Independent building damage assessments following storms, floods, cyclones, fires and other major events across Australia.
When a property is damaged, establishing what happened is just as important as determining what needs to be repaired. Recent event damage, pre-existing defects and deterioration can exist in the same building, and the distinction is not always obvious.
Morse Building Consultancy (MBC) provides independent disaster assessment and damage reporting services for insurers, loss adjusters, brokers, strata managers, commercial property owners and other property stakeholders.
Our licensed building consultants and registered engineers investigate the cause and extent of damage, identify relevant safety and compliance concerns, and provide detailed reports to support insurance claims and reinstatement planning.
A disaster assessment is a structured investigation of a property following a damaging event. It examines the physical evidence to establish what damage has occurred, its likely cause, the building's condition and what further investigation or repairs may be required.
Unlike an initial repair quotation, an independent damage assessment focuses on establishing the facts before determining the appropriate scope of work.
Depending on the circumstances, an assessment may involve a licensed building consultant, registered engineer, quantity surveyor or other relevant specialist.
MBC provides technical findings and recommendations. The insurer remains responsible for determining insurance coverage and the claim outcome.
An independent assessment is particularly valuable when:
The cause of damage is uncertain. Storm, flood, fire or impact damage may overlap with existing building defects or deterioration.
Structural integrity is in question. Cracking, movement, displaced framing or damaged load-bearing elements may require engineering assessment.
There are conflicting opinions. Contractors, assessors or other experts may disagree about the cause or extent of damage.
The initial repair scope is incomplete. A quotation may overlook concealed damage, associated building elements or necessary compliance work.
Urgent works may alter the evidence. Temporary repairs, demolition, strip-out and drying can remove information needed to establish causation.
A catastrophe has affected multiple properties. Consistent damage assessments and reporting help claims teams identify urgent matters and coordinate further investigations.
The inspection depends on the type of event, property construction and reported damage. Common areas of investigation include:
Roof coverings, flashings, gutters and penetrations
Displaced or damaged roof framing, fixings and tie-down connections
Hail impact marks on roofing, cladding and softer metal fixtures
Water entry points and internal moisture damage
Evidence of earlier roof deterioration, corrosion or defective installation
Physical evidence is particularly important in hail claims. Indentations on aluminium roof ventilators, commonly known as whirlybirds, and hail wash or splatter marks can help assess the size and distribution of hail impacts.
Bureau of Meteorology records can provide useful information about an event, but they do not necessarily establish the size of hailstones that struck an individual property.
Floodwater depth lines, sediment deposits and debris patterns
Moisture penetration into walls, floors, insulation and concealed cavities
Erosion, soil movement or possible effects on footings and slabs
Water entry pathways and damage to building materials
Potential contamination requiring specialist investigation
Where necessary, the assessment may include moisture measurements, further testing or recommendations for qualified hygiene and engineering specialists.
Visible fire damage to structural and non-structural building elements
Heat-related distortion, cracking and material deterioration
Damage associated with firefighting activities
Water damage resulting from fire suppression
Areas requiring specialist structural, electrical or contamination assessment
Localised impact damage to walls, columns, roofing and framing
Cracking, displacement and deformation of structural elements
Possible damage beyond the immediate impact location
Existing defects or deterioration that may have contributed to the failure
Major events can involve several damaging mechanisms, including wind, hail and flooding. A building may also have pre-existing water ingress or construction defects.
Rather than attributing all visible damage to one event, MBC examines the available evidence and identifies each relevant cause or contributing factor.
A useful report needs to explain the findings clearly enough for someone who has not attended the property to understand the evidence and its implications.
Depending on the instructions and site conditions, an MBC disaster damage report may include:
Property and event details: The building type, reported incident, inspection date and instructions received.
Observed damage: A detailed record of affected building elements, supported by photographs, measurements and site observations.
Causation findings: An assessment of the likely cause of the damage, including relevant alternative explanations and contributing factors.
Pre-existing conditions: Identification of deterioration, maintenance issues, previous repairs, workmanship defects or non-compliance that may be relevant.
Safety and structural concerns: Matters requiring immediate attention, further investigation or assessment by a registered engineer or another qualified specialist.
Repair recommendations: The work required to address identified damage, including temporary protection, further testing, repair methodology or a detailed scope of works where commissioned.
Technical references and limitations: Relevant National Construction Code (NCC) and Australian Standards considerations, along with assumptions, unavailable evidence and any further investigations needed.
The scope and detail of each report are determined by the nature of the loss and the questions the assessment has been commissioned to answer.
Following a major storm or flood, urgent work may be needed to secure a property, prevent further damage or address immediate hazards.
However, make-safe works can also remove physical evidence that would otherwise assist in determining causation.
Damaged roof sheets, flashings, fixtures and building materials may provide information about impact direction, material condition or the extent of event-related damage.
Safety and necessary emergency works must always take priority. Where it is safe and practicable, photographs, measurements, inspection notes and records of removed materials should be obtained before the original conditions are altered.
