Jay Kramarczyk

Jay is a licensed Professional Engineer in multiple jurisdictions throughout the United States.

Jay’s work often entails the analysis of fire protection systems, including detection, alarm, and suppression systems as well as construction and egress. Jay is proficient in researching, analyzing, and interpreting codes and standards for fire protection, mechanical, and building systems. He regularly is involved with the analysis of failed fire protection systems including failed sprinkler systems and commercial kitchen suppression systems. He also analyzes fire and smoke detection and alarm systems, as well as appropriate building egress and construction. Following a fire, Jay is trained in the application and use of complex computerized fire models in determining the growth and spread of fire, smoke, and heat.

In addition to fire protection investigations, Jay is proficient in the analysis of mechanical systems and mechanical failures including water losses, ventilation systems, and gas-related events including fires, explosions, and carbon monoxide incidents. Jay has performed failure analysis on numerous such systems including functionality, pressure, and leak testing to gas and water-based plumbing and appliances.

Jay also has the expertise as a Certified Fireplace and Chimney Inspector to inspect wood-burning appliances and chimneys preventatively and following a loss to evaluate design, installation, maintenance, use, and potential modes of failure.

Further, Jay is trained and experienced as a fire investigator to determine the origin and cause of fires and explosions and has performed these services throughout the country in small and multi-million-dollar losses. His unique and combined expertise in fire investigation and forensic engineering has proven to be a valuable combination.

As an often-sought-after speaker, in addition to being in the field and testifying, Jay has provided numerous audiences across the country with educational classes and ongoing training regarding his areas of expertise.

Jay’s expertise includes, but is not limited to:

• Active fire protection forensics (detection, alarms, suppression)
• Passive fire protection forensics (construction & design, egress)
• Fire origin and cause investigations
• Fire, smoke, and heat spread
• Fireplace, chimney, & wood-burning appliances
• Commercial kitchen fires and failures
• Water losses and plumbing failures
• Gas-fed fires, explosions, & carbon monoxide events
• Mechanical system forensics
• Code and standard analysis and interpretation