We have the experience of providing Loss Assessing services to hundreds of clients with flood affected properties. In addition to representing flood damaged homeowners, we have also acted as Loss Assessors on commercial and industrial claims.
For residential flood claims and commercial flood claims, we consider your insurance claim entitlements to reinstate your property in line with current buildings regulations.
Frequently, insurance claim entitlements allow for rebuilding the flooded property to an improved standard, to achieve building regulation compliance.
In our role as Loss Assessors on flood claims, we advise our clients on the potential for flood water to become trapped within the floor structure of a property.
If not suitable addressed, such containment of flood waters within a property’s floor structure is likely to cause medium-long term damp / water damage issues, even after initial repair works are complete.
We have acted as loss assessors for many flood damage or leak damage clients where waters became trapped between radon barrier and DPM. On such cases, the claim must include for remediation of such issues.
We have specialised methods for assessment of atmospheric moisture content to assist evaluation of damage to contents, fixtures, fittings, and stock. Our methods are especially valuable in the assessment of fabrics and electronics which may have been in the presence of flood water but not in direct contact.
In assessing the extent of a flood damage claim, understanding the grade of water contamination is essential. Generally, all flood waters from an external source (i.e. not from internal plumbing), are classified as Category 3 or “Black Water” contamination.
Such water is deemed to have a high likelihood of being affected by sewage or other harmful materials such as agricultural effluents. “Black Water” is likely to contain harmful bacteria, chemicals or disease-causing organisms.
Due to the unsanitary nature of Category 3 flood water, it is our view that all affected porous materials must be disposed of.
Similarly, following encroachment of salt water into an insured building, we must consider the corrosive impact on the fabric of the affected building, especially all metal and electrical items.
To achieve a comprehensive settlement, it is important to attain a thorough understanding of the building specification and if necessary co-ordinate invasive investigations.
Commercial Food Claims
As Loss Assessors, our role on commercial flood claims includes management of business interruption losses. We have successfully managed Loss of Profit claims for many commercial clients
who suffered accessibility problems following flooding, despite their properties being undamaged. It is our role to see policy entitlements delivered to our clients in full.
We calculate our business interruption claims to compensate beyond the point of business re-opening.
Our business interruption claims are assembled with the objective of your business being compensated up to the point where revenues are restored to pre-incident/damage levels.
We have observed and attained financing for remediation of complex flooding issues such as:
- Dampness trapped between damp proofing layers within the building sub structure
- Structural subsidence upon withdrawal of flood waters
- Disintegration of certain types of floor insulation following saturation
- Damage to insulated cladding materials on commercial building due to prolonged submersion
- Stock, equipment and contents damage caused by atmospheric dampness despite not being in contact with flood water.
- Corrosion of IT and other electrical/mechanical items due to excessively damp atmospheric conditions
Regrettably, we regularly encounter resistance from insurance companies in dealing with what might be described as the hidden damages behind the visible disaster. Where such damages arise, we will co-ordinate the demonstration of such damages and the structuring of settlement terms accordingly.