Throughout the last 35+ years HARTMAN ENGINEERING has been called upon to provide services to a variety of clients with specialized needs. Most often these clients have found themselves in an unusual and difficult set of circumstances. Solutions to these problems require the application of a variety of disciplines often used in imaginative ways.

• The Dingmans Choice and Delaware Bridge Company (Dingmans Bridge) owns and operates a toll bridge between Pennsylvania and New Jersey in the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area. The bridge was moved to this site from Horseheads, NY in 1900. It is a type of bridge known as a Phoenix Bridge and is constructed of wrought iron members.
  
  The Bridge Company decided in 1983 that it was necessary to institute a continuing process of inspection and repair. HARTMAN ENGINEERING was engaged to inspect the bridge in conformance with the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration procedures for Structure Inventory and Appraisal of the Nation's Bridges. Since that time the firm has conducted an annual inspection in June, designed the repairs in July and August, and monitored the repairs in September when the bridge is closed. We also work with the New Jersey Department of Transportation as the Bridge Company's representative, preparing reports and responding to questions as they arise.
  
  
• In June of 1972 topical storm Agnes brought torential rains to the northeastern United States creating serious flooding. During the flooding HARTMAN ENGINEERING assisted Jones Memorial Hospital in Wellsville, NY to monitor the integity of the building as the flood waters rose. On the advise of Dr. Hartman one wing was evacuated before it collapsed into the flooded Genessee River.
  
  After the flood there were continuing problems of settlement of the foundation. HARTMAN ENGINEERING established a monitoring system to ascertain the extent of the settlement and whether it was an ongoing problem. When it was determined that there was a potential for settlement to continue for some time, the firm designed a system using hydraulic jacks to raise the building columns while permanent shims could be placed under them. This ameliorated the problem and permitted the building to be leveled if the settlement continued.
  
  
• In Harrisburg, PA the Susquahanna River flooded a large are of the city. Among the buildings affected was a manufacturing plant owned by the Duplan Corporation. The insurers questioned whether the damage to the hardwood floor of the plant was caused by the flood waters or had been the result of cumulative wear from traffic in the factory.
  
  HARTMAN ENGINEERING conducted a series of tests both by labratory reconstruction of the conditions and field testing of the floors in place using ASTM testing procedures. An x-ray of a field sample was made which showed that the cut nails used to install the flooring had been pulled out of their installed position. It was concluded that the reason for this was the expansion of the wood caused by the soaking flood water which forced the nails out. Once the floors were dried the wood shrunk thereby compromising the holding ability of the nails. Based on this information the Duplan Corporation was able to successfully support their claim with the insurance carrier.