Early coordination between assessors, builders and technical consultants can help preserve relevant evidence without unnecessarily delaying essential protection work.
MBC's assessment process is tailored to the circumstances of the property and the instructions received.
Step 1: Review the instructions
We establish the reported event, property details, issues requiring assessment and available supporting documentation.
Step 2: Arrange a site inspection
Once safe access is available, an appropriately qualified consultant attends to document the building condition, visible damage and relevant evidence.
Step 3: Investigate causation
We examine damage patterns, building history, construction methods, available weather information and other relevant records. Further testing or specialist input may be recommended.
Step 4: Prepare the technical report
The report documents the findings, supporting evidence, likely causes, limitations and recommended next steps.
Step 5: Provide further technical support where required
Depending on the matter, this may include structural engineering reports, additional site investigations, repair scopes or independent construction cost assessments.
MBC combines practical building experience with engineering expertise and an understanding of the requirements of complex insurance claims.
Independent findings: Our reports follow the evidence, without a predetermined outcome or incentive to secure repair contracts.
Building and engineering expertise: Licensed building consultants work with registered engineers and other specialists where the technical questions require their involvement.
National capability: MBC operates across all Australian states and territories, supporting individual property assessments and larger catastrophe responses.
Detailed technical reporting: Our reports distinguish observations from conclusions, address relevant contributing factors and provide a factual basis for further decisions.
Established experience: Founded in 2012, MBC is led by Andrew Morse, whose building industry experience spans more than 38 years, including over 18 years specialising in insurance-related work.
Our role is to report what the evidence establishes, including findings that may not support the initial explanation of the damage.
Consider a commercial property that experiences water ingress during a severe storm. Internal ceilings are damaged, and an initial repair quotation proposes replacing a large section of the roof.
A building consultant may need to establish whether the water entered through storm-damaged roof components, existing defective flashings, deteriorated seals or a combination of causes.
The investigation could include roof inspections, moisture readings, photographs, earlier repair records and available weather information.
The resulting report would distinguish the observed damage from the likely causes and identify what further investigation or rectification is justified.
This is an illustrative scenario showing how independent causation assessment works, not a record of a specific MBC claim.
An assessment should be arranged as soon as practicable once the property is safe to access. Immediate hazards and essential make-safe works take priority. Early documentation can help preserve evidence before damaged materials are removed or repairs begin. Attendance timeframes depend on access conditions, location, demand and consultant availability.
Yes, where the available evidence supports that distinction. Consultants examine damage patterns, material deterioration, previous repairs, building history and event information to determine the most likely causes. Where the evidence is inconclusive, the report should explain the uncertainty rather than attribute all damage to the event.
Weather records can establish that hail or severe weather was reported in an area, but they do not necessarily prove that a particular building sustained damage or establish the actual hailstone size at that location.
A site inspection can identify physical evidence such as impact marks, dents to softer metal fixtures, fractured materials and hail wash patterns. The findings are considered alongside available weather information and the property's condition.
A registered engineer may be required when structural adequacy, stability or engineered repairs need to be assessed. Examples include significant structural cracking, displaced roof framing, footing movement, retaining wall damage or suspected failure of load-bearing elements.
Not every disaster claim requires an engineering report. The need depends on the damage and the technical questions involved.
An assessment can still be undertaken, although some original evidence may no longer be available. Photographs taken before the work, contractor records, retained materials and the remaining site conditions may assist the investigation.
The report should identify any limitations arising from evidence that has been removed or altered.
The assessment may identify moisture-related concerns and signs that specialist contamination or mould investigation is required. Testing, remediation verification and clearance certification are separate specialist activities where needed.
The exact services required depend on the nature of the damage and the scope of the engagement.
No. MBC provides independent technical opinions on matters such as damage, causation, building condition and repair requirements.
The insurer determines coverage and claim liability in accordance with the insurance policy and applicable obligations.
Where appropriate, a report may identify compliance requirements or opportunities for improved resilience, such as enhanced roof tie-downs or more flood-resistant materials.
Necessary compliant reinstatement, optional improvements and any associated additional costs should be clearly distinguished. Whether an upgrade is covered by insurance is a separate decision.
Helpful documents may include:
Property address, contact details and reported event date
Photographs or videos taken before and after the event
Details of emergency and make-safe works already completed
Previous building, engineering or maintenance reports
Building plans, where available
Relevant repair quotations and contractor findings
The specific questions requiring independent assessment
Not every document is essential, but existing information can help the consultant understand the property and plan an appropriate investigation.
Yes. MBC has a national network of licensed building consultants and registered engineering professionals across Australian states and territories.
We assist with individual claims and larger disaster response requirements, subject to safe site access, the type of expertise required and available capacity.
Morse Building Consultancy assists insurers, loss adjusters, brokers and property stakeholders with technical assessments following storms, floods, fire, impact damage and other significant events.
Our reports provide factual findings on damage, causation and repair requirements to support informed decisions and appropriate reinstatement.
Call 1300 066 773 or email jobrequests@mbconsultancy.com.au.