WHL SURVEYING & ENGINEERING CASE STUDY
Structural Appraisal for High-Rise Residential Apartment Building
WHL Surveying & Engineering was commissioned to undertake a comprehensive visual structural appraisal of Chelwood House, a purpose-built high-rise residential apartment building at 15–25 Gloucester Square, London, to support the Building Safety Case required under the Building Safety Act 2022.
Scope of Work
The commission included a visual inspection of all accessible structural elements, a desktop review of available records and drawings, and an assessment of the building’s structural stability, construction methods, durability and potential risks affecting its long-term performance. The appraisal considered the reinforced concrete frame, foundations, floors, external walls, roof structure, balconies and fire-resisting structural elements, together with recommendations for future structural management and regulatory compliance.
Findings
The appraisal concluded that Chelwood House remains structurally stable, with no evidence of significant foundation movement, differential settlement or structural instability affecting the primary reinforced concrete frame. The building’s reinforced concrete columns, floor slabs and shear cores continue to provide a robust and redundant structural system, while the 2013–2014 façade refurbishment did not alter the primary load paths. The inspection identified only typical age-related durability issues associated with reinforced concrete construction, including the need to monitor moisture ingress, carbonation risks to exposed concrete, localised roof membrane deterioration and verification of concealed structural elements where original structural drawings were unavailable. The report also noted that fire-stopping around some service penetrations required further inspection and improvement, and recommended verification of the external wall system and fire compartmentation through targeted intrusive investigations.
Recommendations
WHL Surveying & Engineering recommended targeted intrusive investigations to confirm concealed reinforced concrete elements, reinforcement cover, structural connections, external wall build-up, cavity barriers and fire-stopping arrangements. The report also advised obtaining original structural and Building Control documentation where available, carrying out periodic inspections of the reinforced concrete frame, roof waterproofing and façade systems, and implementing planned maintenance to manage moisture ingress, carbonation and long-term durability. These measures will provide additional assurance of the building’s structural integrity and support continued compliance with the Building Safety Act 2022.
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