Wentworthville insurance claim

A large section of a child care centre’s boundary land had collapsed. Construction works were underway on the neighbouring property and a claim was made against its owner and contractor for damage to the adjacent child care centre. We were engaged to assess the condition of the child care centre’s buildings following the collapse. 

It was clear the neighbouring property was constructing its boundary retaining wall when the collapse occurred. Our engineer observed no obvious or unexpected loading from the child care centre in the zone of the collapse and it was evident a construction- or design-related failure had occurred at the adjacent site. He found the collapse had caused fencing to fall down, ground surface to subside and artificial turf to undulate, shade cloths to rip and support poles to displace at the child care centre.

However, he found no structural damage to the centre’s buildings, with no evidence of cracking or displacement of the structural walling and flooring. The buildings were stable and had not yet been affected by the collapse. He warned that further ground movements could occur and may shift the building foundations, however rectification works on the neighbouring site would make this unlikely.

Acumen Engineers regularly provides engineering and building advice to insurance companies and loss adjustors on claims of damage to domestic and commercial properties.

Photograph by Anthony Fowler