Projects – Investigations, Analysis, Troubleshooting, Forensic Engineering, Expert Reports
Michael D. Haughey, P.E., CEM, HBDP, LEED AP, Principal:
Representative projects including systems design and installation investigation and retained expert projects:
Indoor agricultural grow facility in Colorado Springs, Colorado
HVAC Expert, Investigation of the HVAC chilled water systems design, capacity, and suitability. Expert report. Detailed analysis of dehumidification and cooling capability and recommendations for correction. Concept design for repairs and system modifications.
Schriever Data Center troubleshooting
Peer review and analysis of mechanical design and installation during commissioning. The system included chilled water with ice thermal storage. Results of analyses included development of remediation design to increase capacity and reliability of a high-criticality facility. Discovered that main backup pump did not have sufficient NPSH.
David Skaggs Research Center, Boulder, Colorado
Chilled water systems analysis and concept designs for improvement and remediation; hydronic economizer (flat plate) system design modification to mitigate tower icing
Historical Condominium, 42-units, Denver, Colorado
Investigate alternative systems to replace failed one-pipe steam system. Provide investigation report with concept designs and cost opinions for six options including central ground source heat pumps and central VRF (variable refrigerant flow) systems.
Residence, Thornton, Colorado
Plumbing Expert. Buried gas line and grill installation investigation and expert report. Residence has an outdoor grill and an outdoor fire pit.
Condominium building in a 10-building complex, Boulder, Colorado
Plumbing Expert. Water leak/intrusion investigation. Investigation includes evaluating the possible sources of the leaks/water intrusion.
Residence, Evergreen, Colorado
HVAC Expert. Investigation, expert report, and deposition. HVAC issues and representation of same at time of sale. HVAC System is a DIY multi-split.
Residence, Routt County, Colorado
HVAC, Plumbing, and Energy Efficiency Expert. Investigation and draft expert report, HVAC, code, energy, and insulation issues, and new construction installation of a modular home. Investigation includes IR imagery during blower door testing.
Condominium Building, Aurora, Colorado
Plumbing Expert. Three units in a 12-unit building within an 8-building complex. Investigation and expert report, sewer line condition and slope.
Residence, Denver, Colorado
HVAC Expert. Investigation and expert report, issues with design and sizing of furnace and AC system and representation of same at time of sale.
Residence, Denver, Colorado
HVAC Expert. Investigation and expert report, issues with design and sizing of furnace and AC system and representation of same at time of sale.
Residence, Castle Rock, Colorado
HVAC Expert. Investigation and expert report, issues with cause of furnace and AC failure.
Restaurant, Aspen, Colorado
HVAC and Plumbing Expert. Investigation and expert report, issues with HVAC and plumbing installation,. Issues include quality and weather-resistance of exterior ductwork, code issues, and roof penetrations.
Residence, Denver, Colorado
Plumbing Expert. Investigation and draft expert report, sewer line condition and slope,. Investigation and report includes recommended repairs and replacement.
Residence, Brighton, Colorado
Plumbing Expert. Investigation of water softener installation and reverse osmosis systems installation and bacterial contamination from cross-connection.
Residence, Evans, Colorado
Plumbing Expert. Investigation of water softener installation and reverse osmosis systems installation and bacterial contamination from cross-connection.
Residence, Colorado Springs, Colorado
Plumbing Expert. Investigation of water softener installation and reverse osmosis systems installation and bacterial contamination from cross-connection.
Detention Center, Colorado
HVAC and Plumbing Expert. Investigation of HVAC and Plumbing Systems regarding alleged detainee exposure to extreme temperatures that resulted in personal injury.
200 Unit Apartment Building, Tulsa, Oklahoma
HVAC and Plumbing Expert. Investigation and draft expert report of maintenance performed on chilled water and heating water systems, and causes of excessive centrifugal chiller and fire-tube boiler and underground piping leaks.
Residence, Fort Lupton, Colorado
Investigation and expert report of water and mold damage from plumbing leak and use of mold growth rate to estimate date of leak event.
Office Park, Superior, Colorado
Plumbing and HVAC Expert. Investigation and expert report of fire and soot damage to irrigation piping and HVAC equipment due to wildfire.
Residence, Superior, Colorado
Plumbing Expert. Investigation and expert report of water loss connection to wildfire.
Residence, Adams County, Colorado
Plumbing Expert. Investigation and expert report of water softener installation and reverse osmosis systems installation and contamination from cross-connection.
Mobile Home Park, Brighton, Colorado
Plumbing Expert. Investigation of underground Plumbing and hookup installation issues, expert report.
