Is your restoration up to spec?
December 1st 2007 With complaints over shoddy restoration work pouring in after the recent floods, the National Flood School says all parties involved should get hold of BSI PAS 64
The National Flood School says complaints about shoddy restoration work have poured in since the recent floods.These include:
- Unacceptable time lapse between telephoning insurance company and subsequent contact from contractor
- Appointments not being kept
- No drying equipment available when contractor does arrive
- Machines when delivered not properly installed with RCDs or written instructions of how to use
- Removal of all ground floor material like suspended floors unnecessarily
- Attempting to dry dense bricks below damp course in areas like Hull with very high water tables - which are always wet
- Contractors not sensitive to personal needs
- Labour on site with not speaking English
- No technical labour on site
- No risk assessments
- No method statements
- Machines delivered straight from DIY stores,which are of low value and not fit for purpose
- Mould growth ignored and not properly dealt with
- Spraying chemicals with out permission or supplying MSDS sheets
To avoid getting lawyers involved, the NFS says all involved should familiarise themselves with the PAS 64 document that it helped the BSI produce.
The publicly available specification, on which both Chris Netherton Junior and Senior were technical authors, details exactly what should be undertaken by restoration contractors, providing an industry code of practice and management/reference tool for contractors, insurers and policy holders.
It's available from either the BSI or The National Flood School and costs £32.Any contractor working to the specification is considered to be outperforming current average practice. More articles from National Flood School: | 
