From a contractor’s arsenal, the use of heavy construction equipment and blasting are common and efficient means of tackling various work. At some point in time it is highly likely that these types of construction activities will be employed within an area close to you.
If you know that there will be a large construction project near your property - or if you are the construction company that will be heading up the project - it is diligent to hire a firm to conduct a pre-construction condition survey. A pre-construction survey is a thorough process that documents the condition of the property, or properties that may be impacted by the construction activity. Pre-construction condition surveys involve visual observation, photographic/video recording devices, and other diagnostics to report on the existing condition of the property prior to the start of construction.
The pre-construction condition survey not only serves the property owner in the case of identifying and confirming damage caused by vibration but also protects the construction company in avoiding unnecessary claims that could be propagated after the construction process.
While vibration can certainly be a nuisance, it is important to note that the human response to vibration can be extremely sensitive. Although sensitivity may vary widely, in general humans are able to feel vibration at a much lower intensity than that which might result in property damage. When people feel vibrations they often will inspect their properties and discover cracks or damage that were there before the vibration. Since they had not completed a close inspection of the property previously, they often think the cracks were caused by the vibrations.
Cracking within some finishes such as gypsum board installations and cast-in-place concrete material is not uncommon and can stem from shrinkage/swelling or temperature variations. Meanwhile, older buildings with plaster finishes and older construction materials may be more susceptible to vibration damage.
While the U.S. Bureau of Mines developed standards and thresholds for safe blasting and vibration levels, in some cases a determination of the vibration intensity must be estimated in consideration of equipment specifics, soil characteristics, and historical information. In each instance, the severity is analyzed with respect to distance and site specifics in order to determine whether the vibrations from a particular event were intense enough to cause damage to property.
If you believe that your insured property may have sustained damage due to vibration-related sources, or if you are facing a claim that your project caused damages, CCA can assess the damages to determine whether or not a claim is justified in a few ways:
CCA is ready to assist insurers, contractors, developers, and property owners in the investigation and analysis of vibration-related claims. If you have concerns about possible property damage due to vibration-related sources, contact CCA. We have experience investigating these claims, whether it involves a single-family home or a large-scale construction project, and can help you to distinguish if the damage is related to vibration-related sources or was caused some other way.