Fire Damage Structural Surveys and Emergency Engineering Support
Fire damage can have serious and lasting consequences for buildings, even where damage initially appears limited. At Adkins Consultants, we provide specialist structural engineering services following fire damage, supporting property owners, insurers, and loss adjustors with emergency structural assessments, detailed structural surveys, and practical reinstatement advice.
Our focus is on safety, clarity, and proportionate decision making, helping clients understand the true extent of structural fire damage and the most appropriate path forward.
Structural Fire Damage, Hidden Risks and Long Term Impact
Fire can significantly reduce the strength and performance of structural materials. Steel can lose load bearing capacity when exposed to high temperatures, timber can char and lose effective section, and concrete and masonry can suffer cracking, spalling, and loss of bond. These effects are not always visible once a fire has been extinguished.
In addition, firefighting water can introduce secondary damage through saturation, corrosion risk, and potential foundation issues. Heat transfer can also affect structural elements beyond the immediate fire area, making professional structural assessment essential.
Emergency Structural Surveys After Fire
Following a fire, the immediate priority is safety. Adkins Consultants can attend site at short notice to carry out emergency structural inspections and advise on:
- The stability of the building and the risk of collapse
- The condition of loadbearing walls, frames, floors, and roof structures
- The need for temporary propping, shoring, or exclusion zones
- Safe access for insurers, loss adjustors, and investigation teams
Our emergency structural advice helps stabilise sites quickly and reduces risk during the early stages of a claim or investigation.
Post Fire Structural Damage Assessment
Once immediate risks have been managed, we undertake detailed structural surveys to assess the extent of fire damage and determine whether elements can be retained, repaired, or require replacement. These surveys typically include:
- Inspection of primary and secondary structural elements
- Identification of heat affected zones beyond visible fire damage
- Assessment of residual structural capacity
- Recommendations for intrusive investigations or material testing where appropriate
Our reports provide clear, evidence based conclusions that support insurance claims, reinstatement decisions, and building safety compliance.
Structural Engineering Support for Loss Adjustors and Insurers
We regularly work with loss adjustors and insurers, providing independent structural engineering advice following fire damage. Our role is to offer clear and defensible assessments that help distinguish between:
- Structural elements that can be safely retained
- Elements requiring repair or strengthening
- Elements that have suffered irreversible loss of structural integrity
This approach supports accurate claim valuations, reduces dispute risk, and avoids unnecessary demolition or over specification of repair works.
Fire Damage Repair and Reinstatement Advice
Where repair or reinstatement is viable, Adkins Consultants provide practical structural engineering solutions tailored to the building and the extent of fire damage. Our services include:
- Design advice for strengthening or replacing fire damaged structural elements
- Temporary works design to support safe repair and rebuilding
- Liaison with architects, contractors, and building control
- Advice focused on buildability, cost control, and programme certainty
We aim to deliver solutions that are safe, proportionate, and commercially realistic.
Why Choose Adkins Consultants for Fire Damage Assessments
Adkins Consultants are experienced in dealing with complex fire damaged buildings across residential, commercial, and industrial sectors. We understand the pressures faced by property owners, insurers, and professional teams following a fire, and we provide calm, senior led structural advice throughout the process.
Whether you require an emergency structural survey after a fire, a detailed post fire structural assessment, or expert input to support an insurance claim, Adkins Consultants can provide clear, reliable, and authoritative structural engineering support when it matters most.
Please give David King a call on 01622 236500 for an informal discussion.
