Care Home, UK

Litigation | Expert produced an Advisory report | Matter settled following Mediation 

Background 

Fire safety defects were identified in a three storey timber framed care home clad in brick with a timber trussed roof.   

During 2021 and 2022 numerous inspections revealed various defects to the roof, external walls and internal walls involving fire safety, architecture, acoustics and the timber structure.  

A Ridge fire engineering expert witness was appointed by solicitors acting on behalf of the care home provider to consider the extent to which the defects were breaches of the Warranty and/or breaches by the supply chain  in relation to the Defective Premises Act 1972.   

The expert relied on his knowledge of the 2010 Building Regulations and Approved Document B, as well as his extensive technical experience, in the production of his advisory report.  

Further, the expert undertook a joint expert intrusive inspection of the building and summarised his findings clearly and concisely within his report. The report identified specific defects in relation to: 

• Incomplete and defective construction of compartment walls. 

• Missing cavity barriers. 

• Missing fire stopping to electrical sockets.  

• Ineffective sealing of penetrations through the cavity barrier in the roof space. 

• Incorrectly fitted fire dampers. 

• Lack of fire stopping to service penetrations. 

• Unsuitable fire door installation into the supporting wall.  

A review of the sprinkler system provision at the care home was also undertaken to assist the instructing solicitors and Counsel in addressing claims made by the defending parties on the suitability of its design.  

Feedback 

The instructing solicitors were “pleased to say” that the matter settled and said:

Many thanks for your assistance in bringing this matter to a successful conclusion.