The Leading International Fire Experts

Transcription

1 The Leading International Fire Experts

2 2 IFIC Forensics About Us Founded in 1970, IFIC Forensics is a market leading forensic investigation firm, comprised of highly experienced consultants committed to delivering technical excellence for clients across the full spectrum of services. Operating throughout the UK, Ireland and overseas, our clients trust us to respond rapidly and deliver conclusive reports, robust evidence and expert testimony of the highest technical standard. Our unique collaborative approach and vast areas of expertise ensure clients benefit from a personal and professional service. Working in close partnership with clients, we offer a genuinely bespoke approach supported by a range of services including forensic triage, desktop review, fire screen, water screen, full investigation and audits. Our Customer Charter guarantees service standards and enables clients to get the information and support they want, when and how they want it. A flexible and scalable business model allows us to quickly mobilise a team of scientific investigators to support clients, whether in response to a major incident or during a claims surge, producing clear concise conclusions and recommendations. Our dedication to quality and excellence is further reinforced through our accreditation to ISO 9001 and compliance with ISO As the first fire and explosion team to receive an ISO 9001 accreditation, it cements our company philosophy of meeting our clients needs whilst ensuring the highest statutory and regulatory standards are met. To learn more about how we can assist you and your organisation, contact us today free phone Chairman s Message My interest in fire investigation was prompted by lectures about fires aboard ships given by Dr Frank Rushbrook our Founder when I was an MSc student at the University of Edinburgh s Department of Fire Safety Engineering. As top student I was invited to continue my studies and I was sponsored by Conoco the operators of the Murchison platform in the North Sea. Despite coming from a family of Chartered Surveyors (now in its fourth generation), I went to work for one of the UK s foremost marine consultants and reviewed the fires aboard HM ships during the Falkland s Campaign. In 1991, after a spell in the family surveying business, Dr Rushbrook invited me to join him and I jumped at the chance of being mentored by one of the world s leading marine fire investigators. We quickly found, despite the difference in age, that there was a synergy between the experienced firefighter and fire scientist which was stronger than the sum of the parts. That synergy is a model which IFIC Forensics continues to employ today, looking for the best of new talent in fire safety engineering and combining it with those who have long service and breadth of experience in the largest Fire Services. In the last 10 years the Fire Service has encouraged officers to specialise in fire investigation and IFIC Forensics recruits from those with significant and quantifiable breadth of experience and expertise who can demonstrate their competence in this specialism. In the last 20 years, clients have appointed IFIC Forensics in the knowledge that as experts, our first duty is to the Court in which we might eventually appear. That sense of accountability informs the investigation process and no ends are left loose. As a Chartered Fire Engineer and Chartered Surveyor, I am uniquely placed to take a holistic view of not only the origin and cause of fires, but the wider fire safety environment in which those fires have occurred. This holistic view has served my clients well as most fires are not simply the result of an ignition source meeting fuel, but the unhappy coincidence of many factors. There is an old adage that the three most common causes of fire are men, women and children, to which might be added and most of them smoke! whether deliberately or inadvertently. I have found over the years the adage to prove true. Professor J F Lygate, Chairman and Principal Fire Investigator

3 The Leading International Fire Experts 3 Why IFIC Forensics? IFIC Forensics is committed to delivering a market leading professional forensic service to all clients; working closely with them to formulate solutions which support their individual values, philosophies and processes. We respond rapidly to new instructions and deliver conclusive forensic reports of the highest technical excellence, whilst offering clients exceptional customer service and performance. Why our clients choose IFIC Forensics: Highly Effective and Efficient: The right service for the right claim Comprehensive range of specialisms and disciplines offered Definitive root cause established and origin analysis undertaken Fast tracked genuine claims to ensure prompt payment Rigorous fraud and arson checks, with fast escalation of high risk cases A strategically aligned business to business partnership Robust evidence to support repudiations Increased recoveries Bespoke service model matched to clients needs and requirements Strong financial return on investment Appropriate escalation and involvement of independent specialists Meaningful and tailored management information delivered when and how clients want it Added value: accompanied site visits, training, white papers, thought leadership Reliable and Experienced Team: Highly trained and qualified staff Easy to do business with culture Plain English easy to understand reports Consistently high level results delivered against pre- determined service level agreements and key performance indicators Customer Service Charter Clearly detailed and scientific investigation process Access to the Senior Management Team Pro-active case management Clear account management structure Pre-planned business continuity and surge response Full UK and Ireland coverage with strong international capabilities Technical excellence and attention to detail is at the heart of everything we do Scalable and Flexible: Effective cost control Competitive pricing strategy Accurate recording Transparency of billing Certainty of pricing Monthly reporting Client control of pricing options Market Leading Approach: Methodical, scientific process A focused approach to identifying repudiation and recovery Forensic claims management platform designed to ensure pro-active case handling Cutting edge technology utilised to create process efficiencies/cost savings Regular client updates on market trends and new investigative techniques Market leaders in relation to corporate governance, regulatory compliance and quality control A learning organisation that seeks continuous improvement in service delivery and performance ISO 9001 accredited, ISO compliant

