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STRUCTURAL ELEMENTS
The Critical Role of Professional Indemnity Insurance in Below-Ground Waterproofi ng
W ith the Building Safety has become Act
fundamentally transforming professional accountability, Professional Indemnity insurance in waterproofi ng essential,
even more
given the emphasis on the responsibilities of the dutyholders involved. For specifi ers navigating increasingly complex regulatory requirements, understanding the critical intersection between PI cover, professional competence, and waterproofi ng design has never been more vital.
The New Professional Liability Landscape The Building Safety Act represents the most signifi cant regulatory shift in construction since the 1980s, specifi ers as the
potentially positioning ‘principal designer’
dutyholders responsible for material compliance throughout a building’s lifecycle. This expanded accountability framework means waterproofi ng failures can expose specifi ers to substantial fi nancial risk. The
demand that specifi ers
Act’s competence requirements either demonstrate
specialist expertise or appoint suitably qualifi ed organisations. Where waterproofi ng falls outside proven competence or PI cover scope, professional responsibility mandates the engagement of a specialist. The emphasis on the ‘Golden Thread of Information’ – comprehensive digital records maintained throughout a building’s lifecycle – further underscores the importance of documented competence and appropriate insurance coverage.
Understanding Financial Exposure Waterproofi ng failures represent one of the highest-risk scenarios in construction. Unlike many building defects that present primarily aesthetic issues,
water ingress
can compromise structural integrity, create health hazards, and necessitate extensive and expensive remedial work, often requiring temporary relocation of occupants. The fi nancial implications extend far beyond immediate repair costs. Business interruption claims, consequential losses, and potential litigation can accumulate rapidly, with some waterproofi ng failures generating claims running into hundreds of thousands
of pounds. The Building Safety Act’s lifecycle
approach means even defects that emerge years after initial construction can potentially trigger claims, long after project completion.
Compliance with British Standards Compliance with British Standards represents another critical dimension of professional liability in waterproofi ng.
The Building
Safety Act reinforces the importance of adherence to established standards, creating clear accountability for specifi ers who deviate from recognised best practice without adequate justifi cation.
Current British Standards for waterproofi ng, including BS 8102:2022 for protection of below-ground structures against water ingress, provide detailed guidance on design principles,
material selection, and
installation requirements. Specifi ers who fail to adhere to these standards, or who specify non-compliant products, liability exposure.
face increased
The Strategic Value of Specialist Partnership
Given these challenges, partnering with
specialist waterproofi ng companies that carry comprehensive PI insurance represents a strategic approach to risk management. Newton Waterproofi ng, with over two
Ensuring Professional Protection For
specifi ers serious and specialist about managing
professional risk while delivering superior outcomes, the combination of appropriate PI insurance
partnership
represents the gold standard in contemporary waterproofi ng specifi cation. This approach ensures compliance with Building Safety Act requirements and provides robust protection for both the specifi er and the client.
01732 496 510 newtonwaterproofi
ng.co.uk
decades of continuous PI cover specifi cally for waterproofi ng design, enables specifi ers to transfer design responsibility to an organisation with proven competence and appropriate insurance coverage. Newton’s comprehensive approach includes expert support throughout the specifi cation process, from as early as Stage 0 of the RIBA Plan of Work. All relevant products also undergo independent third- party verifi cation to ensure compliance with relevant British Standards and Building Safety Act requirements,
providing documented
evidence of regulatory adherence. With over 175 years’ of history, and decades of experience between their industry- qualifi ed experts, Newton offers bespoke waterproofi ng design services backed by comprehensive PI policies.
WWW.ARCHITECTSDATAFILE.CO.UK
ADF OCTOBER 2025
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