Russell Bralsford is an expert in the fields of domestic and industrial plumbing and heating systems. Having over 50 years of experience in domestic and commercial environments, Mr Bralsford has been engaged by leading law firms, legal practices and insurance companies to give evidence and opine in cases involving poor working practices, personal injury and property damage, and the design and efficiency of plumbing and heating systems.

Consultant Forensic Engineer & expert witness undertaking the investigation of engineering incidents & personal injury accidents for commercial, legal & insurance clients • Provision of independent & impartial expert witness evidence • Mechanical, metallurgical & non-metallic materials (i.e. polymer, composite, rubber, glass & ceramic materials) based investigations • Forensic investigations both on-site & laboratory based • Component failure analysis, including expertise in fractography & electron microscopy (SEM) •...

Escapes of water, oil and gas • Composites • Glass and ceramics • Plastics and polymers • Construction injuries • Falls from height • Noise and vibration injuries • Lifting operations • Collision reconstruction

After training as a marine engineer, I pursued a career in heat and mass transfer until establishing my own consulting firm. I was first retained by the Department of Energy, then by the DTI Design Advisory Service and the Production Engineering Research Association. I have since undertaken 46 plant design and build projects alongside 53 process consultancies, and completed 17 expert witness instructions. My CEng registration was predicated by the design and engineering of major projects for Alcan Aluminium,...

Metallurgist, materials scientist, inspection and failure expert • 40 years+ experience • Experienced expert witness • Non-destructive testing and evaluation (NDT, NDE) • Failure analysis • Metallurgical analysis • Fracture mechanisms • Inspection performance & reliability • Probability of detection (POD) • Human reliability • Digitalisation • Corrosion • Cracking • Hydrogen embrittlement (HIC) • Welding defects • Steam turbine failures • Hospital pipework • Storage tanks & facilities • Pipelines • Composite materials (GRP, CFRP) • Offshore • Oil...

Materials analysis • Microanalysis using energy & wavelength dispersive X-ray analysis & interpretation of analysis results in engineering failures or materials characterisation • Scanning electron microscopy • Fractography • Hydrogen embrittlement of fasteners • Copper pipe failures • Fastener failures • Fuse failures • Metallic packaging failures (including beverage cans) • Pitting corrosion & preferential corrosion in water supply systems • Particle analysis & wear debris analysis • Electrical equipment failures associated...

Chemical engineering • Compressor • Concept selection • Corrosion • Facilities • Facilities engineering • Field development • Flow assurance • FPSO • FSO • Gas • Offshore • Oil • Onshore • Material selection • Pipelines • Piping • Platforms • Process engineering • Processing • Project engineering • Risers • Subsea • Topsides • Upstream • Midstream

Buildings & structures • Civil engineering works • Drainage • Infrastructure services

I have extensive experience in the design, specification, supervision and/or project management of mechanical and electrical engineering services installations, on a wide variety of commissions, including healthcare projects. During that time I have undertaken design audits and/or detailed technical appraisals of both new and existing mechanical and electrical engineering services installations, prepared expert witness reports and provided advice to clients and their legal representatives in respect of duties...

I have provided expert opinion and advice regarding concrete and concrete structures to lawyers, government departments, infrastructure/building owners, designers, contractors, materials producers/suppliers and testing organisations. Durability design, non-compliance, construction defects, premature deterioration (especially corrosion), residual life estimation and repair are recurring themes relating to a wide range of structures including buildings, bridges, tunnels, power stations, waste treatment facilities...

Consultant Forensic Mechanical & Materials Engineer & expert witness (practising since 1997, 18 years with Dr J H Burgoyne & Partners LLP (Burgoynes), 9 of which as a partner) • Forensic mechanical engineering-based investigations • Forensic metallurgical based investigations • Forensic polymer/non-metallic materials based investigations • Forensic component failure analysis, including expertise in fractography & electron microscopy • Forensic investigations into the cause of damage to equipment & machinery • Forensic...

Materials specialist, investigating matters involving: • Concrete technology • Warehouse floors & hardstandings • Failure of concrete repair works • Concrete durability & specification • Concrete placing, bleed & shrinkage cracking • Paints & coatings for concrete • Air entrainment of concrete & performance in freezing conditions • Construction in hot climates • Underground concrete construction • Concrete test methods & data interpretation • General forensic examination of construction failures