CASE STUDY C

Clarifying Contractual Responsibility

The construction of a prominent central city high-rise office building was nearing completion, with the project set to conclude following the final testing and commissioning of its building services systems. Due to the building being completed in a sequence that enabled staged occupation, the rapid emergence of sick building syndrome (SBS) became concerning.

Initially, it was believed that the issue stemmed solely from the inadequate performance of the building’s heating, cooling, and ventilation systems.

This led to a dispute over contractual obligations, which quickly intensified and prompted an investigation into the newly installed services.

The client's primary objective was to determine which party might be held responsible for the requisite remedial actions and their associated costs.

Sick Building Syndrome (SBS) can significantly affect a wide range of occupants and disrupt various business operations if not addressed quickly and appropriately.

Additionally, if remedial works and investigations to assess the extent of the issues are not conducted promptly, the impact can be even more severe.

Her report provided the necessary information to significantly reduce the need for escalation of the dispute, and helped end the rapidly increasing legal costs and consultation expenditure.

The detailed report produced by Victoria identified the fundamental compounding factors that contributed to the SBS, enabling the client’s legal team to delineate the parties responsible for the remedial costs.

Evidence based engineering analysis is essential for resolving disputes pertaining to contractual responsibilities, and for pursuing the recovery of expenses.

The client expressed their gratitude for Victoria’s exemplary and insightful report, praising its comprehensiveness and its role in providing clarity to a complex and convoluted problem.

The client was able to confidently and effectively pursue the recovery of expenses and reach a resolution to the dispute.

Victoria’s expertise was sought to conduct a comprehensive building assessment, leading to an authoritative analysis to identify the complex issues involved.

She developed her investigation of the relationship between the construction elements and the complex systems forming the design, which was crucial for pinpointing and assessing specific shortfalls and deficiencies within the design and the installed systems.