Rapid post‑incident investigation into explosion damage, providing clear assessment of structural risk and scope of required remedial works.
The client
The London Borough of Hackney manages a large residential housing portfolio and is responsible for responding to incidents affecting tenant safety and building condition.
Services provided
The project
FFT was appointed to investigate structural damage following an explosion at Hathaway House in London. The commission focused on assessing the extent of damage to a residential flat and identifying any immediate and longer‑term risks to the building structure.
The requirement was to provide a clear and reliable assessment to support safety decisions and inform the next steps for stabilisation and repair.
Our role
We carried out detailed inspections of the affected property, including roof structure, loadbearing walls, partitions and external masonry, and prepared a photographic condition report.
FFT also coordinated structural engineering input to support the assessment, ensuring that both visible damage and potential structural implications were fully considered.
The challenges
The incident caused significant damage to the building, including displaced masonry, failed partitions and disruption to the roof structure.
The nature of the blast meant that damage varied across the property, affecting both structural elements and internal layouts, requiring careful interpretation to understand how forces had been distributed through the building.
The assessment also needed to be carried out quickly, while ensuring the safety of residents and surveyors, and providing clear information to support the client’s next steps.
Added value
FFT provided a clear and structured assessment under challenging circumstances, bringing together building surveying and structural input into a single, accessible report.
This enabled the client to quickly establish the condition of the property, understand potential structural risks and prioritise next steps with confidence.
The outcome
The client received a well‑documented assessment of the extent and nature of the damage, providing a reliable basis for further investigation, stabilisation works and longer‑term repairs.
The work helped ensure that decisions relating to safety and remediation were informed by clear, consistent and evidence‑based reporting.