4 4 IFIC Forensics Specialisms and Services Specialisms and Services IFIC Forensics delivers rapid response and technical excellence across the full spectrum of investigation services including fire and explosion, escape of water and chemical, environmental, engineering and transportation: air; rail; marine. Our flexible network infrastructure includes an extensive range of experts and consultants covering a vast range of forensic specialisms and disciplines. Areas of expertise include battery experts, chemists, metallurgists, experts in spontaneous combustion, chemical, civil, electrical, marine, mechanical, nuclear, process and structural engineers. We undertake regular reviews of our services and business systems to ensure we continue to meet the changing and diverse needs of our clients. Service Personal Lines Commercial Marine Fire and Explosion Personal Injury Electrical Engineering Mechanical Engineering Chemical Engineering Product Liability Gas Engineering N/A Metallurgy Marine Engineering N/A Marine Cargo N/A Contamination Assessments Ports and Terminals N/A Aquaculture N/A Petrochemical N/A Pharmaceutical N/A Escape of Water

5 The Leading International Fire Experts 5 Forensic Services Overview IFIC Forensics are a client focused team who are dedicated to understanding your needs. As a trusted partner we go that extra mile seeking solutions that can assist and add further value to the inquiry process. Regular insight gained into the evolving range of market requirements ensures IFIC Forensics are at the leading edge of providing bespoke and tailored solutions that not only exceed service standards but deliver clients the new services and support they need, when they need it. Full Investigation - A full investigation will provide the quality of evidence that is admissible in court in support of any legal proceedings. The information gathered from a scene examination, witnesses, research and, if required, testing will inform origin and cause determination. This scientific approach, applied in all investigations types, will support accurate cause determination, sequence of events and increase the reliability of any findings proximate to cause, personal injury or death. A full and independent investigation can also add value to those investigations undertaken by public sector agencies. Alongside our full forensic investigation, IFIC Forensics offers clients additional value-added professional services to include: Forensic Triage Our experience shows that this service supports the market during periods of surge, such as the recent floods. For an agreed fee our investigators will arrange an online meeting and review photographs and the initial information gained by a loss adjuster. Alternatively our investigators can attend the scene to gather initial information. The overall aim is to support the loss adjuster in the claims process. This is not a substitute for an origin and cause investigation. Screen The aim of our forensic screening service is to assess the validity of the claim and the prospects for recovery or repudiation. A fixed fee product that has greatly enhanced our customers ability to control their expenditure on forensics, it further provides the opportunity to escalate to a full investigation where recovery, repudiation potential exists or the case complexity or value demands. Desktop In cases where there is no option of a site visit, such as historic cases, IFIC Forensics will review all available information from an original investigation or documents to provide a full summary of the case. Audit In depth analysis of insurer files by an IFIC Forensics expert to consider the validity of case conclusion by other forensic investigation. Can also be used to determine areas of potential cost savings and reduced claims leakage Note: both the Desktop and Audit can be applied to Public Sector 'Cold Case' reviews. We provide clients with expert capability in origin and cause investigations associated with fire and explosion, throughout the UK, Ireland and overseas. This sector represents the largest proportion of our work and we are ideally placed to respond to all types of fire and explosion Our flexible and scalable network ensures clients needs are matched with the relevant expertise. Our fire investigators are drawn from the firefighting and fire science communities and their combined expertise enables IFIC Forensics to advise on all aspects of fires, including development and spread. Clients rely on our advice to prevent fire. Our experience across many industry sectors equips us to conduct investigations quickly and effectively, asking the right questions of witnesses. Our proactive approach ensures rapid, consistent and high quality service delivery which focuses on 4 key areas:- Collation and protection of the evidence/facts Careful and detailed analysis of the evidence/facts Determine conclusions on cause and origin Provision of expert and reliable testimony

6 6 IFIC Forensics Marine IFIC Forensics is the market leader in marine forensic investigation, with over 40 years experience including client representation in Courts around the globe. IFIC Forensics offers clients technical advice and analysis to determine causation, spread, risk and consequences Further testament to IFIC Forensics prominence in this area of specialism is Professor Jim Lygate s editor role on the industry s recognised manual on the topic Rushbrook s Fire Aboard the most comprehensive source of information on ship fires. IFIC Forensics is a trusted advisor to many of the worlds leading P&I Clubs, having consulted on emerging risks and prevention advice pertaining to marine and cargo handling. IFIC Forensics network of experts and wide ranging areas of specialism combine to deliver a rapid global response to the investigation of marine claims. Investigations cover the following specialist areas:- Technical support for the management and handling of hazardous cargoes Fire and other peril damage to hull claims Technical support on causation Forensic sample analysis Advice on cargo damage/contamination Environmental We are experienced in the following types of environmental incidents:- Post-fire Post-flood Asbestos Oil spills Chemical spills Land contamination IFIC Forensics environmental forensics expertise sees investigators address contamination within the environment whether in the air, water or soil. Environmental forensics uses multiple fields of science to determine the source and timing of a contamination. Environmental forensics is highly complex and requires the multidisciplinary expertise of IFIC Forensics investigators in order to determine the origin and timings of environmental releases. Environmental claims are often subject to legal action and the technical expertise of our investigators ensures clients are provided with the robust evidence and reports they need. IFIC Forensics environmental capability is designed to minimise the impact of spills and contamination, as well as support clients compliance with all environmental regulations and legislation.

