Fire damage can leave a building requiring urgent structural repair.
Where the affected property shares walls, floors or roofs with neighbours, the Party Wall Act may become relevant to the reconstruction works.
Emergency situations, however, need to be distinguished from planned building work.
Make the building safe first
Where there is an immediate danger to people or property, emergency safety measures may be required.
The priority should be securing the building and following advice from appropriate emergency, structural and local authority professionals.
The Party Wall process should not prevent necessary emergency action.
Permanent rebuilding is different
Once the immediate danger has been controlled, the permanent reconstruction should be assessed properly.
Works might include:
- rebuilding party walls;
- replacing structural floors;
- replacing roof structures;
- installing new beams;
- demolishing unstable sections; or
- strengthening surviving structures.
Some of these may fall within Section 2.
Flats can involve party structures
Fire damage in flats may affect floors or ceilings separating different ownerships.
These can constitute party structures under the Act.
Insurance does not replace Party Wall procedures
Insurers and loss adjusters may be heavily involved after a fire.
However, insurance approval does not automatically remove statutory Party Wall requirements for permanent works.
Reinstatement may not replicate the original construction
Modern Building Regulations can sometimes result in a repaired structure being built differently from the original.
The final Party Wall assessment should therefore consider the proposed reconstruction, not simply what existed before the fire.
Simple Survey can assist
Fire-damaged properties can involve several owners, insurers and consultants.
Where permanent structural rebuilding affects shared structures, Simple Survey can review the proposals and advise how the Party Wall process should be handled.