Concept AW have been called on to assist and submit an Emergency Planning Application for the facade repair and redecorating to La Plaza Residential Apartments in Chiclana centre. The 45 year old building recently received a ‘Risk to Public Health Warning’ when part of the roofs soffit fell to the public footpath and road below, thankfully causing no harm.

From our visual inspection the soffit damage occurred from Interstitial condensation, causing corrosion and expansion to the roofs reinforcements and primary steel beam. This expansion in the steel members resulted in the surrounding concrete cover and render to explode from their bearings.

The key points to take away from this incidents are:

1. Robust waterproofing strategy to the entire building envelope, thus preventing water ingress to the structure.

2. The prevention of ‘cold bridging’ from an external to an internal environment by the introduction of sufficient thermally performing insulation.