Forensic Engineering in Franklin County, OH

Chain of custody is the documented record of who collected a sample, under what conditions, how it was packaged, transported, and received at the laboratory, and who handled it at each step. In a dispute — whether an insurance claim, a contract disagreement, or litigation — opposing parties can challenge findings if the sample handling record has gaps. We maintain written custody logs from core extraction through laboratory analysis so the evidentiary record is defensible.

Core drilling and specimen preparation follow ASTM C42, which covers obtaining and testing drilled cores from hardened concrete. Compressive strength testing of those cores follows ASTM C39. If carbonation depth, chloride penetration, or petrographic examination is warranted, additional ASTM procedures — including ASTM C856 for petrographic examination of hardened concrete — are applied and documented in the laboratory under our quality system.

The site visit includes visual documentation with photographs and measurements, a review of available design and construction records, and physical sampling where warranted — cores, soil borings, or material specimens. Crack mapping is recorded systematically. Collected samples go to the laboratory with full chain-of-custody documentation. The licensed engineer uses site observations, record review, and laboratory findings together to develop an opinion on probable cause.

Field work in Franklin County is dispatched through the Columbus, OH regional hub. Laboratory testing is performed in Sugar Land, TX under chain of custody, or in a mobile laboratory mobilized to large Franklin County projects.

Field sampling and testing in Franklin County are performed by our ACI- and NICET-certified technicians. Forensic engineering and professional services are delivered with professionals licensed in Ohio, coordinated under one proposal.