Competencies
R. Craig Williams, PE CFEI CFII
Principal Professional Engineer
Certified Fire & Explosion Investigator
Certified Fire Investigator Instructor
36 Years - Licensed Professional Engineering Practice
12 years Mechanical, HVAC, & Electrical Design, Consulting
15 years Industrial & Commercial Operation and Maintenance
15 years Forensic Investigation
27 years Licensed Professional Engineering Work prior to becoming an "EXPERT."
Licensure in: MA, CT, RI, ME, NH, VT, NY, NJ, FL, MI, OH, MO
NCEES Record # 48290 NAFI # 13529-6827 CFEI, CFII
Expert Competencies
Canney Brook is committed to providing you, our client, the best possible knowledge based outcomes.
Canney Brook's founding principal R. Craig Williams has undergraduate and graduate degrees in engineering and holds a PhD (abd) in International Business. Craig has published in national and international peer reviewed journals and has made presentations before engineers, business executives, entrepreneurs, and economists. Craig is an expert in engineering, fire science, business, and economics and has testified before the courts. His CV is as follows.
Professional Summary:
Mr. Williams is a mechanical engineer with more than 27 years’ of practice in consulting, research, manufacturing, operations, product design, business development, and failure analysis prior to becoming a forensic engineer. Over his many years of licensed experience, he designed, specified, maintained, operated, and evaluated the equipment to which he now investigates for failure, incident, fire, and explosion analysis. His background as a professional consulting engineer, as a research engineer, as a construction manager, as a manufacturing, operations, and process manager, as a corporate officer, and as a director of an electric utility provided specialized training, experience, education and knowledge for his forensic engineering practice.
Mr. Williams conducts mechanical, electrical, and materials engineering failure analysis, product defect analysis, fire origin and cause investigations, environmental investigations, and workplace injury investigations. These services are provided to the insurance, industrial, institutional, corporate, and legal communities.
Mr. Williams holds a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of New Hampshire, a Master’s of Science degree in Architectural Engineering from The Pennsylvania State University, and has completed Doctoral Studies in International Business from Southern New Hampshire University.
Forensic Engineering Practice:
Fire and Explosion Investigation
Mr. Williams’ practice exceeds the NFPA 1033 Standard when conducting fire investigations which include NFPA 921 based origin and cause investigations, ASTM forensic engineering analysis and mathematical modeling. Specialized analysis of fires and explosions include residential, commercial, and industrial property, equipment, and vehicles. Exceptional investigations are achieved by incorporating materials science, advanced thermodynamics, fluid flow, heat transfer and electrical engineering into fire investigations. Engineered simulated modeling may be used for hypothesis testing and validation. He has attended and instructed seminars and continued education programs related to fire investigation, NFPA 921, thermodynamics, heat transfer, and fluid flow engineering principles
Boiler, Machinery, HVAC and Mechanical Equipment
Mr. Williams has designed, specified, constructed, operated, and maintained HVAC, mechanical, process, environmental control, and industrial power distribution equipment. Projects have included large industrial boilers, steam generation and distribution, steam condensate collection, water pumps, hydraulics, pneumatics, electrical power production, building systems and heavy mobile equipment. This engineering and operational experience allows Mr. Williams to accurately identify key elements of a mechanical, electrical, and materials failure, to understand the mode of failure, and to provide accurate opinions as to the key elements surrounding an event.
Mr. Williams has investigated failures, disruptions, fires, and other events associated with the water side and fire side of solid, liquid, and gas fueled industrial, commercial, and residential boilers. Mr. Williams’ former engineering practice included design, installation, inspection, operation, and maintenance of industrial and commercial equipment. Experience includes corrosion and thermal stress fatigue which can result in sudden catastrophic events.
Electrical Equipment Failures – Fire, Accidents, Electrocution, Defects, Impulses, Stray Current
Mr. Williams has designed, specified, installed, and operated large 3-phase 480 & 240-volt distribution systems for industrial, commercial, process, and residential buildings. System have exceeded 1.3 megawatts. Experience includes extensive control wiring design, construction, and operation. Design and investigations have included use of electrical power in wet environments and stray currents. Failure analysis from a fire, electric shock, power interruption, property damage, and/or business interruption are performed. Analysis may include an evaluation of the utility power quality, the on-site power generation, the system design, the system installation, the system operation and external forces such as corrosion, material failures, mechanical defect, and contamination (water intrusion, moisture, dirt, carbon arcing, smoke and soot, animal entry.
Materials, Fatigue, and Failures
Mr. Williams investigates electrical, mechanical, piping, and plumbing material failures which result in losses. Often failures occur through a combination of materials, their installation, and their operation. Specialized investigations have included catastrophic boiler failures, machine tool lubricants becoming corrosive and destroyed milling lathes when used as intended, thermal stress material fatigue, water hammer, and bacterial corrosion of cast iron piping. Determinations are made as to why/how materials corroded, fatigued, broke, cracked, separate, and/or failed.
Mobile Heavy Equipment, Forestry, and Vehicle Fire & Failures, Operator Accidents.
Mr. Williams has operated track and wheeled loaders, excavators, dozers, tree harvesting equipment, agricultural tractors, heavy trucks, and skid steer tractors. This knowledge combined with professional engineering knowledge allows for an accurate understanding and determination of the factors which when combined caused equipment damage and/or personal injury.
Personal Injury, Workplace Industrial Safety, Systems, Training, OSHA Compliance, Negligence.
Mr. Williams managed a manufacturing process with high pressure steam, water, air, and hydraulic fluids. Workers were exposed to workplace chemicals, confined spaces, elevations, rotating machinery, mobile and stationary machinery. He was responsible for workplace safety, EPA and OSHA compliance. Mr. Williams maintained a safe workplace, trained employees, and participated in the development of EPA regulations for confined space worker re-entry. Mr. Williams now investigates incidents in which serious injury and/or death may result.