When a property claim lands on your desk, clarity and defensibility matter. We are often asked whether to commission building reports or an engineering report. If the claim involves structure, many insurers will request a structural engineer report prepared and signed by our registered engineers.
What is a building report?
A building report is prepared by a licensed building consultant and focuses on condition, causation and rectification from a construction perspective. It identifies what was damaged in the event, what was pre-existing, where there is non-compliance that affects the claim, and what it will take to reinstate. At Morse Building Consultancy, reports are independent and insurer-grade, aligned to the National Construction Code and Australian Standards, with quantified scopes where needed. Our team operates nationally with rapid mobilisation for surge events.
Typical inclusions:
- Event-related damage vs pre-existing issues, with photos and narrative.
- Causation analysis, for example stormwater ingress vs maintenance.
- Code and standards observations that influence reinstatement.
- Repair methodology and, where required, an itemised scope of works.
What is an engineering report?
An engineering report is authored by a registered professional engineer and addresses structural adequacy, safety and design compliance. It goes deeper into load paths, material performance and failure modes, then sets out remediation options that satisfy the NCC and relevant Australian Standards. MBC operates nationally, deploying registered engineers in every state and territory so reports meet the specific statutory and insurer requirements wherever the loss occurs.
Registration frameworks differ by jurisdiction and can affect who may lawfully provide engineering advice on a claim.
Across Australia, our engineers align with local rules while always evidencing compliance under the NCC Evidence of Suitability provisions, ensuring remedial advice is certifiable and defensible for claim decisions nationwide. Our registered engineers deliver advice that insurers can rely on and, where required, provide a structural engineer report suitable for certification and lodgement.
How insurers use expert reports
Insurers increasingly rely on consistent, high-quality expert evidence to determine coverage and quantum. The Insurance Council of Australia’s Expert Report Best Practice Standard sets clear expectations for commissioning and using expert evidence. Commission the right expert early to shorten cycle times and reduce dispute risk.
Compliance and the NCC
Both building reports and engineering advice should explain how reinstatement will meet the NCC, with calculations and evidence suitable for a structural engineer report. The Australian Building Codes Board’s Evidence of Suitability handbook outlines acceptable forms of evidence such as certificates, reports and calculations.
Which report do you need, and when?
Use this quick decision frame for claims triage.
Start with a building report when you need rapid, independent clarity on what happened and what it will take to make the property serviceable and compliant again. This suits most water ingress, internal finishes, roofing, cladding, waterproofing and general fabric claims. If structural distress is suspected, your building consultant can escalate to engineering.
Go straight to an engineering report when there is apparent or suspected structural impact, significant cracking, footing movement, retaining wall failure, cyclone or vehicle impact to structural elements, or where a certifiable remedial design is required for permits and sign-off. Jurisdictional registration rules above are a useful signal for when specialist engineering input is mandatory.
In many complex claims, both reports are complementary. A building report can establish scope and methodology for reinstatement, while the engineering report provides the calculations and certified details for structural components. Aligning the two reduces variation risk during delivery and keeps the claim aligned with the NCC’s evidence-of-suitability expectations.
FAQ
What is a structural engineer report?
A structural engineer report assesses structural adequacy, identifies causes of movement or failure, and sets out a compliant remediation design. It is written and signed by our registered engineers.
Do you provide reports from certified engineers?
Yes. In Australia, engineers are registered under state and territory schemes. Our team includes registered engineers who can certify designs and issue documentation insurers and regulators accept. If you need a report from certified engineers, we will provide the correct registration for the state where the loss occurred.
Why partner with Morse Building Consultancy
- Independence and insurance expertise across Australia, trusted by insurers, brokers and government agencies. Learn more About us and our Building Consultancy Services.
- Industry leadership. MBC is a founding member of the Association of Insurance Building and Engineering Consultants (AiBEC), which is working with the sector to lift the quality of expert reporting.
Need a structural engineer report from certified engineers for a complex claim? Our team can help nationally. If you need to confirm causation, separate event damage from pre-existing conditions and set a clear reinstatement pathway, commission a building report. If you need to certify structural adequacy or design a remedial solution, commission an engineering report. Choose the right expert at the right time, reference the NCC, and your claim decisions will be faster, clearer and harder to dispute. You can contact us here.