Structural Forensic Investigations

Structural engineering site investigations are required to analyze the structural issues or failures of structural elements/building material.

The structural issues can be avoided by analyzing, designing and constructing different elements of the building to Australian Standards and National construction code. However, sometimes, the other factors such as extreme weather conditions, fire, termite attack, etc. can lead to structural damages that cannot be quantified during the analysis and design phase.

In many cases, poor construction practice and negligent in the design can also lead to structural damages or failure. In these kinds of cases, an experienced structural engineer can identify the cause of the failure and recommend appropriate solutions.

At SNG Engineers, we have several years of experience in dealing with all different kinds of structural issues and recommending effective solutions.

Types of Structural Engineering Forensic Investigations Services Provided By SNG Engineers

PRE-PURCHASE STRUCTURAL INVESTIGATIONS

Buying a property is a major decision and you do not want any unforeseen expenses related to fixing the property. During the building and pest inspection, a building inspector may recommend consulting a structural engineer for structural issues in their reports. At this point, you may want to get a structural engineer to inspect and advise you on what to do next. Most of the times, the issues are not that big to get a full forensic engineering formal reports, verbal advice with an email may be sufficient as you may not want to spend a lot of money in the property that you may or may not buy.

At SNG Engineers, we provide a special affordable service for this kind of pre-purchase inspections with an engineer’s site visit and a comprehensive email report. Our emails are very detailed with an RPEQ signature and photos and covers every aspect of the instigation including but not limited to observations, possible causes and recommendations.

FORMAL STRUCTURAL INVESTIGATIONS FOR INSURANCE OR QBCC PURPOSES

In several cases due to either extreme weather conditions or poor construction practice or negligence in design, the structure may experience structural damages or failure which may lead to either insurance claim or QBCC claim.

At SNG Engineers, we have several years of experience in preparing reports for insurance companies and for builders and homeowners for the QBCC claims. We provide all detailed information in our report including slab spot levels, council searches and any other possible information required to reach to the root cause of the failure.

DILAPIDATION REPORTS

Dilapidation reports include a detailed photographic record throughout the property. It is mainly carried out mainly before major construction work starts either in the subject property or to the adjacent properties. The main reason to carry out a dilapidation report is to ensure that no structural issues are arising from the recent construction work.

At SNG Engineers, we have several years of experience in preparing detailed dilapidation reports for builders and homeowners to reduce risk and liabilities.

Many times, a dilapidation report is confused by a building defect reports. The building defects report is not a dilapidation report, rather it is a report to identify building defects such as waterproofing, sagging ceiling etc. You do not need a structural engineer for building defects to report a building inspector can prepare building defects reports.