New restaurant

Expert advice provided  | Pre-action matter | Restaurant 

Background 

A Ridge M&E expert was engaged by solicitors to opine on various mechanical installations in a new fit-out of a prestigious restaurant. 

Of particular importance were the gas installations and mechanical ventilation; the expert investigated whether, in their opinion, the mechanical design and installation contractor carried out its duties with reasonable skill and care, including whether the handover documentation it provided was adequate. 

The expert considered: 

• Gas safety and gas installations, taking into account industry standards such as The Health and Safety at Work Act (HWSA), Construction (Design and Management) Regulations, Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations (DSEAR), and the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations (GS(I&U)R). 

• Kitchen ventilation, paying attention to DW 172: Specification for Kitchen Ventilation Systems and the provisions of BS-9999. 

• Kitchen canopy air flow measurements 

• Installation errors and defects and other visible defects. 

The expert concluded that the systems were not ready for Practical Completion and should not have been offered nor accepted for handover or operation. 

The expert’s comments allowed the client to resolve the dispute without recourse to formal proceedings.