Kirsner Consulting Engineering -- About the Firm

Kirsner Consulting Engineering is a mechanical engineering firm that investigates industrial steam accidents, and provides seminars to operators and engineers on understanding water hammer in steam systems. We come from a design background, not an academic or regulatory background. We believe our experience in investigating and SOLVING steam water hammer accidents in non-nuclear steam systems is unsurpassed in the United States and Canada.

Our interest is not so much in providing forensic testimony in legal cases as in getting to the bottom of the accident and explaining in clearly understandable language and everyday examples what happened.

The principal investigator is Wayne Kirsner, P.E. (whose personal experience may be viewed at the "Accident Investigations" page). Mr. Kirsner is a 1972, 1973 and 1980 graduate of Georgia Institute of Technology, BS in Mechanical Engineering, MS Physics. He has been an ASHRAE Distinguished Lecturer since 2001. The chief consultant employed by KCE is Dr. Peter Griffith of MIT--the foremost academic authority on water hammer in steam systems in the World. Peter regularly works on either solving or reviewing accident cases with Wayne.

In addition to law firms and insurance companies, the Company's clients are listed on the forensic investigations page and the training page of this website.

For a list of references, please email your request to kirsner@kirsner.org. We'll send you an extensive list.

Facts about the Firm:

Incorporated as Kirsner, Pullin & Associates in Georgia in 1994. Name Changed to Kirsner Consulting Engineering, Inc. in 1999.
Registered as professional engineering firm Georgia, Certificate #PEF002994
Member firm, American Council of Consulting Engineers, and International District Energy Association
Principal named Engineer of the Year in Private Practice--Atlanta ASHRAE (1998-99)
Business Licensed in Cobb County, Georgia
DUNS # 035284368
$500,000 on and off premises Business Liability Insurance
Registered Veteran Owned Small Business, SIC 8711, NAICS 541330

Mark Gintner and Doug Gay of COMTEC International working with a water hammer model

Dr. Peter Griffith
Peter is a professor emeritus at MIT and the foremost authorities in the World on water hammer in steam systems. He authored NUREG/ CR-6519 "Screening Reactor Steam/ Water Piping Systems for Water Hammer" for the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. He was one of three Editors for the April 2002 User's Manual for EPRI's "Generic Letter 96-06 Waterhammer Issues Resolution" and a primary source for the 1996 "Water Hammer Handbook for Nuclear Plant Engineers and Operators." Retired, he maintains an office at MIT from where he performs consulting work and teaches an occasional class. Each day he bicycles 50 minutes to MIT from his home in Cambridge.

Wayne Kirsner:
Chief Investigator and Manhole Gopher

It's said that if Wayne sticks his head out a manhole and sees his shadow, you're in for 10 more weeks of winter. (Picture taken circa 1996).