its innovative new product, the Haag Geoportal. This interactive web-mapping application is designed to provide insurance and legal professionals with comprehensive, reliable weather event data tailored to specific site locations.

A New Standard in Weather Reporting

The Haag Geoportal delivers precise and detailed weather reports, covering a wide range of storm types, including wind, hail and tornado events. Hurricanes will be added in the fall 2024. By leveraging data sourced from verified national weather authorities such as the NOAA Storm Event Database, NOAA Storm Prediction Center, and the National Weather Service, the Haag Geoportal ensure that users receive trustworthy and defensible information every time.

Why the Haag Geoportal is Different

Unlike other platforms that use proprietary algorithms and offer higher-cost services, the Haag Geoportal provides direct, unmanipulated data from multiple national authorities. This approach not only ensures the data’s accuracy and reliability but also makes it defensible in court, a critical factor for legal and insurance professionals.

Product Features and Benefits

With the Haag Geoportal, users can:

  • Access Accurate Storm & Hurricane Reports: The platform delivers tailored, site-specific weather data ideal for insurance claims, legal cases, forensic investigations, and detailed weather analysis.
  • Receive Verified and Reliable Data: Utilizing both preliminary and finalized data from multiple sources, our reports cover a robust 14-year span and are updated daily.
  • Customized Reports to Fit Specific Needs: Each report includes maps, event types, dates, event magnitudes, and more, providing comprehensive data suited to individual requirements.

Discover how the Haag Geoportal can enhance and expedite your data analysis and reporting process. Visit our website to learn more, create your free account, and request a demo to see the platform in action.

For more information, please contact

Polly Prado, Director of Corporate Communications

214.614.6500 or PPrado@HaagGlobal.com

 

About Haag, a Salas O’Brien Company

Established in 1924, Haag, a Salas O’Brien Company, is proud to celebrate 100 years of forensic innovation and consulting excellence. Haag’s comprehensive services include forensic engineering, forensic meteorology, forensic architecture, construction consulting, fire origin and cause, forensic research and testing, education courses and training, and GIS, BIM, and 3D scanning technology solutions. We specialize in serving the legal, insurance, construction, and manufacturing industries, plus private companies. With a century of expertise, Haag has become the national authority in examining, analyzing, and consulting on complex engineering and technical challenges following failure and damage to the built environment. In June 2024, Haag merged with Salas O’Brien, an employee-owned engineering and technology firm at the forefront of sustainable design. Together, Haag is poised to embrace new challenges, adapt to evolving industries, and provide cutting-edge innovations that will shape the future of forensic engineering and consulting.

About Salas O’Brien

Salas O’Brien is an employee-owned engineering and technical services firm focused on advancing the human experience through the built environment. Our team is engineered for impact™, helping clients achieve critical goals, advancing our team members through growth and opportunity, and operating at the center of important global issues including sustainability and decarbonization. We are a top firm as ranked by Engineering News-Record and Consulting-Specifying Engineer, and we have appeared for over a decade on the Inc. 5000 list of North America’s fastest-growing private companies.

Haag and Salas O’Brien Announce Partnership

Building Damage

Strength in Unity: Haag & Salas O’Brien Announce Partnership

We are proud to share that Haag has merged with Salas O’Brien, an employee-owned engineering and technology firm at the forefront of sustainable design. We are joining an organization with more than 85 global offices and over 3,550 team members.

We are confident this merger will positively impact all our clients. Our capabilities and portfolio complement Salas O’Brien’s existing work while increasing our combined team’s ability to provide comprehensive, integrated, multi-discipline engineering and consulting services.

Here are some key facts:

  • The entire Haag leadership group and team are very enthusiastic about this partnership. You will continue to work with the same team of experts and experience the same decision-making, quality of work, and service delivery. As integration occurs, Haag’s service offerings and geographic coverage will expand.
  • The local Haag leadership team will remain intact with autonomy to best serve our clients. 
  • We share a vision, culture, and leadership style with Salas O’Brien. This was a key factor in our decision to merge with them. We also share a strong portfolio of complementary work.
  • We can now offer additional in-house expertise and design services like sustainability/green energy, industrial process, pharmaceutical and healthcare, data centers, food and beverage, fire suppression, lighting and acoustic design, but only when it makes sense for you, other team members, and the project.
  • We will have greater depth of support for many of our internal and overhead operations, thus improving our ability to serve you and your assignments. This merger also broadens our in-house expertise for key services like mechanical, electrical, and structural design.
  • Haag’s email and website will continue to be maintained and will transition to Salas O’Brien when practical.
  • Our name is now “Haag, a Salas O’Brien Company.” When Haag leadership believes the transition is complete and when the timing is right, we will adopt the Salas O’Brien name.

We’re very excited about this announcement and look forward to continuing our partnership with you. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to reach out. Learn more.

Enthusiastically,

Justin Kestner, PE, MS, MBA

Sr. Managing Principal

Haag, a Salas O’Brien Company

 

About Salas O’Brien

Salas O’Brien is an employee-owned engineering and technical services firm focused on advancing the human experience through the built environment. Our team is engineered for impact™, helping clients achieve critical goals, advancing our team members through growth and opportunity, and operating at the center of important global issues including sustainability and decarbonization. We are a top firm as ranked by Engineering News-Record and Consulting-Specifying Engineer, and we have appeared for over a decade on the Inc. 5000 list of North America’s fastest-growing private companies.

