Engineering claims can involve more than one discipline.
For example, a building issue may involve allegations relating to:
- structural design
- civil works
- hydraulic design
- mechanical systems
- electrical services
- fire safety
- geotechnical advice
The insurer will generally look at the engineer’s actual scope of services and the allegations made against them.
This can involve reviewing:
- engagement agreements
- drawings and calculations
- project correspondence
- responsibility matrices
- subcontract arrangements
- work performed by other consultants
Where several consultants may have contributed to the loss, questions of causation and contribution can become important.
The fact that a project involved multiple engineering disciplines does not necessarily mean every allegation is the responsibility of one engineering firm.
Clear scopes and good project records can be particularly important when these disputes arise.
