The protocol specifies notice, attendance, sequencing of non-destructive examination before destructive steps, documentation requirements, and preservation of remaining material. Court approval is typically required.
Proceeding without agreement risks spoliation sanctions.
Alternative Names:
Testing Protocol (Products), Destructive Examination Protocol
Why it Matters?
Sequencing non-destructive examination first is the protocol's central function, since photography, radiography, and dimensional measurement must be complete and shared before any step that alters the evidence. Preserving sufficient material for the opposing party to conduct independent testing is what resolves most disputes over whether testing should proceed at all. Unilateral destructive testing has produced dismissal sanctions.
Frequently Confused with
Related terms
Frequently asked questions
What sequencing does the protocol require?
What resolves most disputes?
