Testing a flood damaged property, usual process?

[S P]

Good evening all, I hope everyone has been enjoying the long weekend!

I have been asked by a surveyor client of mine to inspect, test and provide a detailed recommendation report on a property that has just been converted into two high spec apartments and while on the market suffered a leak to the sprinkler system which went un-notice for 2-3 days causing considerable damage.

Initially I thought this is a little out of my comfort zone, but have now come up with a plan and wanted to find out from others who may have experience of this kind of work.

What tests would you carry out?
What information would you include in report?
What would be your typical recommendations?
Would you add a note to protect you from future liability, i.e. item fine when tested but not liable for future premature failure..?


At the moment I'm thinking of suggesting the following:
Request a copy of the electrical drawings which should be available on a project as this completed recently.
Carry out 100% internal inspection of accessories and terminations (or agreed percentage excluding areas unlikely to be affect)
Then mark on the drawings each point - pass, fail or questionable.
For the appliances, carry out PAT testing.
Function test everything (excluding visually damaged)

I doubt it's worth carrying out circuit test?
I would have thought I'd recommend all connections to be re-made?

I would add a note to state - equipment and accessories fine at the time of testing however no liability for reduced product lifespan. Also consider product warranties may be invalid after flood damage.

What do you think?
Thank you

 

[buzzlightyear]

Hope it wasn't you GUILTY@buzzlightyear that put those cables in the joists and didn't follow building regs?

guilty .

 

[The Ghost]

Thinking about it you could avoid disclaimer by re-wiring and engender more confidence without the disclaimer. If you have any doubt then why do it that way? I think also humour aside the report would be more verbose as people want to know why you are recommending a full re-wire. Tests and inspection which is usually the larger part would confirm the need and justify recommendations.

 

[Octopus]

You couldn’t second guess the outcome of any EICR .....

Your recommendation could simply be a retest once the house has dried out .....

 

[Marvo]

Insurance companies won't pay for a blanket rewire for flooded premises in this neck of the woods. Last time I quoted for this their loss adjuster refused point blank but in doing so the responsibility for future wiring issues became his and not mine.

 

[S P]

I'm being asked to report by the surveyor.
I presume the reason he hasn't asked the original contractor is for third party independent views.. Therefore I doubt I would be able to benefit from the works recommend, although it is my plan to try.
I still fell re-wire is extreme.

Vortigern, "if the walls etc. are off it is not a big deal to replace cable so maybe a rewire."
I disagree, on this level of spec it is a considerable cost difference if not necessary.

 

[Octopus]

Matey .... just get on site and do an EICR ...... submit with invoice and move on .....

 

[littlespark]

An EICR is pointless at this stage, and the surveyor/main contractor/ insurance co know it.
Live tests are a no no.
Even if your IR read ok, damage can be caused to cables during rip out. Visual inspection beforehand, then during works before walls go back up.
EICR or full test once complete? Im going full test on mine as I changed the DB

 

[telectrix]

and what plant are you from!

he's from a Triffid:

 

[Wilko]

I bet the people who put in the sprinkler system are already buying tickets to a non extraditable country.

I had thought that sprinkler systems had connection to the fire alarm so if they went off they couldn't do so "on the quiet" (?).

 

[Wilko]

exactly my thinking behind the disclaimer - fine now but who knows how long for... probably not the rated 25- 50,000 hrs!

Agree, I'd replace them. The original warranty won't be honoured now, I bet.

 

[Squid]

Advise to install a system that detects water leaks from the sprinkler system, where is the build and why have a water fire suppression system?

 

[Pete999]

Agree, I'd replace them. The original warranty won't be honoured now, I bet.

Move the Family out to safe accomodation, remove all the accessories, leave it for a week portable A/C units fed from a temp supply, comeback, retest the insall, repair any concerns, retest again, not rocket science really.