Single Family Residence, Westminster, Colorado
HVAC Expert, Boiler Leak Investigation
Single Family Residence, Boulder County, Colorado
HVAC Expert, Radiant Heat Design, Performance, and Installation Investigation,
Hotel, Santa Fe, New Mexico
Plumbing Expert, Leak Investigation
Restaurant, Denver, Colorado
Plumbing Expert Consultation regarding toilet installation in injury case
Church, Arvada, Colorado
Plumbing Expert, Investigation of work installed vs. plans
Reverse Osmosis System Leak Investigation, Colorado
Plumbing Expert, Investigation of the cause of a residential RO System failure and leak.
19-Building, 264 unit Apartment Complex, Evans, Colorado
HVAC Expert, Investigation, documentation, and Expert Report of hail damage to HVAC equipment.
6-Unit Housing Development, Boulder, Colorado
HVAC Expert, Investigation and Expert Report of HVAC equipment, code, and sound ordinance alleged installation issues; Trial Testimony.
9-Building, 19-unit Condominium Complex, Salida, Colorado
Plumbing Expert, Investigation and Expert Report of plumbing issues/allegations.
Single family residence in Steamboat Springs, Colorado
Research, Expert Report, and deposition related to PEX piping issues.
Multi-family Air B & B in Moffat County, Colorado
Investigation of alleged issues with mini-split HVAC systems.
Fridgewize v. Oribi Manufacturing, Colorado.
Consultation and development of test protocol regarding refrigeration condensing unit fan blade failures.
Resort in Telluride, Colorado.
Water damage from broken pipes after a freeze event. Consultation to attorney for owner regarding strength of litigation case.
Ten-story 474,525 sq. ft. hotel
Forensic engineering and document research for hotel that included guest rooms, condominiums, employee housing, banquet facilities, restaurant, spa, laundry, retail, children’s center, and support areas. Expert witness research, analysis, documentation, and report writing services.
University Medical Teaching Facility
Forensic engineering, analysis, and expert witness investigation of compressed air system design and performance issues for a 176,000 sq. ft. multi-story university medical teaching facility.
Mid-rise 112 unit Condominium, Colorado
Forensic engineering. Field investigation and engineering analysis of heating and plumbing system problems. Site testing and data logging of systems temperatures and pressures. Thermal imaging of building envelope specific to frozen pipe investigation.
School explosion investigation
Forensic engineering. Field investigation, photo-documentation, testing witnessing, and engineering evaluation of damage from water heater explosion.
Twelve building Townhouse Complex
Forensic engineering, field investigation, photo-documentation of existing conditions and code compliance issues of HVAC and plumbing systems.
Fourteen building Condominium Complex
Forensic engineering, field investigation, flue draft testing, photo-documentation of existing conditions and code compliance issues of HVAC and plumbing systems.
Eighteen building, 408 unit Condominium Complex
Forensic engineering, field investigation, photo-documentation of existing conditions and code compliance issues of HVAC and plumbing systems, and fire protection sprinkler freeze-burst issues.
Forty building Townhouse Complex
Forensic engineering, field investigation, building envelope thermography, photo-documentation of existing conditions and code compliance issues of HVAC and plumbing systems.
Twenty-seven Building Townhouse Complex
Forensic engineering, field investigation, photo-documentation of existing conditions and code compliance issues of HVAC and plumbing systems, report of findings. Flue draft and combustion testing of water heaters and furnaces.
136,000 square foot Mixed-Use Commercial and Residential Complex
Forensic engineering, field investigation, photo-documentation of existing conditions and code compliance issues of HVAC, fire protection, and plumbing systems, including acoustic issues involving sound transmission and hydronic turbulence-generated sound, balcony drain leaks, snowmelt leaks, and report of findings.
Palmer Ridge High School
Peer review for new high school. Systems include ground-coupled heat pumps, energy recovery ventilation, and a variety of measures intended to make this school one of the lowest energy use high schools in the State.
GSA: Araj U.S. Courthouse, Denver, Colorado.
Peer review and commissioning support for new US GSA courthouse facility in Denver, Colorado. Systems included displacement ventilation, high-efficiency lighting/controls, photovoltaics, and district heating and cooling.
Confidential Client, Denver, Colorado
Investigation and troubleshooting was performed for a confidential client in the City of Denver. Existing heating systems were experiencing equipment shut-down problems in multiple buildings with similar systems. The cause was found to be improper venting, damaged attic vents, and control problems related to tempering valve selection.
Confidential Client, Denver, Colorado
Investigation project for a confidential client looked into uneven heating and cooling. The cause was found to be related to building pressurization problems and inadequate return air paths.
Great West Life; Tower II Balancing Consultation; Englewood, Colorado
Project Manager and Project HVAC Engineer for system troubleshooting consultation. Evaluation of apparent stack effect problems and HVAC system imbalances. During the project, discovered numerous contributing problems including substantial ductwork and plenum leakage and damper control problems.
Lincoln Center; Stack Effect Study; Denver, Colorado
Project Manager and Project Engineer for HVAC system evaluation. During the evaluation, discovered numerous related problems including fan tracking control problems and apparent stack effect problems due to modifications made to counteract freeze-up problems.