Protek and ICF (and site surveys)

[Bancroft]

We took out Protek insurance in January before starting the build.

 

Their rep came and did his first planned visit in early June when we had all the rebar caging done just before the slab pour.

 

No issues highlighted by him when talking to him on site but a few weeks later we've had some clarification requirements arise that need resolving.

 

The first is that they want us to provide a '...manufacturer's design layout...' from the ICF provider.  Speaking with the architect, structural engineer, and builder (who is an ICF specialist) none of them have any idea what this is supposed to be. Has anyone come across this before and, if so, how did you respond?

 

The second issue is six months into the project they now insist on a site survey (now that the slab is down and the remaining garden looked like a re-enactment of the Somme).  Protek didn't ask for this at the start, the Planners didn't ask for one, the structural engineer didn't ask for one (they were happy with the geotechnical report we provided), and Building Control didn't ask for one.

 

I've asked for exactly what it is that they want but Protek say they can't answer my question because a) they don't provide any advice or guidance, and b) they're just passing on what the Auditor has asked for and have no additional information - but won't give me the Auditor's details.

 

I'm loathed to go out and randomly commission another report only to find it isn't what they want.

 

Anyone had experience of similar with Protek (or other insurers)?

[BotusBuild]

What did the builder work from when installing the ICF? The architects plans?

 

I presume the ICF manufacturer only provides a series of installation guides (PDF or Video).

 

The things I've mentioned are all that I had when we did our ICF walls, and some help on a couple of days when starting and during concrete pours

[JohnMo]

27 minutes ago, Bancroft said:

The first is that they want us to provide a '...manufacturer's design layout...' from the ICF provider.  Speaking with the architect, structural engineer, and builder (who is an ICF specialist) none of them have any idea what this is supposed to be. Has anyone come across this before and, if so, how did you respond?

Would suspect the product is the difficult basket from the reviewers perspective, i.e. no idea what they are looking at. Suspect a note stating the full structural engineering completed by Structural Engineer and reference his/her drawings.  Plus send the instructions from ICF provider.  I had to do with our building warrant.

[Bancroft]

9 minutes ago, BotusBuild said:

What did the builder work from when installing the ICF? The architects plans?

Yes, that's what we're going on, along with the inputs from SE for drainage runs etc.

We've got all the ICF manufacturer info (and have sent it to them) but that's just guidance for how to assemble/use the ICF and isn't a manufacturer's plan.

 

Bloody frustrating.

[BotusBuild]

As John said, send the SE design calls for the ICF walls

[Bancroft]

7 minutes ago, JohnMo said:

39 minutes ago, Bancroft said:

 

Would suspect the product is the difficult basket from the reviewers perspective, i.e. no idea what they are looking at.

I suspect this is the key problem as the way they're dealing with it is a real 'computer says no' type response - they can't answer intelligently because they don't know what they're talking about themselves.

 

They have emails from the SE saying that their design has taken into account the full geotech survey and been developed in accordance with NHBC guidelines for the soil types.  They have the geotech report itself, They have the architect's drawings.  What they don't have is an ounce of common sense.