Two Electrical Forensic Engineering Case Studies

A utility interruption at a small data center resulted in failure of all computer racks despite power redundancy. The electrical forensic engineer investigated numerous accounts of the failure event, including interviews with data center personnel and data logs from the generator and uninterruptible power system. Initial conclusions from these accounts led to detailed verification of as-installed condition, revealing a seemingly innocuous deviation from construction plans. A code-required safety feature was determined to have been incorrectly installed, performing the desired safety feature but delivering an inadvertent system-wide shutdown signal upon loss of utility power. With permission from the owner, the safety system was modified to maintain the required operational safety feature without risking undesired operation during loss of utility power. A fire started in a potato warehouse, totally destroying the building and two trucks with trailers. The point of origin was determined to be the Foreman's office. The Insurance Company was concerned that it may have been arson, and payment to the owner was uncertain. An electrical forensic engineering investigation showed that, through a series of unlikely events, an electrical heater had started the fire, proving the fire was accidental and not arson. The Insurance Company paid the claim.