Professor James Lygate

Jim’s extensive 30 year career has led to his position as the Principal Investigator at IFIC Forensics. After obtaining his BSc in Surveying, Jim studied Fire Engineering at the University of Edinburgh where he gained his MSc winning the Graviner Sword as top student.

As a Chartered Surveyor, his work has included project management and his consultancy work has involved him in a breadth of fire problems in the construction and other industries. These have included: Smoke Control in Airport Terminals, Fire Testing of Materials, Design of Fire Protection and Detection Systems, Escape Route Design and Fire Hazard Analysis.

Jim has conducted numerous investigations of fires on land and on ships and is particularly interested in arson and fires in engine compartments. His experience includes industrial, commercial and residential fires and explosions, electrical causes of fire, fires in vehicles. Jim is renowned in the industry for his expertise pertaining to ship fires and explosions.

An experienced author of reports for Insurers, Solicitors and Attorneys, Dr Lygate’s expert reports have been submitted to courts in the United States of America and the United Kingdom where he has given expert evidence in court on numerous occasions on behalf of clients and the Crown. Jim is also the author of numerous professional publications.