Collapse of solar mesh panels at office building

England, United Kingdom

Solar mesh panels installed to protect a commercial building from direct sunlight were damaged during high winds, with one panel collapsing to the ground. This prompted an inquiry into design adequacy, installation workmanship, and whether recorded winds should have caused such damage.

I was asked to investigate the cause of failure, assess residual risks to remaining panels, and identify proportionate remediation options. This work included comparing recorded wind data with design assumptions and evaluating the behaviour of the mesh and its fixings.

The findings of this investigation were provided to the building owners to inform liability, risk management and remediation strategy.