AIS have been conducting forensic investigations and associated research into HAIL and MANUFACTURED HAIL damage to motor vehicles since the onset of the Sydney Hailstorm on 14 April 1999.

Since that time AIS have developed a comprehensive investigation process that covers a multitude of issues associated with the identification of manufactured HAIL damage.

Some of the major Australian hail storms we have investigated include:

• Sydney hailstorm – 14 April 1999, recorded as the most severe and costly hailstorm in Australian history, which contained large jagged hail up to 7cm in diameter, i.e. cricket ball size;
• Newcastle hailstorm – 31 October 2006, containing hail up to 4cm in diameter;
• Blacktown hailstorm – 9 December 2007, containing large jagged hail up to 7cm in diameter;
• Perth hailstorm – 22 March 2010, containing large hail up to 6cm in diameter;
• Melbourne hailstorm – 25 December 2011, containing hail up to 4cm in diameter.

We are informed that our Director, Mark George, was the first person in Australia to be qualified in a court of law (under vior dire), as an expert in the investigation and identification of manufactured hail damage.

Our investigation procedures include:

• Detailed storm event and vector research
• Vehicle orientation to hailstorm vector
• Detailed vehicle preparation and examination
• Identification of manufactured indentations
• Microscopy & photography of identations
• Detailed distribution analysis
• Preparation of comprehensive report