Business Details
40 Years
experience
Emergency
services
Trusted Fire Investigation and Engineering Services in Warren, MI
Since 1986, Safety Engineering Lab has been a leader in providing innovative engineering and research services for fire investigation, safety consulting, and litigation support. Our team of certified engineers and fire investigators utilizes advanced technologies such as 3D imaging, drone documentation, and industrial CT scanning to deliver precise and scientifically rigorous analyses. With decades of experience handling complex casesfrom residential fires to industrial disasterswe maintain rigorous scientific standards while offering nationwide and international services.Our collaborative approach ensures comprehensive scene management, artifact analysis, and expert testimony, supported by a legacy of contributions to high-profile investigations. We combine generational expertise with cutting-edge tools to address fire origin, cause analysis, product safety, and chemical process risks, ensuring clients receive actionable insights grounded in empirical evidence.
Services
Fire Investigation
Explosion Analysis
CT Scanning
Product Safety Consulting
Engineering Analysis
Details
- Year established: 1986
Highlights and features
- We offer 35+ years of experience in fire origin and cause analysis with certified experts.
- Our team utilizes 3D scanning and drone technology for precise scene documentation.
- We provide nationwide and international forensic services with rigorous scientific standards.
- Our engineers have testified in hundreds of trials, supporting litigation with expert analysis.
- We maintain in-house CT scanning and laboratory facilities for artifact examination.
Services
Fire Investigation
Our fire investigation services identify the origin and cause of residential, commercial, and industrial fires using NFPA 921 standards. We employ 3D scanning, drone documentation, and laboratory testing to ensure accurate, court-ready findings. Our team's decades of experience supports litigation with scientifically rigorous analysis.
CT Scanning
SEL's industrial CT scanning provides non-destructive internal examination of fire-damaged artifacts, batteries, and devices. Our North Star X3000 scanner delivers micron-level resolution for failure analysis, supporting product safety evaluations and forensic investigations with precise digital reconstructions.
Explosion Analysis
We investigate gas explosions, chemical process incidents, and industrial accidents using computational modeling and physical testing. Our engineers analyze overpressure events and dispersion patterns to determine root causes, with expertise in lithium-ion battery failures and hazardous material risks.
Product Safety Consulting
SEL advises manufacturers on integrating safety into product design through failure analysis and compliance testing. Our lab evaluates electrical appliances, reactive chemicals, and flammable materials to mitigate fire and explosion risks during normal use or anticipated misuse scenarios.
Engineering Analysis
Our engineering analysis combines scene investigation with laboratory testing to reconstruct fire dynamics and failure modes. We use computational fluid dynamics, thermodynamic modeling, and physical demonstrations to validate hypotheses, providing clear technical conclusions for litigation and safety improvements.
People
Donald J. Hoffmann
President
Donald J. Hoffmann, PhD, P.E., leads SEL's fire and explosion analysis with 35+ years of experience. He specializes in lithium-ion battery safety, gas explosions, and litigation support, maintaining a legacy of scientific integrity since joining SEL in 1988.
Michael T. Burr
Materials Engineer
Michael T. Burr, M.S., P.E., conducts fire and materials failure analysis at SEL since 2006. He oversees analytical equipment, executes fire models, and provides expert testimony, combining metallurgical expertise with forensic engineering for complex cases.
Erik M. Swonder
Electrical Engineer
Erik M. Swonder, M.S., P.E., specializes in electrical system failures and appliance testing at SEL. With 20+ years of experience, he performs on-site inspections and laboratory analysis to determine fire causes linked to electrical devices.
Alexander J. Hoffmann
Chemical Engineer
Alexander J. Hoffmann, B.S., focuses on lithium-ion battery testing and CT scanning at SEL. As a certified radiation operator and chemical engineer, he joined SEL in 2019 to advance product safety evaluations and forensic analysis.
David L. Kinny
Professional Engineer
David L. Kinny, M.Eng., P.E., brings 36 years of appliance safety experience to SEL. He conducts forensic analysis of gas and electrical equipment failures, supporting litigation with design and safety compliance expertise since 2021.
Questions
What services does Safety Engineering Laboratories offer?
We provide fire and explosion investigation, engineering analysis, CT scanning, product safety consulting, and litigation support for residential, commercial, and industrial cases.
How long has SEL been in business?
SEL has delivered fire investigation and engineering services since 1986, with a legacy of scientific rigor and expert testimony.
Do you offer CT scanning services?
Yes, our industrial CT scanning provides non-destructive evaluation of devices, batteries, and fire-damaged artifacts for detailed internal analysis.
Can SEL handle complex fire scenes?
Our team manages large-scale investigations using 3D imaging, drone documentation, and NFPA 921-compliant methodologies for thorough scene analysis.
Are your experts qualified for court testimony?
Our certified fire investigators and engineers have provided expert testimony in hundreds of trials and depositions nationwide.
