OCTOBER 8, 2018
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Haag RESEARCH & TESTING ANNOUNCES new director, STEVE SMITH, P.E.
Flower Mound, TX— Haag Engineering Co. is pleased to announce that Principal Engineer Steven R. Smith, P.E., is the new Director of Haag’s IAS Accredited Research & Testing laboratory. 
“I cannot think of a better person to head the Haag’s Research & Testing Lab,” said Timothy Marshall, P.E., Principal Engineer and Interim Research Director. “Steve is a US Military veteran who worked in the lab for years testing a variety of products from roofing to skylights to even hail pads for vehicles. He is familiar with the standards to keep our accredited lab going forward. I know Steve will make a smooth transition and will ensure projects are done on time and with accuracy.”
Steve Smith, P.E., is an experienced forensic engineer who began his career with Haag more than 20 years ago. He spent seven years working as a Senior Lab Technician while earning a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering degree from The University of Texas at Arlington. Steve has been involved with the lab throughout his career, and has been able to leverage his extensive and practical engineering field experience with research and testing projects. Steve’s other areas of expertise include accident reconstruction, mechanical equipment evaluations, code and standards compliance, roofing system evaluations, and fires and explosions. Steve is a licensed Professional Engineer in Arkansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Oklahoma, Texas, and Wisconsin. He is a member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE), and Pi Tau Sigma National Honor Society. Prior to joining Haag, Steve was a Petty Officer Second Class in the United States Navy. He trained at the Navy Nuclear Power Training Command Center in Orlando Florida and was stationed on the USS Arkansas (CGN-41), where he maintained reactor and steam plant chemistry, performed radiological controls, and operated mechanical equipment in the propulsion plant.
“Throughout his career at Haag, Steve Smith has exhibited the keen attention to detail, commitment, and extensive technical knowledge needed to successfully lead Haag’s lab,” said Justin Kestner, P.E., Haag’s President and CEO. “I am confident Steve will deliver the exceptional work product our clients have come to expect. Steve brings a renewed energy and focus on timely delivery and a can-do attitude.”
Haag Research & Testing’s lab is an International Accreditation Service (IAS) Accredited lab, a Miami-Dade Approved lab, and a Texas Department of Insurance Recognized lab. Haag is accredited to perform testing in compliance with various ASTM, FM, UL and other testing standards. This includes ice ball impact testing with our patented IBL-7. Haag is the only lab in the US with an accredited roofing desaturation testing procedure. A full list of Accredited Testing Standards is available online.
In early 2018, Haag Research & Testing opened a new, state-of-the-art lab facility, with 6,500 sq. ft. of dedicated testing space, including a wind simulator testing room, a pressure chamber, a desaturation machine, and more. Testing capabilities include steel ball impacting, ice ball impacting, large and small missile impacting, high-powered microscopes, UV and infrared, dark oven, tensile strain, R-value measurement, water column, and various custom testing types. Haag also performs field testing including vacuum uplift, fastener pullout, infrared thermal imaging, and water spray, to name a few.
Haag’s lab has immediate openings for testing procedures and projects. Call 214-614-6500 or visit Haag Research & Testing’s page for more information.
###
About Haag Research & Testing
Haag Research & Testing began in 1963 following a hailstorm in Amarillo, Texas, when Haag began testing wood shingles to determine whether dents caused future splitting. Haag expanded its research and testing program when it merged with Staff Laboratories in 1966. Haag’s research, development, and materials testing have made Haag the leading authority in the roofing industry. Haag developed the test square method of hail damage assessment in the 1970s; long the peer-reviewed industry standard.
HRT tests include wind simulator testing, pressure chamber testing, roofing desaturation, steel ball dropping, ice ball impacting, environmental testing and, UV and infrared testing. Other past testing projects have included full-scale building load tests, ground vibration monitoring/control, steel bar joist floor and stability tests, cabinet qualification tests, material flammability tests, hail and rock impact tests, wind uplift testing on low-slope and steep-slope roofing, and product development tests. Our engineers’ and technicians’ extensive education and experience enables them to develop testing which duplicates a real-world operating environment or incident condition.
About Haag
Haag Engineering Co. began in 1924 as a failure and damage consulting firm. Today, Haag is an employee-owned, multi-faceted forensic engineering and consulting company. Our growth results directly from our long-standing commitment to quality while expanding our technical knowledge and services. Haag Engineering performs forensic engineering throughout the world in the fields of civil, structural, architectural, electrical, and mechanical engineering. Haag Research & Testing operates a state-of-the-art, IAS Accredited laboratory which specializes in material and product testing. Haag Education presents our expert engineers’ scientifically-based approach to damage assessment in our publications and tools, and live and online seminars. Haag Construction Consulting assists our clients with onsite damage assessments, litigation support, clerk of works, and restoration consulting following a loss. Haag 3D Solutions provides 3D imaging and BIM technologies to deliver highly accurate, reliable as-built documentation for design and construction projects. Please visit HaagGlobal.com for more information.
