Desmonde Associates were called to a School in Truro after a partial collapse of a roof in one of its structures and the concern was that the prefab structure was also unsafe.

Thankfully no children were in the building during the collapse during the weekend. The building formed part of a Special Education Needs (SEN) building within the grounds of the School in Truro – it is also used as a dance studio.

A team of structural experts from Desmonde Associates went to site to carry out a visual appraisal and provide advice on probable cause of the collapse. The site visit was required to propose appropriate temporary works needed to ensure the safety of the structure and to prevent any further collapse.

“Our team has more than 40 years of relevant experience in design and construction, and we always strive to provide our clients with a tailored solution for their needs. We regularly undertake building investigations and provide Expert Advice on the cause of construction failures and disputes,” said Adam Desmonde BSc MSc, Managing Director of Desmonde Associates.

After the site survey had been completed, we issued a detailed report which included our initial findings, recommendations for further works and all services needed to assist the school in delivering an appropriate remedial solution.

How our appraisals services are approached

Stage 1: Initial Appraisal

· Visit the site and carry out an in initial Visual Structural Appraisal and issue a report with recommendations on further and more detailed investigations with “opening-up” works as appropriate, to assess the nature of the existing structural arrangement (load bearing elements and framing)

· Review the original design

· Propose immediate Temporary Works to ensure safe support of the structure

· Issue a final report on the findings together with recommendations and proposal for proceeding to the next stages of reconstruction

Stage 2: Expert Report

· Our expert report gives our client a clear understanding of where any failures occurred and the route to resolving the issues raised. This can be used by clients’ legal teams, insurers, and also any framework partners to take appropriate action.

Stage 3: Soft landings and technical Design (Building Regulations and tender Documents)

· We support our clients all of the way through the process of returning their structures back to full use, this includes planning, detailed design and managing construction contracts

If you require any assistance with any of the above-mentioned services, please do give us a call on the number below or email us to see how we can help you with your next project.

Email: Adam@desmondeassociates.co.uk

Feel free to get in touch with one of the team on 01872 554227 or come and see us in our office at The Old Bank, 48 Vicarage Road, St Agnes, Cornwall, TR5 0TG.

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