Roland OBrien-Bills, P.E. MSc.:
Chief Investigator, Forensic Engineer, and Registered Prof. Engineer
Master of Science in Safety Engineering
Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering
Associate of Science in Math Science


Past Experiences : Summary

Roland OBrien-Bills, PE is the founder and President of AIS Accident Inspection Specialists, Inc. that operates under the names of AIS Forensic Engineering, AIS Engineering, and AIS Pacific Testing & Laboratory Services. The companys services are: 1) Engineering, 2) Forensic Engineering 3) Risk Engineering, 4) Technical Training, 5.) Inspections, and 6) Metallurgical Laboratory.

Mr. OBrien-Bills is the creator of risk-based software for boilers and pressure vessels titled Equalizer Risk Assessment that was published in 2001.

He has completed over 10,000-inspections of boiler and pressure vessels; +1,000-repairs/authorizations for boilers and pressure vessels; +5000-fabrication inspections made on pressure vessels from various manufacturers and boilers; +100-investiagtions [major investigations listed below since 1990] and near misses, and trained +100 students.

Mr. OBrien-Bills has 20 years experience in both Boiler and Machinery Insurance industry and Risk and Inspection industries. He has been a Senior Specialist & Investigator and Supervisor for two of the worlds largest boiler and machinery insurance companies- Hartford Steam Boiler Inspection and Insurance Company [HSB] & Factory Mutual Engineering [FM Global]. Mr. OBrien-Bills provided expertise in training from Air Conditioning to Refrigeration, to Boiler and Pressure Vessel Codes, to Electrical Machinery for HSB in the NY-Regional Office. Worked in 25% of the jurisdictions in U.S. and some overseas (Europe and Latin America)

Mr. OBrien-Bills has worked as an independent Third Party quality assurance inspector reviewing designs, drawings, construction, fabrications, materials, assembly, testing, and nondestructive testing, with inspection in the following facilities that manufactured or repair boilers, pressure vessels, and piping. In addition, worked as a Third Party for a manufacturer and foundry of cast iron with foundry 1980-1984. In all, six firms either manufactured and or made field installations/repairs 1980-1984 to boilers and pressure vessels.

Mr. OBrien-Bills was the advisor to the Dearborn Free Press (Detroit News) on Rouge Steel Boiler Explosion March 1999.


Publications, Papers and Presentations:

A Steam Boiler Explosion Investigation: What Could Go Wrong Did Roland O'Brien-Bills, Fourth-Quarter 2002, The Explosions, an AIS Publication, Gloversville NY (Re-print)
Boiler, Pressure Vessel, and Machinery Lay-up Roland OBrien-Bills, Third-Quarter 2002, The Explosions, an AIS Publication, Gloversville NY
Benchmarking MAINTENANCE PRACTICES at North American Paper Mills Jerry Kahn PE [Siemens], Mickey Bevis [Smurfit-Stone], Michael Hayes PE [Matrix Risk Consultants], Roland O'Brien-Bills PE [AIS], and Bill Rodrigue [Fluor Engrs], August 2002, Solutions, TAPPI & PIMA Publications, Atlanta GA.
A Steam Boiler Explosion Investigation: What Could Go Wrong Did Roland O'Brien-Bills, March 2002, Hydrocarbon Engineering, Palladian Publications, London UK.
Risk Engineering and Engineers Roland O'Brien-Bills, November 2000, p.22, Consulting Specifying Engineer, Cahners, Des Plains IL.
Chemical Bulk Storage Act: Are Your Inspections In Compliance (April 2000 Empire TAPPI Conference) regarding API-653
Development of Paper Machine Dryer Inspection Guidelines Written and Being Presented By Roland OBrien-Bills at the TAPPI Engineering Conference 2000. Co-authored with Nancy Hoffman, Vice President, Thielsch Engineering, Inc., and Richard H. DeWolf, Sr. Engineer, Thielsch Engineering, Inc.
Catastrophic Failure Rates of Dryers (April 2000 Empire TAPPI Conference)
Thesis on: Steam Heated Rotating Dryers: Designing with Failures in Mind
Guidelines for Inspection and Nondestructive Examination of Paper Machine Dryers TIP 0402-16. As a contributing author & Chairman. 1999
Thesis on: Accident Investigations on Machinery Using MORT: Is MORT A Better Way


Diplomas and Certificates:

National Board of Boilers and Pressure Vessel Commission
American Petroleum Institute API-510 Pressure Vessels
American Petroleum Institute API-653 Aboveground Storage Tanks
Commonwealth of Massachusetts Boiler & Pressure Vessel Commission
Commonwealth of Virginia Boiler & Pressure Vessel Commission
State of Maine Boiler & Pressure Vessel Commission
State of New Hampshire Boiler & Pressure Vessel Commission
NFPA Sprinkler Inspection Certificate
Hellier NDT Training in PT, MT, and UT
Nondestructive Examination Inspectors Certificate Ultrasound II
Nondestructive Examination Inspectors Certificate Magnetic Particle II
Nondestructive Examination Inspectors Certificate Dye Penetrant II
Nondestructive Examination Inspectors Certificate Thermography III
Gas Turbine Institute


Affiliations:

National Council of Examiners Engineers and Surveyors Mechanical Engineer Committee [Volunteer]
National Society of Professional Engineers
American Society of Mechanical Engineers
American Society of Chemical Engineers
American Society of Safety Engineers
American Society of Nondestructive Testing
National Fire Protection Association
National Association of Corrosion Engineers
American Institute of Chemical Engineers
TAPPI Co-Chairman on Maintenance & Mechanical Engineering committee Member on Mill Maintenance. 2000-2001
TAPPI Corrosion & Materials Engineering Task Group Co-Chairman Dryer Information Forum (Rotating Pressure Vessels). 2000-2001
TAPPI Corrosion & Materials Engineering Task Group Chairman for Inspection Guidelines for Paper Machine Dryers (Rotating Pressure Vessels) standard. 1998-2001
TAPPI Corrosion & Materials Engineering Task Group team member for the development of a new technical information paper for inspection guidelines for aboveground storage tanks. 2000
Eastern District Empire State TAPPI Scholarship Chairman for the Grant & Heidi Cole Scholarships 5-$1000 annually. 1999-2001


AIS Pacific Testing and Laboratory:

AIS Pacific Testing Laboratory is located in our Home Office specialiszing in forensic engineering and failure analysis. The laboratory can identify material, examine fractured surfaces, complete metallography [photographs of microstructure], test pressure switches and guages, handle chain of custody, and store evidence.

In addition, we have experts in Lasers and materials.