Fitness for purpose
We were appointed independent joint-expert by the court in a case between a contractor and a lighting manufacturer. It mainly revolved around the fitness for purpose of the luminaire for the installation. The investigation included the careful analysis of the meaning and intent of a number of European Standards and the way the manufacturer and two independent national test-houses had interpreted them. The expert report we produced was used as the basis of a court settlement of the dispute.
Lighting causing burns
This was a case where a light within an exterior lighting installation caused burns to a member of the public. The owner of the lighting had then to both pay compensation and turn off part of the lighting system. They sought redress from the lighting system’s original designers. When this was not forthcoming they took action through the courts to recover money and to seek damages.
Potential loss of daylight by proposed new development
We were asked by the developers of a new block of apartments to carry out an analysis of the effect on the daylight and sunlight availability for residents living near to the new block. The Local Authority had just refused planning permission as they had worries over the likely impact of the new building on existing local residents. The report that we used was submitted in evidence to Public Enquiry in which we also gave evidence. The enquiry found in favour of the developers.
Dispute over lighting levels, London
We were called in to act as independent experts in a dispute between the landlords of a large complex of inter-linked office buildings in the City of London and some of their tenants. The dispute revolved around two issues: whether the luminaires were suitable for use in offices where there was widespread use of computer screens and whether the lighting level in the office spaces met the levels set out in the lease. We carried out extensive surveys of the lighting system and witnessed lighting tests carried out in some of the spaces. This resulted in a series of reports about the various issues raised by the tenants.
