Dangerous Structures
Ambrey Baker provides specialist advice on dangerous and damaged structures within industrial, manufacturing and temperature-controlled facilities.
Our service is led by Paul Waldeck, Chartered Engineer and Expert Witness, who has 40 years of experience across the design, construction, investigation and recovery of complex industrial facilities when things have gone wrong.
We support building owners, tenants, operators, insurers, loss adjusters, solicitors, contractors and consultants following structural incidents or where there are concerns about the safety, stability or performance of a structure.
Our work is concentrated within Ambrey Baker’s core sectors:
- Food and drink manufacturing
- Cold and chilled storage
- Distribution and logistics
- Pharmaceutical and regulated manufacturing
- Advanced and specialist manufacturing
- Industrial processing facilities
Dangerous Structure Investigations
Structural incidents require prompt, technically informed decisions. The immediate priorities are protecting people, controlling access, preventing further collapse, preserving evidence and determining whether operations can continue safely.
Each instruction is approached according to the circumstances of the incident, the condition of the structure and the operational requirements of the facility.
Immediate Structural Response
Following an incident, Ambrey Baker can attend the facility to provide an initial assessment and advise the client team on the measures required to control the risk.
Our initial response can include:
- Visual and intrusive structural inspection
- Identification of immediate hazards
- Advice on exclusion zones and access restrictions
- Assessment of the potential for further or progressive collapse
- Recommendations for temporary propping, shoring or restraint
- Identification of areas where controlled operations may continue
- Advice on protecting and preserving physical evidence
- Coordination of specialist surveys, testing and monitoring
- Preparation of an initial structural condition report
- Development of a staged investigation and recovery plan
Where access to the affected structure presents a risk, we can develop an inspection strategy using remote cameras, drones, laser scanning, access platforms or controlled opening-up works.
Fire and Explosion Damage
Fire and explosion incidents can affect the strength, stability and serviceability of several parts of an industrial building.
Our investigations can consider:
- Distortion and loss of strength in structural steelwork
- Heat damage to concrete, reinforcement and connections
- Damage to masonry walls and compartmentation
- Displacement of cladding, roofing and insulated panels
- Failure of fixings, restraints and secondary steelwork
- Blast loading and local impact damage
- The potential for progressive structural failure
- Temporary stability requirements
- Repair, strengthening or replacement options
We work with the client’s legal, insurance, engineering and operational teams to establish the extent of the damage and the steps required to make the facility safe.
Structural Collapses
We provide independent technical investigation following the partial or complete collapse of:
- Structural frames
- Roof structures
- Suspended floors
- Mezzanine floors
- Access platforms
- Storage systems
- Cladding and envelope systems
- Internal panel walls and ceilings
- Secondary steelwork and support systems
- Overloading
- Lack of provision for horizontal loads (e.g. forces on pipe bends, wind bracing)
The investigation may examine the original design, construction records, loading history, subsequent alterations, inspection and maintenance arrangements, previous damage and the sequence of events leading to the collapse.
Our objective is to establish the likely mechanism and cause of failure using the available physical, documentary and witness evidence.
Specialist Composite Panel Ceiling Investigations
Composite insulated panel ceilings are a particular area of Ambrey Baker’s dangerous structures practice.
These systems are widely used within cold stores, chilled facilities, food factories and temperature-controlled production areas. Their structural arrangement can include insulated panels, suspension systems, secondary steelwork, hangers, fixings, walkways and extensive mechanical and electrical services.
Failures may involve:
- Inadequate or defective ceiling support systems
- Failure of hangers, fixings or secondary steelwork
- Excessive panel spans
- Loads exceeding the original design assumptions
- Plant, pipework, cable trays or services supported from the ceiling
- Uncontrolled access onto panel ceilings
- Changes to designated access routes
- Additional loads introduced during maintenance or alteration works
- Corrosion within concealed ceiling voids
- Condensation
- Water ingress and ice accumulation
- Damage around penetrations and service openings
- Differential movement between the building frame and ceiling
- Removal or alteration of structural supports
- Inadequate inspection and maintenance arrangements
We examine the complete ceiling system and the loads imposed upon it. This includes the panels, primary and secondary supports, suspension components, access arrangements, service installations and any alterations made since construction.
Our experience of cold stores and food factories allows the investigation to consider the structural issues alongside hygiene, fire performance, temperature control, access, production and business-continuity requirements.ire replacement.
Independent Expert Witness Services
Paul Waldeck acts as an Expert Witness and independent technical adviser in investigations involving dangerous structures, structural failures and industrial construction.
Instructions may arise from:
- Claims arising from interruption to manufacturing or storage operations
- Emergency situation
- Investigation into a failure and remedial action required
- Contractual Disputes
- Litigation
- Arbitration
- Adjudication
- Mediation
- Insurance and business interruption claims
- Professional negligence allegations
- Defective design or workmanship
- Recovery and remedial costs
- Disputes concerning responsibility for an incident
Expert witness services can include:
- Independent site inspection
- Review of drawings, designs, specifications and calculations
- Review of construction and maintenance records
- Analysis of photographs, video footage and monitoring information
- Assessment of physical and documentary evidence
- Evaluation of failure mechanisms
- Technical causation analysis
- Identification of departures from the required standard of care
- Preparation of independent expert reports
- Technical Adjudication instructed by a party or multiple parties, jointly.
- Advice to solicitors, counsel, insurers and client teams
- Participation in expert meetings and technical discussions
- Assistance with questions, responses and joint statements
- Attendance at hearings or court where required
The expert’s opinion is based on the available evidence, relevant technical requirements and professional engineering judgement.
Who We Support
Our dangerous structures and expert witness services are available to:
- Building owners and occupiers
- Manufacturing and logistics operators
- Insurers and loss adjusters
- Solicitors and barristers
- Main contractors and specialist contractors
- Consulting Engineers and Architects
- Landlords and tenants
- Investors, funders and purchasers
- Facilities management providers
Discuss a Dangerous Structure or Structural Incident
Early technical advice can assist with risk control, evidence preservation and the development of an effective investigation strategy.
For an initial confidential discussion, contact:
Paul Waldeck
Chartered Engineer and Expert Witness
Email: paul.waldeck@ambreybaker.co.uk
Ambrey Baker Industrial Solutions Ltd
Telephone: 01529 300013
Email: enquiries@ambreybaker.co.uk
Where a structure presents an immediate risk to people, isolate the affected area and contact the emergency services or relevant authority before arranging an engineering assessment.
LIFECYCLE SUPPORT
Leading Specialists in Industrial Facilities
From early-stage consultancy & design, to Hard FM, repair, refurbishment, reconfiguration, capital works & decommissioning. We support essential facilities that need to remain safe, compliant & operational throughout their working life
Related Case Studies
-
Supporting a Growing Brazilian Street Food Producer Into Its First Large-Scale Manufacturing Facility
Case Study Supporting a Growing Brazilian Street Food Producer Into Its First Large-Scale Manufacturing Facility Client: Confidential Duration: 6 Weeks Location: East…
-
Executing Critical Fire Separation Works Within a Live Pharmaceuticals Facility
Case Study Executing Critical Fire Separation Works Within a Live Pharmaceuticals Facility Client: Confidential Duration: 4 Weeks Location: North West, UK Year:…
-
End-to-End Factory Fit Out for a Major Ingredients Producer
End-to-End Factory Fit Out for a Major Ingredients Produce Client: Confidential Duration: 22 Weeks Location: Holme Farm, Swineshead Year: 2025 Value: Undisclosed…