Manchester Regional Manager and Chartered Engineer, Jonathan Emm and members of his team were recently invited to present to Aviva’s Domestic Major Loss Team at their office in Sheffield.
Welcomed by Danielle Jones, Domestic Major Loss Lead, our experts spent time sharing their knowledge across a range of topics including water ingress, escapes of water, fire investigation, and sudden glass failures.
Civil Engineer, Thomas Leyland, opened the presentations by discussing water ingresses in basements. Referencing the guidance and framework set out in the codes of practice, Thomas highlighted that basements, by their very nature, are prone to flooding, so following the correct guidance is vital to mitigate this risk. Thomas explained that a basement should have a defined grade of waterproofing, i.e. a review of how wet it can be, as well as what type of waterproofing should be provided, whether that be a barrier, integral to the structure or a cavity drainage system. He reviewed different property types, from high-value properties to extensions and new builds, discussing some of the common issues, such as absent or defective waterproofing, and issues with drainage. He concluded his presentation by sharing details of the services Hawkins can provide, including assessing the specifications, design installation and maintenance of waterproofing, before highlighting the parties involved, and the actions and potential for recovery if things go wrong.
Fire Investigator, Marie Hayward, then provided an overview of domestic fires. She discussed the stages of a domestic fire, from ignition to decay and provided an overview of the common causes. Marie gave an overview of a typical fire investigation process and how our experts would inspect a fire scene, before sharing some typical fire investigations that Hawkins has investigated, and including a case study of a fire in a domestic loft. Marie explained some of the patterns and clues our investigators look for when establishing the root cause of an incident, and how this can help to determine where liability lies.
Following Marie, Jonathan Emm discussed typical domestic plumbing systems and gave an overview of the types of failures that Hawkins typically investigates. Jon discussed the different types of pipes and joints commonly used in plumbing systems, including compression joints and push fit-fittings, before explaining why these systems can fail and how our investigators would approach an investigation to establish the root cause of the failure.
Dr Virginie Landais concluded the presentations by addressing sudden glass failures. Virginie provided an overview of glass types, how glass is manufactured and why these types of failures are important. Virginie explained that these incidents can often result in large losses, with access restrictions significantly adding to the cost of replacement, as cranes or abseilers may be needed to extract and replace the broken glass. She added that insurance policies often exclude cover for latent defects such as Nickel Sulphide (NiS), but explained that if the physical evidence is available for examination, there is a good chance of proving the root cause of the issue and in turn, this may help in establishing liability.
It was a pleasure to present to the Domestic Major Loss Team, and we would like to thank Aviva for hosting us and for the opportunity to share our expertise. Our investigators regularly present to organisations, offering an insight into our expertise and the services we offer. If you would like us to present to your organisation or to investigate a failure, please contact us.
