Chris has considerable experience in building defects and conflict resolution, having initially supported Professor James Lygate in litigation matters and latterly leading his own cases as well as supporting others as part of the growing team within Jensen Hughes. He has been involved in matters involving both low- and high-rise residential buildings, as well as offices, hospitals, and other assembly uses, advising and assisting claims in support of both defendants and claimants at different times. He has completed the Level 7 Legal Experience Training Advanced Professional Award in Expert Witness Evidence in support of his position as an expert witness.
Chris has a rounded academic background and holds a Master’s degree (MEng) in Structural Engineering with Architecture, and a PhD investigating the influence of insulation materials and cavity separation on vertical fire spread in cladding-like systems, both from the University of Edinburgh. This grants him a unique and practical understanding of fire development and spread which is compounded still further by a practical fire investigation course.
By merit of his academic background and the industrial climate following the Grenfell Tower fire, Chris has been heavily involved in matters which involve the external wall systems both with regards to legal claims, remedial works necessitated by design and workmanship failures, and advising those involved in the development of design details. However, he also has experience in matters of internal fire safety including modular construction, fire suppression, firestopping, and building layout and strategy.
He has extensive knowledge of the Building Regulations, both in Scotland and England, and the associated guidance documents including Approved Document B and the Scottish Technical Handbooks, as well as various British Standards including BS 9999, BS 9991, and BS 5588. He is also familiar with PAS 9980 and EWS1, including assisting in conducting in-depth technical analyses as part of the FRAEW process, and co-authoring conference proceedings on the topic.
He has specific expertise in material performance and product tests for external wall systems, and parts thereof. He is well versed in BS 476, BS EN ISO 13501-1 and the associated tests, BS 8414, BS 9414, and BR 135.
Chris joined the Jensen Hughes team as a graduate investigator and research assistant in November 2020. He was appointed as Professor Lygate’s assistant due to his academic expertise, specifically into cladding fires, having worked through an experimental PhD in the subject. As part of the forensic team he has had the opportunity to assist in a range of domestic and commercial projects, having an in-depth knowledge of UK building regulations. He has completed extensive training into forensic investigation on top of a range of modules into fire dynamics, fire modelling and structural design for fire during his master’s degree into Structural Engineering with Architecture.
Chris joined the Jensen Hughes team as a graduate investigator and research assistant in November 2020. He was appointed as Professor Lygate’s assistant due to his academic expertise, specifically into cladding fires, having worked through an experimental PhD in the subject. As part of the forensic team he has had the opportunity to assist in a range of domestic and commercial projects, having an in-depth knowledge of UK building regulations. He has completed extensive training into forensic investigation on top of a range of modules into fire dynamics, fire modelling and structural design for fire during his master’s degree into Structural Engineering with Architecture.
Chris joined the Jensen Hughes team as a graduate investigator and research assistant in November 2020. He was appointed as Professor Lygate’s assistant due to his academic expertise, specifically into cladding fires, having worked through an experimental PhD in the subject. As part of the forensic team he has had the opportunity to assist in a range of domestic and commercial projects, having an in-depth knowledge of UK building regulations. He has completed extensive training into forensic investigation on top of a range of modules into fire dynamics, fire modelling and structural design for fire during his master’s degree into Structural Engineering with Architecture.
