Agriculture

Forensic Structural Engineers at Origin and Cause Inc. have many years of experience in examining agricultural facilities like barns, livestock facilities, and grain silos to determine the root cause of damage including susceptibility of open structures to wind and silo buckling and/or collapse during use. We fully understand the needs of farmers during claim handling as some of our investigators come from farming families.

We are well versed in the requirements of the National Farm Building Code of Canada and provide structural designs and drawings to repair or rebuild all kinds of damaged agricultural structures either by replicating the original form of construction such as log framing or through contemporary forms using lightweight wood framing, heavy timber or steel.

Agricultural, forestry, construction and mining equipment pose different challenges for investigators as these types of equipment are often a combination of mechanical and hydraulic systems in order to operate the equipment. Introduction of the hydraulic system adds a new challenge for investigators as they need to be able to identify and examine the pumps, lines, and fittings connecting the motors and other hydraulic components. These types of equipment are often working in a more hazard filled environment with combustible organic material such as crop material or wood chips and other ignitable fuel sources that can collect and be ignited by hot surfaces.