Warren Forensics

10/14/2026

10/01/2026

FOUNDATION SETTLEMENT: STAGES AND TYPES OF CRACKS | By Claire Benedict, PE | We’ve all done it- seen a crack in a wall or foundation and said “Eh, it’s just settlement” so we do not have to worry about it right now. But what is settlement, anyway? When does it happen, and why?

Unsurprisingly, “settlement” is a general term that contains several phases and types of geotechnical activity happening under a structure. The three stages of settlement that every structure will go through during and after construction are...

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09/24/2026

THE BASICS OF STRUCTURAL DESIGN | By Claire Benedict, PE | I spent a decade of my career in the design engineering sphere. I loved my experiences there, and working in design has given me an understanding of how structures and their various elements are dreamed, designed, and constructed- how they ought to work as well as what can go wrong. Design is fun and can be complicated, and it does not need to be a big scary mystery. Let’s have a peek behind the curtain!

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09/17/2026

LADDER LIABILITY | By Brian Tenace (MSME, PE, FMPC®, CFEI) | I love spending time at the beach. Just this last weekend I drove by four fellows on extension ladders trimming palm trees with chainsaws on the side of the street. Of course, anyone who knows me knows that one thing I like almost as much as the beach is talking about ANSI, OSHA and liability! So, this last weekend I was concerned by the arborists’ lack of compliance with ANSI Z133: The American National Standard for Aboricultural Operations (that’s a fancy way of saying...

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08/17/2026

A CASE STUDY: MONKEY BAR FALL AND LACK OF PLAYGROUND MAINTENANCE | By Ellen Szubski, M.S., Ph.D., CXLT, CPSI, AHFP | I was hired to investigate the incident and determine the cause of an 8-year-old’s injuries. I conducted a site inspection shortly after her fall. The surrounding area under the monkey bars where the child fell was comprised of loose-fill engineered wood fiber. Under the monkey bars was a “scuff mine” or significant depression of displaced surfacing material from frequent use and weather/water drainage. Within the depression, the depth of the engineered wood fiber measured ...

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05/13/2026

THE REAL PLAYGROUND HERO: PLAYGROUND SURFACING MATERIAL MAINTENANCE | By Ellen Szubski, M.S., Ph.D., CXLT, CPSI, AHFP | According to the CDC, nearly 70% of all playground injuries are caused by falls to the ground. This makes the choice and maintenance of surfacing materials one of the most important factors in preventing playground injuries. All playground surfacing material has a Critical Fall Height (CFH) that determines how much impact it can safely absorb. The Critical Fall Height is the safety threshold for playground surfacing and must always be equal to or greater than ...

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04/13/2026

HOT DOG: WHEN THE BACKYARD GRILL ATTACKS! | By Brian Tenace (MSME, PE, FMPC®) | I have to be honest – I sort of fear the back yard. There are gnats, neighbors with all manner of projectiles (frisbees, basketballs, volleyballs and even footballs have flown past me when all the neighborhood kids are running around!), and all the dust that my edger kicks up. But the social energy of such an active development is why I moved there. It seems a waste to eat dinner on nights like these. After all, a backyard barbecue is the highlight of summer.

But managing fire is one of the most dangerous things you can do in flip-flops. As a Mechanical Engineer and CFEI (Certified Fire and Explosion Investigator), I know a grill’s ease of use can make us forget that we are playing with fire right outside our most valuable possession – our home.
Damage from grills can happen fast...

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03/12/2026

WARREN is pleased to announce that Jennifer Morningstar, P.E., CFEI, has stepped into the role of CEO of The Warren Group, Inc., forensic engineers and consultants.

Jennifer brings more than two decades of experience in chemical and forensic engineering, with a career that has spanned industrial operations, energy management consulting, and complex forensic investigations. Her background includes extensive work in areas such as chemical release and exposure analysis, OSHA process safety management, industrial accident investigation, and fire and explosion investigations.

Under her leadership, The Warren Group is poised for a new chapter of growth—expanding our capabilities, deepening client partnerships, and continuing our commitment to technical excellence and integrity.

Please join us in congratulating Jennifer on this well‑deserved achievement. We’re excited to see the future she will help shape for our team, our clients, and the engineering community.

02/23/2026

THE SILENT SENTRY – A WORKING SMOKE DETECTOR | By Chad Jones, PE, CMSE, CFEI, CVFI | In conversations with both friends and people I have met through emergency calls with the fire department, I often observed that a lot of people never give a second thought to that little lifesaver mounted on the ceiling or the wall of their home. That little lifesaver is the smoke detector.

On average, a fire department responded to a fire somewhere in the United States every 23 seconds in 2024. A civilian was fatally injured in a fire every...

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02/19/2026

SHORT FLIGHT STAIRS, BIG HAZARD | By Ellen Szubski, M.S., Ph.D., CXLT, CPSI, AHFP | Stairs that contain three or fewer risers are considered short flight stairs according to safety standard ASTM F1637-21: Standard Practice for Safe Walking Surfaces. Single step transitions are also considered a short flight stair. Short fight stairs can be particularly hazardous for pedestrians due to the lack of visual cues signifying an elevation change. Unexpected changes in elevations can cause...

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