Fire Investigation and Fire Protection Engineering

T. J. Klem and Associates, LLC is a full service fire investigation and fire protection engineering firm, having two staff members with MScFPE. The firm's experienced fire investigators - certified through the International Association of Arson Investigators (IAAI) and/or by the State of Massachusetts - serve clients in New England and throughout the United States. T. J. Klem and Associates, LLC was established in 1994.

T. J. Klem and Associates, LLC provides detailed documentation of the origin and cause of fire events (structures, explosions, industrial equipment, automobile and heavy equipment, etc.) and cases involving arson. The firm maintains its own applied research facility, designed to facilitate effective evidence examination and the re-creation of fire scenarios. The firm assess the performance aspects of fire protection and life safety devices and equipment - such as smoke and heat detectors, sprinklers, and dry and wet chemical extinguishing systems - within fire incident buildings. Fire protection system design and approval also offered.

Using the latest analytical tools - such as computer fire modeling - our firm's Fire Protection Engineers provide analysis of fire growth dynamics and fire system performance, as well as assessments of fire and building code requirements, manufacturers' specifications, and maintenance requirements and other protection features. If necessary, the firm can facilitate appropriate laboratory testing of involved equipment to further establish physical evidence of the failure scenario.

T. J. Klem and Associates, LLC provides the services of experienced and qualified specialists and licensed private investigators (i.e. master electricians and plumbers, HVAC mechanics, certified automotive mechanics, etc.) to address performance issues involving electrical appliances, heating and cooling systems, flammable and combustible liquids, fireplace and chimney installation, thermal insulation, and other specialty areas.

Fire Investigations:

• BLEVE Investigations (pressure cylinders), Spenser, MA and P.G. Co., MD.
• Manufacturing Plant Fire, Malden Mills, Lawrence, MA
• Firefighter Fatality, Charlestown, MA
• Arson/Murder, Malden, MA
• Life Safety Systems Analysis, Hampton, NH, Lexington, KY, New Bedford, MA
• Restaurant Fire Suppression System Failure, Medford, MA, Boston, MA, and Annapolis, MD
• Automatic Sprinkler Performance/Failure, New Bedford, MA, Warren, NH, Franklin, MA, Bangor, ME, Dallas, TX and Woonsocket, RI
• Explosion, Kansas City, MO,
• Warehouse (1 million sq. ft.) Davenport, IA
• Residential Fire (76,000 square feet), Dallas, TX
• Natural Gas Valve Failure, Chicago, IL
• Automobile (multiple fire fatalities), Hazelton, PA, St. Louis County, MO and Hickman County, TN
• Warehouse Conflagration, Bridgeport, PA, Woonsocket, RI
• Public Assembly Building, West Warwick, RI

Services:

• Origin and Cause Investigation
• Fire Growth and Spread Dynamics
• Automatic Sprinkler and Fire Detection Systems Performance / Design and Approval
• Restaurant Fire Suppression/Exhaust Systems Performance
• Evidence Examination/Storage
• Fire and Building Code Compliance Analysis
• Fire Protection Master Plan Services
• Computer Fire Modeling (FDS, CFAST, etc.)
• Fire and Life Safety System Assessment
• Private Investigator Services
• Expert Witness Testimony and Litigation Support
• Third-Party Fire Incident Analysis

The professional staff at T. J. Klem and Associates, LLC are well-versed in the legal aspects of appropriate documentation, collection, and preservation of physical evidence collected from fire scenes and have provided expert testimony in local, state, and federal court systems. Following established, national consensus fire investigative protocols, the firm also offers third-party review and analysis of the findings of other fire investigative and engineering firms.