Berkeley Engineering And Research, Inc.

BEAR Inc. brings more than 45 years of specialized experience investigating industrial accidents involving piping, pressure vessels, and storage tanks. Our multidisciplinary team - including Drs. Glen Stevick, Joseph Dowling, Weili Cheng, and Dave Rondinone - delivers rigorous forensic analysis to determine root causes of explosions, implosions, ruptures, and related failures.

 

BEAR’s work has directly influenced ASME, API, and CPUC codes and procedures, helping prevent future disasters across the energy, wood, petroleum and chemical process industries. We have pioneered advanced inspection tools and hydro-test methods that improve the safety and integrity of pressure piping, vessels, and tanks.

 

With deep expertise in root-cause analysis and risk assessment, BEAR applies proven scientific and engineering methods to uncover material, design, or operational failures. Our experts have provided critical forensic support on major incidents, including:

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•1985 Mohave, CA Power plant explosion (right picture above)

•1985 Syncrude oil sands processing plant fire in Fort McMurry, Canada

•1989 Quantum Chemical plant explosion / fire in Morris, IL

•1991 Nitromethane explosion / fire at the IMC Fertilizer, Inc./Angus Chemical Company plant in Sterlington, LA

•1996 KFx Coal Fuel Plant explosion / fire in Gillette, WY

•1998 Lan Chilli Airlines 747 fire at the MIA airport Miami, FL

•1999 Valve surge and 6 ft diameter pipeline rupture in San Juan Puerto Rico

•2010 San Bruno, CA gas transmission pipeline explosion and fire (right picture below)

•2010 Deepwater Horizon explosion / fire / oil spill in the Gulf (left picture below)

•2018 Wildland fire in Paradise, CA

•2019 Philadelphia Energy Solutions Refinery HF Alky plant explosion and fire

•2019 Blue Diamond Almond processing plant fire in Sacramento, CA

•2020 Watson Grind & Manufacturing plant explosion / fire in Houston, TX

•2021 Limetree Bay Refinery gas flaring and tank implosion in St. Croix, US VI (left picture above)

•2022 Fire at the Roseburg Forest Products wood mill and veneer plant in Weed, CA

•2022 Explosion / fire at the Cleveland-Cliffs Steel Mill in Burns Harbor, IL

•2024 Tyson Foods plant fire in Camilla, GA

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When the stakes are high, BEAR delivers clear, defensible answers that support litigation, insurance claims, regulatory inquiries, and - most importantly - safer operations going forward.