Answers about damage,
expert reports and process.

We are a technical expert office with a focus on renewable energy systems, electrical installations and building services. We investigate damage and technical issues on site, in the laboratory and from the available documents. The deliverable is a written expert report used by insurers, courts, lawyers and clients as a basis for decisions.

Typical clients are insurance companies, utilities, industrial operators, lawyers and courts. Private clients can engage us through their insurer or directly. We are independent and prepare the report based on the file and findings, not on the client's preference.

The lead expert Dipl.-Ing. (FH) Axel Opp has been working in damage analysis since 2006. Our reports meet the formal and content requirements that German courts apply to private experts. Where a public appointment is required, we coordinate this project-by-project through the IGO network.

We operate nationwide in Germany and in neighbouring countries when needed. Headquarters is Trier. For projects in remote regions we coordinate appointments through the IGO network.

Once the case has been assigned, we review the documents and align the next steps with the client. Depending on the situation this leads to an on-site visit, a desk-based report or a laboratory examination. The deliverable is a written report with findings, root-cause analysis, answers to the questions of evidence and, where applicable, a damage calculation.

We contact the named contact persons immediately after assignment and align the next steps. The processing time depends on scope, document availability and any laboratory work involved. We agree a realistic timeframe at the start and inform you actively about changes.

Whether an on-site visit is necessary is decided after an initial review of the file. For active damage, fire scenes, module anomalies or suspected grounding and installation defects an on-site visit is usually required. For pure design, planning or documentation questions a desk-based report is often sufficient.

Components are only removed when the investigation requires it, and always after agreement with the client. Where possible we examine evidence non-destructively: through the in-house X-ray facility of the IGO Group we can look inside electronic components without opening them. This is particularly valuable for overvoltage and fire damage to electronics, because evidence remains unchanged. Destructive testing happens exclusively in the laboratory under supervision.

Fees are charged by effort. The amount depends on the type of case, scope and time required. A flat answer is not possible because a case with a clear file is billed differently than a major loss with evidence preservation and laboratory work. Before the assignment we communicate the expected effort and align the approach.

In an insurance case the insurer carries the expert costs if the damage is covered. For private mandates the client pays first and may recover the costs depending on the outcome. In court proceedings the cost order is set by the court.

Yes. Based on the existing file we provide an effort estimate and include it in the written assignment. If significant additional effort becomes apparent during the work, we report back before exceeding the estimate.

We cover the full range of technical damage on PV systems, including modules, inverters, wiring and mounting. This includes cell damage, hot-spots, defects in power electronics, cabling and connector issues, grounding and installation defects, weather and lightning consequences as well as fire and consequential damage. We use IV-curve analysis, IR thermography, insulation measurement, mobile and laboratory electroluminescence, and microscopy on extracted components.

Fire cause investigations on equipment of the energy supply, building services and house installation, including PV systems, inverters, battery storage, heat pumps, switchgear and electrical loads. We work according to the exclusion methodology defined in VdS 2357 and use the in-house X-ray facility for non-destructive examination of evidence.

We inspect earthing systems, evaluate surge protection concepts, analyse inductive coupling and review measurement reports. The result answers whether a direct lightning strike or a grid-borne overvoltage event occurred and which components were affected. Electronic components can be examined non-destructively via the in-house X-ray facility if needed.

Yes. We investigate damage to switchgear and its components, from low-voltage main distribution to medium- and high-voltage switchgear and transformer or transfer stations. We assess thermal stress, arcing consequences, switching and control technology, protection concepts and conformity with the relevant standards.

Yes. Heat pumps and battery storage systems of common manufacturers are part of our regular work. We assess fire and functional damage, evaluate thermal effects and check installation conformity with the relevant standards and product-specific manufacturer requirements.

When an electrical or electronic device causes damage we test conformity against the applicable standards, the completeness of CE documentation, the manufacturer's risk management and the traceability of the product batch. From this we derive whether the manufacturer can be held liable under the German Product Liability Act.

Yes. The reports are structured to be admissible as private expert opinions in civil proceedings: documented findings, standards-based testing, a complete exclusion analysis and answers to the questions of evidence. If a court appoints us officially we either take the role directly or refer a suitable colleague from the IGO network.

The exclusion methodology is the standard approach in damage cause analysis. Every technically conceivable cause is examined individually. Causes not supported by the findings are excluded with reasoning. The remaining cause is the one consistent with the damage pattern. The method makes the result transparent and admissible in court.

Damage documentation, photos, plans and personal data are processed only for the purpose of the report and archived after the project according to the statutory retention periods. Data is shared only with the recipients named in the assignment. Details are in our privacy policy.

By phone, email or through the contact form. For urgent cases please call directly. For eligibility questions a short message describing the case is sufficient. We respond promptly.

A short professional assessment of whether the case fits our scope is free of charge. A substantive damage assessment without an assignment is not provided because that would compromise methodology and the independence of the report.