Forensic Building Science

Expert Building Consultants, 3rd Party Expertise, Expert Witnesses, Forensic Analysis, Risk Assessments, Property Appraisal and Umpire Services

About Forensic Building Science

Forensic Building Science, Inc. (FBS) is a leading Building Consultant firm specializing in providing unbiased, independent, third-party expertise for commercial and residential property owners, HOAs, attorneys, and public adjusters through its umpire and appraiser services, property damage assessments, risk assessments, building envelope inspections, code analysis, estimate reviews, smoke, soot, and fungal sampling, expert witness services, and litigation support. Founded in 2004, FBS holds an unparalleled reputation built on a foundation of the highest accreditations and certifications, coupled with the one thing money can’t buy—decades of hands-on experience that has enabled them to consistently achieve successful settlements in more than 98% of client cases.

The Positive Impact On The Lives Of The Insured

Forensic Building Science, Inc. (FBS) plays a crucial role in the landscape of building claims, serving as an impartial expert in the face of property damage. With forensic accuracy, FBS delivers unbiased inspections, precise damage assessments, and credible testimony. This impartiality is the cornerstone of their service, ensuring all parties involved, from policyholders to insurers, benefit from clear, evidence-based findings. FBS's dedication to objective accuracy provides the solid foundation necessary for fair and just settlements, regardless of which side of the claim they are supporting. Their work not only clarifies the complexities of claims but also ensures that every story told by a damaged structure is grounded in truth and equitably addressed.

Working With UCP Members To Benefit The Insured

The alliance between Forensic Building Science, Inc. (FBS) and United Claims Professionals (UCP) leverages FBS's unparalleled expertise in forensic analysis and building consultancy to substantially benefit UCP members and, by extension, the insured they represent. This collaboration is dedicated to providing UCP members, including public adjusters, contractors, and various claims industry professionals, with advanced training, comprehensive resources, and insightful guidance to navigate the complexities of claims that require 3rd party expertise with confidence and skill.

Forensic Building Science, Inc. is committed to sharing its deep understanding of property damage, construction defects, and best practices in forensic inspection and causation reporting—skills that are vital in ensuring policyholders’ claims are substantiated by irrefutable evidence and expert testimony. In the future, FBS plans to offer workshops that delve into advanced topics, such as how to develop and present the story behind the claim and how to handle depositions when serving as an expert witness. With insights from more than 150 trials and 450 depositions, these workshops will leverage the extensive courtroom experience of FBS’s team, providing members with the strategies that have led to their high success rate in legal disputes.

Through this partnership, FBS and UCP are setting a course for the future where claims professionals are more than just advocates for the insured—they become pivotal storytellers who can articulate the full story of a claim with authority, clarity, and an unwavering commitment to accuracy. This symbiotic relationship underscores UCP’s commitment to empowering its members to excel in all aspects of claims management and advocacy.

Industry Leadership, Experience & Qualifications:

The FBS team brings over 80 years of experience investigating building failures of every kind, including natural disasters, fires, structural failures, building defects, and construction disputes. They offer a unique blend of traditional expertise and innovative practices, which has given them an edge over their competitors. With over 10,000 commercial, industrial, and residential properties inspected, they’ve gained extensive experience and boast an impressive 98% successful settlement rate on client engagements.

FBS's team is made up of certified experts who hold advanced Xactimate Level 3 certifications, and IICRC credentials and possess a comprehensive mastery of forensic engineering and thermal IR scans. Their authoritative standing is further cemented by their extensive history of legal engagements, including over 150 trials and 650 depositions. This extensive courtroom experience, in addition to their multigenerational legacy in general contracting, has positioned FBS as a highly respected entity within the construction and legal communities.

Accolades From The Industry:

FBS has garnered respect and trust within the industry not just for their technical acumen but also for their integrity and fairness. As experts who stand on the solid ground of evidence and not on the shifting sands of conjecture, they've earned accolades for their forthright and comprehensive evaluations. Their work in the courtroom and at sites across the nation speaks volumes of their dedication to building science and the truth it reveals.

“FBS is a deeply experienced team of building consultants who have consistently demonstrated the highest standards of expertise and professional standards. They can be counted on to provide a clear-eyed and unbiased forensic evaluation for our clients and the courts in which we appear.”

“FBS is consistently one of the most thorough and reliable experts I have worked with in my years of practice. They approach every job with extraordinary analytical and technical expertise and provide us with the most accurate and complete information they can, even in situations where that information does not benefit my case. They are one of the few experts who we can trust will tell us the truth, whether that truth helps or hurts. Their work product is top-notch.”

“Our experience with the FBS team was very professional and productive, and their deliverables were on time and top-notch in quality. The FBS team is an easy referral to others, and we will use them again for all of our construction needs.The FBS team was deployed to TN to investigate various construction and design defects with two properties in our portfolio. Over the ensuing 24 months I had constant communication with various FBS team members as we iterated towards a work product worthy to be seen by the judge – which it eventually was."