7 The Leading International Fire Experts 7 Escape of Water and Chemical Spills According to the Association of British Insurers, nearly one in five claims made on buildings and contents insurance is for damage caused by escape of water, costing the industry 2 million every day. Escape of water claims are growing ever more problematic for insurers due to their increasing frequency and cost, along with a rise in fraudulent activity in relation to these claims. Investigation by IFIC Forensics delivers to clients accurately determined causation and origin for escape of water claims resulting in genuine claims being progressed promptly and appropriately, whilst claims with suspicions of fraud are highlighted and challenged. IFIC Forensics investigations include claims resulting from leaks from pipework, tanks and other containers which can result in escape of water (mains and foul water) and chemicals with associated contamination. Escape of water and chemical spills also come with the added potential for gas explosions and further complications. These incidents can arise from a range of causes including the following:- Poor design Pressure variation Poor workmanship Gradual deterioration including corrosion Manufacturing faults Impact/mechanical damage Temperature variation including the effects of frost IFIC Forensics has considerable experience and expertise and is able to respond to an extensive range of client needs in this specialist sector. Engineering Forensic engineering can involve a wide variety of cases to include the investigation of materials, products, structures or components which, when faulty, can lead to personal injury and property damage. IFIC Forensics expertise allows processes and procedures to be retraced in order to determine causation and liability and opportunities for subrogation in the case of legal proceedings. IFIC Forensics investigators come from a wide variety of backgrounds, with expertise spanning across the breadth of engineering claims. IFIC Forensics has an unrivalled reputation acting as expert Court Witnesses in relation to engineering claims, both in the UK and overseas. Our expertise across the engineering sector extends to include the following:- Mechanical breakdown Electrical failure Machinery inspection and analysis Structural failure Process analysis Material testing Product Liabilty IFIC Forensics has extensive experience in advising companies across all industry sectors in matters of product liability investigations. There are many and varied reasons why products and appliances fail, with such claims often resulting in liability disputes. Product liability claims are multi-dimensional and complex by nature, requiring in-depth investigation and analysis of the products as a whole, the individual product elements, as well as the circumstances in which they were used, to determine whether the product was faulty. An investigation into product faults sees IFIC Forensics investigators utilise their expertise in combination with detailed laboratory reconstructions, in order to forensically determine causation and the precise reasons for failure. We then work with and support the wider team to determine where liability should rest. Expert testimony is another important factor in most products liability cases, and an area where IFIC Forensics excels. IFIC Forensics has vast experience in a wide range of product liability cases to include:- White goods Plumbing equipment and apparatus Electrical equipment and appliances Construction materials and equipment Chimney flues and liners Batteries

8 Customer Service Charter At IFIC Forensics, we are fully committed to exceeding our clients expectations by delivering rapid response and service excellence by operating in accordance with our Customer Service Charter, as detailed below: Description Measure* Charter Objective Telephony - Answer New Instructions Within 30 seconds 95% Forensic Investigator appointed following New Instruction Within 30 minutes 95% New Instruction added to IFIC case database Within 30 minutes 95% Be on site following receipt of New Instruction Within 8 hours 95% Verbal Report Contact instructing person on day of site visit 95% Produce immediate Advice Report following site inspection (non screen) Within 8 hours 95% Produce Forensic Screen Report Within 5 days of site visit 95% Produce Full Forensic Report from date of site inspection Within 15 days of site visit 95% Return of phone calls Within 2 hours 95% Respond to correspondence Within 3 days 95% Case updates issued Every 20 days 95% Exact root cause analysis In every full investigation report 100% Complaint Resolution Within 12 hours 100% *Measured in working hours/days UK and Ireland Offices We offer an international service and have investigators and capacity across the UK and Ireland with offices in London, Dublin, Belfast, Glasgow and Manchester. London Blackwell House Guildhall Yard London EC2V 5AE Tel: +44 (0) Glasgow Rushbrook House 220 Ayr Road Glasgow G77 6DR Tel: +44 (0) Manchester 111 Piccadilly Ducie Street Manchester M1 2HY Tel: +44 (0) Dublin Citywest Business Centre 3013 Lake Drive Dublin 24 Ireland Tel: +353 (0) Belfast 54 Elmwood Avenue Belfast Northern Ireland BT9 6AZ Tel: + 44 (0) Post: Rushbrook House, 220 Ayr Road, Glasgow G77 6DR Website: instructus@ific.co.uk