The global consulting firm J.S. Held announced on July 13 that Marcos Flores, an accomplished research and development scientist with more than two decades of experience, would lead its J.S. Held Roofing Lab as director. 

The IAS-ILAC-accredited roofing lab provides technical support in investigations of property damage claims and disputes involving roofing materials. As Director, Flores manages laboratory operations, personnel, quality control and safety compliance. 

As a third-party research and analysis firm, the Roofing Lab enhances the research, testing, and investigation of roofing samples to determine if the observed characteristics of a sample are consistent with hail or some other anomaly without bias. 

Lab techniques include desaturation analysis, impact testing, single-ply membrane analysis, thermal performance testing, and water column testing on field-collected samples. 

“I am committed to providing exceptional service to clients as we help them understand the cause and extent of damage to roofing materials,” Flores said in the statement. “J.S. Held is ideal for my work, given the strength of the firm’s Forensic Architecture & Engineering and Building Consulting practices and reputation as an industry leader in property damage claims consulting.”

The firm’s forensic architects and engineers specialize in structural engineering, construction defects and failures, building collapse, code compliance, building envelope and roofing, mechanical and electrical engineering, equipment failure, premises liability, manufacturing/product defects, chemistry, and materials science.

“With a strong background in materials science and extensive knowledge of laboratory techniques and equipment, Mr. Flores is well suited to lead the J.S. Held Roofing Lab in serving our clients, as well as internal and external roofing consultants and engineers, requiring lab analysis,” said Emily Wohlfarth, PE, executive vice president, and Forensic Architecture & Engineering practice lead for J.S. Held.

For more information, visit jsheld.com.