Expertise / Apartment defects
Apartment defects remediation
Engineering for owners' management companies dealing with fire safety, structural and water ingress defects in apartment and duplex schemes, under the Interim Remediation Scheme and the legislation that follows it.
Between 1991 and 2013, 50% to 80% of apartments and duplexes were built with significant problems, such as those pertaining to fire safety, structural defects, and water ingress. Government has committed to a remediation scheme for them, with the Interim Remediation Scheme for fire safety defects already open and the Apartment and Duplex Defects Remediation Bill setting out the full scheme.
Through our sister company Fire Safety Consultants, AOCA is remediating apartment schemes throughout Ireland under the scheme. Our Managing Director, Philip O'Connell, specialises in fire safety assessment and remediation of multi-unit residential developments.
What the scheme covers
Apartments and duplexes built between 1991 and 2013 qualify where the problems happened because of faulty design, poor workmanship, or materials that did not meet the requirements of the Building Regulations in place when the properties were constructed. Fire safety defects are funded first through the Interim Remediation Scheme; structural and water ingress defects follow under the full scheme.
What AOCA does for an owners' management company
Fire safety assessment of the scheme, with a competent fire safety assessor, to establish the defects and the works required. Structural and water ingress investigation where those are also present. A scope of works and cost plan the scheme will fund. Design, procurement of a contractor, supervision of the works, liaison with the fire authority and the Housing Agency, and close-out with the certification the OMC needs.
Why an engineer-led team
Apartment defects rarely come one at a time. Missing fire-stopping sits behind the same walls as water ingress and the same floors as structural shortfalls. AOCA specialises in the management of building defect remediation projects, including pyrite, fire safety defects, water ingress, structural defects, façade defects and legacy construction issues, and manages the process from investigation through to close-out with one team.
Common questions
Our scheme has already started fire safety works. Can we still apply?
If you commenced addressing fire safety issues after 18 January 2023 you can be part of the scheme, subject to its conditions, including approval from the local fire authority before starting.
Who should instruct AOCA, the OMC or the managing agent?
Either. We usually work with the OMC board and its managing agent together, and report to the board.
Do you also do the fire safety assessment?
Yes, through Fire Safety Consultants, the AOCA sister company, which carries out the assessment and the fire engineering design.
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