About Haag Global, Inc.:

Established in 1924, Haag Global is proud to celebrate 100 years of forensic innovation and consulting excellence. Haag’s comprehensive services include forensic engineering, forensic meteorology, forensic architecture, construction consulting, fire origin and cause, forensic research and testing, education courses and training, and GIS, BIM, and 3D scanning technology solutions. We specialize in serving the legal, insurance, construction, and manufacturing industries, plus private companies. With a century of expertise, Haag has become the national authority in examining, analyzing, and consulting on complex engineering and technical challenges following failure and damage to the built environment. As we move into the next century, Haag is poised to embrace new challenges, adapt to evolving industries, and provide cutting-edge innovations that will shape the future of forensic engineering and consulting.

For more information, please contact:

Polly Prado, Haag Director of Corporate Communications, 214.614.6500

Ice Ball Impact Testing Featured by CBS Texas

Haag’s Testing Laboratory was featured by a local CBS affiliate, demonstrating our ice ball impacting capabilities. Check out dramatic footage of testing using Haag’s patented IBL-7 ice ball launcher and IBL-9 for large ice balls & other projectiles.

 

Any opinions expressed herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect those of Haag Technical Services, Haag Engineering Co., Haag Education, or parent company, Haag Global, Inc.

Congratulations Daniel Behrens, Promoted to Principal Engineer

Haag is very pleased to announce that Daniel Behrens, P.E., has been promoted to Principal Engineer! Based in Minneapolis, Dan Behrens has been a Haag Engineer for 13 years, with 24 years in the engineering field. He has been instrumental in serving Haag’s clients in Minneapolis, the Midwest, and beyond. Dan is a prolific course developer and a reliable ‘go-to’ engineer who is always willing to mentor new engineers and take on challenging assignments. Congratulations on this well-deserved promotion Dan!

Welcome Alex DeGroot, P.E., New Engineer in Charlotte!

Haag Welcomes Alex DeGroot, P.E., New Engineer in Charlotte!

“We are pleased to welcome Alex DeGroot to our Haag team,” said Justin Kestner, CEO. “Mr. DeGroot brings practical structural engineering expertise and will help serve Haag’s clients in North and South Carolina and beyond.”

Based out of Charlotte, Alex is a licensed professional engineer with seven year’s experience. He previously worked as a structural engineer designing wood, steel, masonry, CFS, FRP and reinforced concrete structures. He evaluated existing conditions, identified causes of problems, and provided engineered solutions. He then coordinated with clients, steel fabricators/erectors, and general contractors to identify potential issues and implement cost effective solutions, including developing solutions for atypical field issues with multiple constraints and limitations.

Mr. DeGroot earned a Master of Structural Engineering from Southern Illinois University and a Bachelors of Science in Civil Engineering from Bradley University. He is a licensed P.E. in North Carolina. 

Notable projects include–

  • Goddard School, Chicago- coordinated with the architect from design to construction administration for the $5 million three-story private school
  • Illinois State Toll Highway Authority Contract I-18-4427, Chicago- designed performance-based, ground-mounted and structure-mounted precast concrete noise abatement walls for the $58 million contract
  • SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles– analyzed six construction hoists for the $5 billion stadium using atypical tie-off methods and custom connections.

Primary Areas of Consulting

  • Structural Evaluations
  • Commercial, industrial, and residential buildings 
  • Foundation and wall failures
  • Building code compliance
  • Construction hoists
  • Noise abatement walls
  • Building Envelope Evaluations
  • Moisture intrusion
  • General Civil Engineering
  • Drainage and flooding
  • Wind Engineering and Related Storm Effects
  • Structural damage
  • Roofing systems 
  • Quality of manufacture and application of roofing
  • Cause, nature, and extent of damage, particularly from hail and wind; and remaining service life

For more information or to contact Mr. DeGroot, email or call 800.527.0168.

Haag’s Heavy Equipment Team

Haag’s experts expertly handle heavy equipment files, including cranes and lifts. 

We are please to announce that Tony Bond, P.E., St. Louis Branch Manager and Principal Engineer, is Haag’s new Heavy Equipment Practice Area Leader. Tony has been with Haag since 2008 and has 27 years of experience with cranes, aerial lifts, conveyors, and heavy equipment. He is the former VP of Engineering at Elliott Equipment Company, has in-depth knowledge of the design and operation of cranes— including duties and responsibilities of crane operators—aerial lifts, and heavy equipment, and has performed over 300 forensic evaluations of the same.

Travis Wells, P.E., Esq., CFEI, is a Senior Engineer in Dallas, Texas, who also has handled various aspects of heavy equipment and crane files, such as tower cranes, hydraulic cranes, overhead cranes, gantry cranes, crane dolly’s, crane roadway accidents, aerial lifts, swing stages, building maintenance units, hydraulic lifts, earth moving equipment, vacuum trucks, pump trucks, and more. His background of accident reconstruction and his law degree give him a unique skillset with handling such files.

Many other Haag Engineers, including Justin Kestner, P.E., (CEO, Principal Engineer) and David Teasdale (VP of Engineering, Principal Engineer) have extensive experience with large loss files with crane involvement, such as collapses of bridges and parking garages.

Haag Global, Inc. | HaagGlobal.com