Industrial Plant, Steel Fabrication

Expert adviser | Steelwork fabrication | Interrogation of design changes

Background 

The project itself related to an industrial facility in Australia that was being constructed.  This expert was instructed on behalf of the designer to opine on issues relating to steelwork fabrication, specifically: 

• The fabrication process; 

• The extent to which fabricators were progressing reasonably; 

• Whether delays were due to late issue of design information, the fabricators not working efficiently/not enough fabricators, or both. 

The expert worked closely with delay experts, providing information required.  The expert interrogated the planned rates of fabrication and where these were different from the actual rates, investigated how such differences were influenced by the design.  The expert investigated fabrication models using Tekla to identify when there was sufficiently detailed design information to start fabricating. 

The expert also examined the results of the change from a bolted-on-site structure to a modularised structure that was largely welded together off site before being transported.  This change had a large effect on shipping and logistics, and was a large part of the expert’s investigations. 

The expert provided reports and attended experts’ meetings. 

Feedback 

The instructing solicitor commented:

[Ridge expert] was extremely professional, knowledgeable and demonstrated a technical ability that was of the highest order. [Expert] clearly, had a grasp of detail which was incredibly helpful for me. [Expert] was able to propose lines of cross-examination that were, ultimately, very successful at the hearing and which demonstrated why the opposing side’s technical expert was not adopting a reasonable approach. [Expert] was also very responsive….