By: Kristopher J. Seluga, PE
Tel: (203) 329-9909
Email: Technology Associates
Doors and gates, whether automated or manual, can pose a serious hazard to users if not designed, manufactured, installed and maintained properly. The different types include automatic doors, overhead garage doors, elevator doors, sliding doors, swinging doors, and automatic gates. Door injuries are typically associated with an impact between the door or gate and a user. To reduce such injuries, standards have been developed to limit the speed and energy associated with a closing door or a gust of wind blowing a door open. Additional safety requirements exist for automatic doors, gates and door closers. Testing can determine whether a door meets applicable standards.
We have extensive experience in many aspects of door accidents including:
Through scientific analysis, we can help you answer pertinent questions such as:
Windblown Glass Door Shatter:
An improper closer on a store's glass front door permitted the wind to blow the door open rapidly. The subsequent impact with a nearby structural element shattered the plate glass and caused a long piercing cut on a customer's arm. Our analyses of the door closer and wind forces convinced the jury that the door closer was deficient and the customer was awarded a large cash settlement.
Elevator Door Closing:
A woman claimed to have been injured by a closing elevator door at her apartment complex. An inspection of the door determined that its closing speed and closing force complied with the applicable elevator standard requirements. Our biomechanical analysis showed that the forces imparted by the door during the alleged impact would not have been severe enough to cause the claimed injuries.
Kristopher J. Seluga, PE, is a Mechanical Engineering, Accident Reconstruction, Biomechanics, and Safety Expert with over 20 years of experience. He received his Bachelor's and Master's degrees from the Mechanical Engineering department at MIT where he worked on the development of novel three-dimensional printing technologies. Mr. Seluga is also a licensed Professional Engineer in New York and Connecticut, and has served as a member of the ANSI engineering committee for the Z130.1 and Z135 standards for golf cars and PTV's. His research interests and peer reviewed publications span the topics of Motor Vehicle Dynamics, Product Safety, and Biomechanics.
©Copyright - All Rights Reserved
DO NOT REPRODUCE WITHOUT WRITTEN PERMISSION BY AUTHOR.
7/31/2009· Accident Investigation & Reconstruction
Forensic Engineering Experts: Ladders
There are over 100,000 ladder accidents annually in the U.S. requiring hospital emergency room treatment. Although many of these result from user misuse, such as an improper extension ladder lean angle against a wall causing it to slip outward, use of a damaged ladder, or failing to lock a step ladder’s spreaders, many ladders fail due to design or manufacturing defects.
7/31/2009· Accident Investigation & Reconstruction
Forensic Engineering Experts: Codes & Standards
Codes and standards specify criteria necessary to ensure that a product, material or process will consistently and safely perform its intended function. Although standards provide minimum design requirements, conforming to a standard is not always sufficient in preventing an accident.
7/22/2009· Accident Investigation & Reconstruction
Forensic Engineering Experts: Warnings
A warning must inform individuals of a danger, which would not be obvious to them. It must tell them how to avoid the danger, and be easily understood. It should also provide them with the consequences of not heading the warning.
