Roof Collapse Insurance Coverage and Load Test 2

[B16A2]

I think this is somewhat technical, so I'll try this forum. A decade ago, an owner hired an architect to modify a building that causes snow drift load on areas that weren't designed for snow drift. Everything over the 10 years of winters and snow is fine. Then a snowstorm that dumps snow EXCEEDING the code blows into town and brings the building down. A post collapse analysis shows the existing members didn't have strength to meet the code loading.

How would you expect the owner's property insurance to handle this? Knee jerk thought is "SOL owner", but could this fall under load test clauses in the code since it survived for 10 years of loading (that included snow loadings up to the code limits)?

 

[BAretired]

Brad, yes BC has something on this:

http://www.ag.gov.bc.ca/legislation/pdf/GreenPaper.pdf

I have not read it, but you can find more info by Googling "statute of limitations british columbia"

BA

 

[BAretired]

Brad,

On May 13, 2008, my firm was sued by the county in which I practiced for a report I wrote on Jan. 5, 1994. I would have thought that the Statute of Limitations would have limited my liability, but it seems the lawyers for the county do not agree.

Like your ex-boss, I am not thrilled about the ongoing lawsuit. My lawyer applied for dismissal on Sept. 7, 2010 and we are still waiting for the judge to render his decision.

BA