Investigating accidents involving gas

Independent forensic investigation of gas incidents

Kiwa has extensive experience in investigating incidents such as:

• Gas explosions
• Fires caused by gas installations
• Carbon monoxide poisoning
• Failures in gas pipelines and installations

This type of investigation requires specialist knowledge of installation engineering, combustion processes, materials and system behaviour. Independence and objectivity are also critical, particularly when the findings are used in legal or insurance cases.

Our investigations are frequently used by, among others:

• Energy suppliers and network operators
• Installation companies and manufacturers
• Housing associations
• Insurers and loss adjusters
• Technical police and investigative authorities
• Legal service providers and attorneys

Why investigate gas incidents?

Determining the cause of a gas incident is not only important for understanding what happened, but above all for enabling future prevention. Investigations help with:

• Preventing similar incidents in the future
• Improving safety and installation practices
• Identifying design flaws or material failure
• Supporting liability assessments and damage claims
• Improving standards, guidelines, and regulations

Causes are often complex and layered

The cause of an incident is rarely straightforward and in practice often results from a combination of factors. These may include wear or ageing of components, incorrect use or operation, installation errors, design flaws or insufficiently robust design. External influences, damage and a combination of multiple technical and human factors also frequently play a role. Kiwa therefore focuses not only on the immediate trigger, but on the complete chain of causes that led to the incident.

Investigation approach

Investigation of gas incidents typically consists of a combination of:

• On-site inspection immediately after the incident
• Technical examination of installation components and residual materials
• Laboratory analysis
• Reconstruction of the incident sequence
• Analysis of system behaviour and safety features

Based on this, a substantiated technical explanation is produced of what happened and why.

Results and reporting

The findings of the investigation provide clear insight into the technical cause of the incident, the sequence of events, any deficiencies in design, installation or use and the factors that contributed to the occurrence or escalation. Where necessary, concrete recommendations are also provided to prevent recurrence and further improve safety. The reports are used to support:

• Claims handling and insurance processes
• Legal proceedings
• Internal quality improvement
• Policy development and standardisation

Expertise and independence

Determining the cause of gas incidents requires both in-depth technical expertise and an independent position. Kiwa combines these two aspects, ensuring that findings can be used objectively in both technical and legal contexts.