Paul T. Way
BS, PE, CFI, CFEI, PI
Technical Fellow, Electrical Engineering
Areas of Expertise
WA
Mr. Way is a Registered Professional Electrical Engineer in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Alaska, Montana, California, Texas, Hawaii and Nevada. He has a BS in Electrical Engineering and a BS in Forest Resource Management from the University of Idaho, is recognized as a Certified Fire Investigator by the International Association of Arson Investigators and is a Certified Fire and Explosion Investigator by the National Fire Protection Association. Mr. Way has performed thousands of investigations since 1995 specializing in large complex loss investigations.
Mr. Way is trained as a refinery mechanical design engineer. He is proficient in mechanical design, repair and troubleshooting of refinery process equipment, including piping system design and analysis, heat exchanger design and repair, pump design and flow analysis, and valve design and repair. He is trained in material selection for strength and corrosion resistance, mechanical design, failure analysis, and pressure drop studies.
Before pursuing an engineering career, Mr. Way worked as an appliance and furnace repair technician and is experienced with proper operation and repair of large appliances, including clothes washers and dryers, dishwashers, and furnaces. Mr. Way has over 10 years of experience performing electrical facilities, distribution, transmission, and generation design and analysis. As a result of his unique background, Mr. Way has extensive knowledge in both electrical and mechanical engineering, design, and failure analysis.
Mr. Way is experienced with a wide range of facilities and systems, including: hydroelectric, gas turbine-driven and combined cycle power plants; solar and wind generation facilities; electrical substations, including transformer and switchgear equipment; petrochemical plants and pipelines; wastewater treatment plants; potable water pumping systems; heavy manufacturing plants; and heavy construction.
Mr. Way has investigated hundreds of electrocutions, electric shock injuries and arc-flash incidents. Finally, Mr. Way has given hundreds of depositions and is experienced in providing trial testimony.
With degrees in both electrical engineering and forest resource management, Mr. Way is a known expert in wildland fire investigation, vegetation management, right-of-way management, and electrical distribution and transmission issues. Mr. Way is involved in many wildland fire investigations in the United States and has expertise in development of fire mitigation plans, plan auditing, pre-inspection plans and tree/vegetation treatment activities. Finally, Mr. Way has extensive knowledge of vegetation growth, defect and hazard assessment.
Education / Certifications
- BS, Electrical Engineering, University of Idaho
- BS, Forest Resource Management, University of Idaho
- Registered PE: CA, HI, ID, NV, OR, TX, MT, AK
- Certified Fire Investigator, IAAI
- Certified Fire and Explosion Investigator, NAFI
- Licensed Private Investigator, State of MT#10410
- Refinery Training Program, Chevron USA, El Segundo Refinery
See Insights from Paul T. Way
Project Profiles
The Marshall Fire
Sep 6, 2023
Our experts provided a detailed post-fire forensics investigation to determine the origin and cause of the incident, and a wildfire risk assessment to evaluate building performance during the fire.