diff --git a/extensions/openpower-pels/private_header.hpp b/extensions/openpower-pels/private_header.hpp
index 66126a0..9c522a2 100644
--- a/extensions/openpower-pels/private_header.hpp
+++ b/extensions/openpower-pels/private_header.hpp
@@ -12,6 +12,11 @@
 struct CreatorVersion
 {
     uint8_t version[8];
+
+    CreatorVersion()
+    {
+        memset(version, '\0', sizeof(version));
+    }
 };
 
 static constexpr uint8_t privateHeaderVersion = 0x01;
@@ -42,6 +47,17 @@
     /**
      * @brief Constructor
      *
+     * Creates a valid PrivateHeader with the passed in data
+     *
+     * @param[in] componentID - the creator's component ID
+     * @param[in] obmcLogID - the corresponding OpenBMC event log ID
+     * @param[in] timestamp - the creation timestamp, in epoch milliseconds
+     */
+    PrivateHeader(uint16_t componentID, uint32_t obmcLogID, uint64_t timestamp);
+
+    /**
+     * @brief Constructor
+     *
      * Fills in this class's data fields from the stream.
      *
      * @param[in] pel - the PEL data stream