One lot owner wishes to install 18 solar panels on the common property roof. Would it be reasonable to request certification from a structural engineer?
In a group of eight single storey strata dwellings, one owner wishes to instal around 18 solar panels. His roof is common property and the proposed size of the installation would cover most of the roof.
How do we get an infrastructure contract drawn up? How do we indemnify ourselves against future claims arising from loss or damage caused by the installation or its future removal? Would it be reasonable to request certification from a structural engineer that the roof can hold the weight with no potential for the installation to cause damage?
I would have to emphasise getting a structural engineer in any instance when you are putting that sort of load on a roof.
Bruce McKenzie, Sedgwick:
I would have to emphasise getting a structural engineer in any instance when you are putting that sort of load on a roof. People do have to understand that a lot of buildings, particularly modern day buildings, are built and designed pretty closely to what the design tolerances are. In other words, they're not over designed by 20, 30, 40% of what the standards asked for. Sometimes it's only a small amount over so what that means is if you impose a load on a roof, or a balcony or anything like that is significant, it can impact things structurally, so definitely would recommend getting structural advice on that one.
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Bruce McKenzie is National Manager for Commercial Services and Major Projects at Sedgwick's Building Consulting Division, the largest claims management corporation in the world. With over 36 years' experience as a licenced building contractor, Bruce has received multiple state building excellence awards and a National Building Award through Master Builders Australia.
Since joining Sedgwick a decade ago, Bruce has led the growth of its Commercial Services Division, managing major building projects nationally across the insurance and private sectors — including property damage, catastrophe events and large-scale remediation. He has acted as expert witness on high-profile litigation matters, most notably the Lacrosse Tower combustible cladding case, and served as Program Director for Cladding Safety Victoria, overseeing the recladding of over 40 buildings as part of the Victorian Government's $600 million rectification program. In 2022 he commenced a secondment as Program Director for Project Intervene with the NSW Office of the Building Commissioner, addressing serious defects in recently constructed buildings.
Bruce is a licensed builder in NSW, QLD, VIC and ACT, and holds an Advanced Diploma in Building & Construction Management and a Diploma of Project Management.
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