Fire Codes Expert Witnesses

Fire - Fire origin and cause investigation, Arson, Explosion, Fire scene reconstruction, Bad faith claims, Fire prevention, Smoke alarm, Smoke detector, Fire alarm, Fire department procedures, Fire codes

I am an expert in fire origin and cause investigation, scene analysis, and reconstruction. My formal education includes a B.S. degree in Business Administration from the University of Southern California (USC). In addition, I completed post graduate work at the National Fire Academy in the Executive Fire Officer (EFO) Program. I hold certifications as a Chief Fire Officer (CFO) with The Center for Public Safety Excellence (CPSE) as well as Chief Officer and Executive Chief Fire Officer through the California State Fire Marshal. I have attended numerous initial, advanced, and continuing education courses and seminars in various aspects of fire investigation. I have over 30 years of experience in the fire service, 23 years as a Fire Investigator, and have investigated more than 2,500 fires. I was previously a Task Force Officer with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (BATFE) and am currently a California State Fire Marshal instructor for beginning and adv...

Fire, Failure Analysis - Kitchen Fire Suppression Systems, Fire Sprinkler System Failure, CPVC sprinkler pipe failure, Fire Walls, Life Safety Egress, Fire Codes, Fire Hazard Analysis, Explosion Analysis and Cause, Fire Alarms, Walking Surface Slip Trip & Fall, Fire Origin and Cause Investigation, Fire Construction Defects

Fire expert witness performing origin and cause investigations nationally. Gregory J. Cahanin meets the professional qualifications of NFPA 1033, Standard for Professional Qualifications for Fire Investigator as documented in a Florida declaratory statement held by only one other fire expert in the state. Investigations include the Station Nightclub Fire in 2003 with 100 fatalities. In Wyatt v. Security Alarms Co., Inc. key testimony on the failure of a Viking automatic fire sprinkler established a product liability that resulted in a $1.4M dollar jury award for Wyatt in Oklahoma. Specialty areas of forensic expertise include kitchen fire suppression systems, fire sprinklers, and fire alarm systems. Fire and Building Code construction defect findings are supported by 45+ years of working with national codes and standards. Gregory Cahanin also performs code compliance and development for property owners and manufacturers. Working on staff at the National Fire Protection Association...

Fire, Investigation - arson defense, explosions, fire codes, smoke alarm codes, life safety codes, fire prevention, fire department procedures, insurance claim denial; spoliation; firefighter injuries; firefighter fatalities.

As a past member of the Skokie, Illinois Fire Department for twenty-eight years, Mr. Agosti progressed from a Firefighter/Paramedic to the position of Deputy Fire Chief. Mr. Agosti has extensive experience in fire and arson investigation; fire prevention and life safety codes; fire department management, operations and safety; and firefighter fatalities and injuries . He has responded to hundreds of major fire and crime scenes and has testified in court on the conclusions of his investigations. Mr. Agosti’s fire department responsibilities included the review of all construction plans for compliance to fire and building codes. His expertise in building construction and fire code compliance, coupled with his knowledge of firefighting techniques and fire spread, lends a unique blend to his fire investigation capabilities. In addition to his fire department exposure to hundreds of fire investigations, Mr. Agosti has extensive experience in the private sector also. Over the past eight...

Fire, Engineering - Fire Codes, Fire Engineering, Fire and Building Codes, Fire Alarm, Fire Protection, Fire Suppression, Building Fire Protection Systems, Sprinkler System Failures, Building Egress, Fire Protection Codes, Life Safety Codes, Life/Safety

Fire, Safety - Fire Protection Engineering, Fire Suppression Systems, Fire Alarm Systems, Fire Spread Analysis, Fire Sprinkler, Fire System Failure, Fire Sprinkler Water Loss, Fire Codes, Life Safety Codes, Fire Investigation, Water Supply Evaluations

With a career spanning several decades specializing in the complex field of fire protection engineering, Jim Begley, PE, FSFPE, possesses experience in fire safety equipment, fire sprinkler systems, smoke control systems, fire alarm systems, specialty suppression systems, forensic engineering examinations, and consulting on various occupancies' life safety and building code issues. The in-depth knowledge of these aspects of fire and life safety is critical to the specialized field of expert witness and loss consulting litigation because each step of the building process, starting with construction and installation to system performance and user error, may be subject to legal disputes as it pertains to fire protection cases. As an expert witness trained in fire protection, fire control, smoke control, and other life safety measures, Jim’s broad knowledge and varied experience in this field have made him sought after in high-stakes legal cases related to fire safety and protection. J...

Fire, Engineering - Fire Codes, Fire Engineering, Fire and Building Codes, Fire Alarm, Fire Protection, Fire Suppression, Building Fire Protection Systems, Sprinkler System Failures, Building Egress, Fire Protection Codes, Life Safety Codes, Life/Safety

Fire, Engineering - Fire Codes, Fire Engineering, Fire and Building Codes, Fire Alarm, Fire Protection, Fire Suppression, Building Fire Protection Systems, Sprinkler System Failures, Building Egress, Fire Protection Codes, Life Safety Codes, Life/Safety