The Use of Technology in Water Damage Investigations

This course,
“The
Use of Technology is Water Damage Investigations,”
is designed to enhance an adjuster’s knowledge and understanding of
the use and misuse of infrared thermography and moisture meters
during the handling and investigation of water damage claims. The
module is presented by a panel including: Michael Schwartz, RPA,
AINS, Executive Vice President and Executive General Adjuster at L.J.
Shaw & Company; Michelle Feduccia, PE, Professional Engineer at
J.S. Held, LLC; Sara Raley, MWR, MTC, RRP, Vice President,
Restoration Practice Director at J.S. Held LLC; and, Matthew Ponzi,
founding shareholder at Foran
Glennon Palandeck Ponzi & Rudloff PC.

This course
begins by defining what infrared thermography is and how infrared
cameras are used in the field. The panelist then outlines the key
things infrared thermographers should consider before, during and
after an infrared survey and what emissivity is. Next, she discusses
whether infrared thermographers have to be licensed or certified to
operate an infrared camera. She then reviews some case studies on how
infrared thermography is used in different potential claim scenarios.
She concludes by reviewing some red flags and how infrared
thermography can be used or misinterpreted to create nonexistent
thermal anomalies. In section three, the second panelist explains
what moisture meters are and distinguishes between the three types of
moisture meters. She then explains how moisture meters are used to
help evaluate water damage claims and identifies ways that water
remediation contractors can misuse moisture meters during a moisture
survey. Lastly, she demonstrates the usage of different moisture
meters in the field. In the last section, the final panelist
differentiates between the two legal standards used by state and
federal courts to determine if expert testimony is admissible. In
addition, he reviews two cases where the courts applied those tests
to experts seeking to opine on the cause of different water damage
losses, highlighting the reasons behind the courts’ decisions.

After completing the course, the
viewer should be able to…

explain what
infrared thermography and emissivity are; identify the different
applications of infrared thermography in the field; describe the key
things infrared thermographers should consider before, during, and
after an infrared survey; identify red flags with infrared images and
pinpoint ways that infrared thermographers can manipulate or
misinterpret infrared images; determine if additional assistance is
needed to investigate or understand an infrared image; specify what a
moisture meter is and how its readings are interpreted; detail the
benefits and disadvantages when using the three different types of
moisture meters; provide examples of each type of moisture meter and
how they are used to evaluate water damage claims; describe how
moisture meters are used on different materials commonly damaged by
water; investigate if a contractor is misusing a moisture meter;
distinguish between the Daubert and Frye tests for determining the
admissibility of expert testimony; recognize potential issues with
the admissibility of expert testimony in water damage claims due to
questions about the expert’s qualifications or methodology.

The course is
designed for insurance professionals working primarily in the area of
property insurance adjustment.