Bruce Straughan

Biography

Bruce is a licensed Mechanical Engineer with over 25 years of experience in building systems, including HVAC, refrigeration, plumbing, appliances, and fire protection. Early in his career, Bruce worked in design and performance contracting, which included hiring and managing mechanical, electrical, and temperature controls contractors. He then worked in commissioning new and existing buildings for 8 years before moving into forensics in 2015. Since then, he has been performing investigations for insurance adjusters and attorneys involving construction defects, design defects, product malfunctions, weather damage, fires, and explosions. He is proficient at documenting scenes, engineering analysis, codes and standards research, writing expert reports, and testifying in court or deposition. Bruce has given presentations at several professional conferences on the design, operation, building codes, and hazards of equipment for indoor cultivation environments.

Credentials

• PE | Professional Engineer
• Certified Energy Manager
• Construction Estimating Institute Program CEI

Representative Consulting Assignments

• Cedars Health | Rock Springs, WY | Investigate cause of burst frozen pipe.
• KIK Custom Products | Danville, IL | Developed scope of repairs and cost estimate for hail damage to aerosol manufacturing plant.
• Park Meadows Mall | Denver, CO | Investigated design defects that caused sewer line backups.
• Food City | Phoenix, AZ | Developed scope of repairs and cost estimate for fire and smoke damage to a grocery store's HVAC and refrigeration systems.
• Construction Defect | Washington D.C. | Investigation of HVAC construction defects and provided deposition testimony.
• 520 6th Avenue Condominiums | Kirkland, WA | Investigate cause of pipe corrosion and water leaks.
• Commercial Kitchen Fire | Pagosa Springs, CO | Investigation of fire sprinkler and kitchen hood fire suppression systems.
• Scorpion Grass | Wasilla, AK | Developed scope of repairs and cost estimate to address fire damage and a roof collapse at a cannabis cultivation facility.

Professional Experience

• 2023 - Current | Senior Managing Engineer | YA Engineering Services
• 2018 - 2023 | Senior Project Manager | YA Engineering Services
• 2017 - 2018 | Owner | Bruce A. Straughan PE
• 2014 - 2017 | Mechanical Engineer | Robson Forensic
• 2005 - 2014 | Project Manager | Engineering Economics Inc.

Area of Practice

• Building Code Upgrade Review
• Damage Assessment
• Failure Analysis
• Fire and Life Safety Systems
• HVAC and Mechanical Systems
• Litigation Support
• Plumbing Systems

Education

• University of Wyoming - Bachelor of Science - Mechanical Engineering - Laramie

Affiliations

• National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)
• National Association of Fire Investigators (NAFI)
• American Society of Heating, Refrigeration, and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE)

Licenses

• 62498 - Arizona - Mechanical Engineer
• 32904 - Colorado - Professional Engineer
• PE909089 - District of Columbia - Professional Engineer
• 24380 - Kansas - Professional Engineer
• PE45119 - Louisiana - Professional Engineer
• 54786 - Massachusetts - Mechanical Engineer
• E-15571 - Nebraska - Mechanical Engineer
• 24GE05379600 - New Jersey - Professional Engineer
• 15219 - New Mexico - Professional Engineer
• 141335 - Texas - Professional Engineer
• PE 15010 - Wyoming - Professional Engineer