Litigation support

ArchiFACT’s reliability is based on experience gained through hundreds of commissions, in diverse legal jurisdictions - investigating, collecting evidence and resolving over £30m worth of defects and a similar amount of wrongly alleged shortcomings in built work.

Dealing with building failures requires various degrees of familiarity with science, law and practice. ArchiFACT draws together key aspects from each to provide a coordinated approach to the prevention, diagnosis and cure of defects and the related aspects of legal remedy and liability.

Dispute resolution

If disputes arise, early assessment and the rigorous preparation of evidence hasten effective resolution. Most cases are settled satisfactorily ‘out-of-court’.

Expert evidence

Where this is not possible, ArchiFACT provides credible, authoritative and impartial expert evidence - assisting both client and tribunal.

Prevention: Faults in design and construction are often disruptive and always unnecessary. Each defect and dispute needs individual expert attention. Involving ArchiFACT at the outset can avoid wasted expenditure in later corrective action.

Starting with sound expert advice is the best way to control risk and avoid loss. If disputes arise, early assessment and the rigorous preparation of evidence will hasten effective resolution. Most cases are settled satisfactorily ‘out-of-court’.

Where this is not possible, ArchiFACT provides credible, authoritative and impartial expert evidence - assisting both client and tribunal.

Technical Audits & Building Defects Investigations

Identifying the Causes of Building Defects

Diagnosis is the essential first step in dealing with defects. It requires familiarity with the design and fabrication of a building combined with a thorough understanding of scientific investigation. Not until the causes and mechanisms of failure are understood can reliable decisions on remedies be made.

The efficient and effective investigation and correction of defects is often marred by failure to distinguish symptom and cause and the over enthusiastic starting of repairs before completing diagnosis.

ArchiFACT provides a methodical and scientific approach - the surest safeguard against embarrassing failure and abortive wasted cost.

Investigation starts with an objective study of the symptoms and proceeds methodically to look for underlying causes. The cardinal starting points for defects investigations are:

• Discard preconceptions,

• Adopt a systematic approach,

• Collect all available relevant data,

• Marshal the facts,

• Observe the chronology,

• Distinguish opinion from observation.

• Correct diagnosis provides a proper basis for cure and, where required, the allocation and apportionment of blame.

Curing Building Defects

Treating the symptom and not the cause often provides no more than short term relief. Eliminating every defect will correct the building’s performance but can be unnecessary. Stopping the mechanisms causing failure, can provide an effective remedy and mitigate cost.

To predict the effectiveness of any action to correct defects it is necessary to take account of building use, the causes of the defects and of the resultant damage.

A thorough investigation should lead to a prognosis which addresses such questions as:

• Are there benign faults which will not cause damage or impair performance?

• Are there malignant faults which will destabilise, compromise or otherwise degrade the building?

• Is the visible damage a manifestation of ongoing progressive failure or decay?

• Is appearance compromised?

• Is there a loss of amenity or performance?

• Is there a loss of value?

• Has structural or weather integrity been impaired?

The best remedy is found by balancing the detrimental effects of carrying out the work, the consequences of leaving the defects uncorrected and the benefits to be derived from intervention.

Your future success is a matter of ArchiFACT