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Engineering Inspections Insurance from BGP
   

Engineering Inspection and Insurance

If you are responsible for managing a block of flats, you are required by law to ensure that equipment such as lifts, boilers and window cleaning gantries are inspected regularly and are well maintained. Even where specific legislation does not apply, plant and equipment may be subject to Health & Safety guidance notes.
We can negotiate a policy written for your building which will cover the costs of professional inspection of vulnerable equipment specified by you. It will also cover you for unforeseen breakdown and damage.

    
         

What is covered?
Sudden and unforeseen damage
Breakdown, explosion and collapse
Accidental damage
Debris removal
Temporary removal
Claims preparation costs
Avoidance of impending damage
Up to £250,000 for each incident

Does all this legislation apply to
residential flats?
YES! The Provision and Use of Work Equipment
Regulations 1998 and the Lifting Operations and
Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998 were written
primarily with the workplace in mind, but blocks of
flats, because they have common areas, fall under
their remit.
The Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations
1994 (as amended) place duties on consumers,
installers, suppliers and landlords.

What do the inspectors do?
The engineer or surveyor carries out statutory
and non-statutory examinations. In a block of
flats statutory examinations typically cover lifts,
window cleaning gantries, pressurised boiler
systems, electronic installations etc.

Non-statutory examinations cover equipment
not governed by specific UK or EU legislation
(although it may be the subject of Health and
Safety Executive guidance notes). Eg: play
equipment and swimming pool pumps.

After an examination is completed, clients
receive a report detailing the items of
equipment and recording their condition. The
report identifies any defects and will make
recommendations for repair.

Are the inspectors’ recommendations
mandatory?
Where legislation is concerned, the answer is
obviously yes. In addition, your insurance cover
will be invalid if you choose to ignore the
inspector’s recommendations.

Do I really need this cover?
Unless you are fully confident that your service
charge budget can cover the costs of
emergency repair work, we recommend that you
consider this insurance. If the worst happened,
you might not find that flat owners have much
patience if, for example, the central heating
boiler broke down in mid winter or the lift was
out of order for days or weeks.
Lastly, please remember that directors of the
management company could be held personally
liable if equipment failure causes injury.
Inspection and maintenance is essential.