Decennial liability - Revision history

Designing Buildings at 06:56, 23 October 2020

2020-10-23T06:56:44Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 06:56, 23 October 2020
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	French civil law cases have found the fixing of a structure or installation into the ground to be a deciding factor as to applicability. Despite this there still remains some uncertainty about the extent of what is covered by decennial liability. Whilst a structural collapse, whether total or partial, would be clear, the liability has also been extended, in cases where expert evidence has been provided, and to defects that posed a threat to the building’s strength and safety. In France, the position is that decennial liability is applicable where it is certain that damage would have become sufficiently serious due to defects within the 10-year period.		French civil law cases have found the fixing of a structure or installation into the ground to be a deciding factor as to applicability. Despite this there still remains some uncertainty about the extent of what is covered by decennial liability. Whilst a structural collapse, whether total or partial, would be clear, the liability has also been extended, in cases where expert evidence has been provided, and to defects that posed a threat to the building’s strength and safety. In France, the position is that decennial liability is applicable where it is certain that damage would have become sufficiently serious due to defects within the 10-year period.

−	~~= Find out more =~~	+	= Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki =
−		+
−	=== Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki ===	+

	* Alternative Dispute Resolution legislation.		* Alternative Dispute Resolution legislation.
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	Eversheds - [http://www.eversheds.com/global/en/what/articles/index.page?ArticleID=en/Construction_And_Engineering/Decennial_Liability_in_Construction_Projects Decennial liability in construction projects]		Eversheds - [http://www.eversheds.com/global/en/what/articles/index.page?ArticleID=en/Construction_And_Engineering/Decennial_Liability_in_Construction_Projects Decennial liability in construction projects]

−	[[Category:~~International~~]] [[Category:~~Case_law~~]] [[Category:~~DCN_Case_Law~~]] [[Category:Property_law]]	+	[[Category:DCN_Definition]] [[Category:DCN_Guidance]] [[Category:International]] [[Category:Case_law]] [[Category:Property_law]]

Editor at 14:55, 15 February 2016

2016-02-15T14:55:50Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:55, 15 February 2016
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	* Measure of damages for construction contracts.		* Measure of damages for construction contracts.
	* Negligence in building design and construction.		* Negligence in building design and construction.
		+	* Opening up works for inspection and testing.

	=== External references ===		=== External references ===
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	Eversheds - [http://www.eversheds.com/global/en/what/articles/index.page?ArticleID=en/Construction_And_Engineering/Decennial_Liability_in_Construction_Projects Decennial liability in construction projects]		Eversheds - [http://www.eversheds.com/global/en/what/articles/index.page?ArticleID=en/Construction_And_Engineering/Decennial_Liability_in_Construction_Projects Decennial liability in construction projects]

−	[[Category:International]] [[Category:Case_law]] [[Category:Property_law]]	+	[[Category:International]] [[Category:Case_law]] [[Category:DCN_Case_Law]] [[Category:Property_law]]

Editor at 16:24, 22 January 2016

2016-01-22T16:24:12Z

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	* Fitness for purpose in construction.		* Fitness for purpose in construction.
	* Glossary of property law terms.		* Glossary of property law terms.
		+	* Joinder.
	* Latent defects.		* Latent defects.
	* Legal indemnity insurance.		* Legal indemnity insurance.

Editor at 10:42, 18 January 2016

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	* Contractors’ all-risk insurance.		* Contractors’ all-risk insurance.
	* Damages in construction contracts.		* Damages in construction contracts.
		+	* Defects in construction.
	* Fitness for purpose in construction.		* Fitness for purpose in construction.
	* Glossary of property law terms.		* Glossary of property law terms.

Editor at 10:39, 18 January 2016

2016-01-18T10:39:49Z

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	* Fitness for purpose in construction.		* Fitness for purpose in construction.
	* Glossary of property law terms.		* Glossary of property law terms.
−	* ~~Latest~~ defects.	+	* Latent defects.
	* Legal indemnity insurance.		* Legal indemnity insurance.
	* Measure of damages for construction contracts.		* Measure of damages for construction contracts.

Editor: Created page with "Decennial liability is a strict form of liability that refers to the insurance taken out by the contractor or design team to cover the 10-year period following a project’s comp..."

2016-01-18T10:39:27Z

Created page with "Decennial liability is a strict form of liability that refers to the insurance taken out by the contractor or design team to cover the 10-year period following a project’s comp..."

New page

Decennial liability is a strict form of liability that refers to the insurance taken out by the contractor or design team to cover the 10-year period following a project’s completion. This is to cover the costs in the event of a total or partial collapse of the building, or some latent structural defects that compromise the building’s safety and/or stability.

Construction costs can be significantly increased by the cost of the insurance. It may be up to 1.5% of the structural value.

As a concept, the French Civil Code introduced ‘responsabilite decennale’ to protect building owners who may not have had the expertise or technical knowledge to notice defective designs or construction at the point of project delivery, particularly latent defects.

In France, every contractor must be insured against decennial liability, whether the project is a new-build, redevelopment or renovation.

The countries that have codified decennial liability or similar in their civil laws include:

* Algeria.
* Angola.
* Argentina.
* Bahrain.
* Belgium.
* Bolivia.
* Brazil.
* Cameroon.
* Canada.
* Chile.
* Colombia.
* Egypt.
* Finland.
* France.
* Gabon.
* Indonesia.
* Italy.
* Iraq.
* Jordan.
* Kuwait.
* Lebanon.
* Mali.
* Malta.
* Morocco.
* Netherlands.
* Oman.
* Paraguay.
* Peru.
* Philippines.
* Republic of Congo.
* Romania.
* Saudi Arabia (on Government contracts).
* Senegal.
* Spain.
* Sweden.
* Syria.
* Tunisia.
* United Arab Emirates.

As decennial liability is a form of strict liability, it offers more security to real estate investors and property owners than collateral warranties which only apply in the event of a contractor’s specific breach or negligence. All contractors involved in a building’s construction are automatically responsible or liable for damages which compromise the solidity of the building or render it unfit for use.

As there are quite a number of possible defendants that could face financial penalties in the event of a collapse, this lessens the risk to the building owner of a contractor being becoming insolvent and so unable to pay damages.

The principles of responsibility are to ensure safety for the decade following the date on which the client signals acceptance of the completed work. Exemptions can be made in the case of force majeure, third-party fault or victim liability.

French civil law cases have found the fixing of a structure or installation into the ground to be a deciding factor as to applicability. Despite this there still remains some uncertainty about the extent of what is covered by decennial liability. Whilst a structural collapse, whether total or partial, would be clear, the liability has also been extended, in cases where expert evidence has been provided, and to defects that posed a threat to the building’s strength and safety. In France, the position is that decennial liability is applicable where it is certain that damage would have become sufficiently serious due to defects within the 10-year period.

= Find out more =

=== Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki ===

* Alternative Dispute Resolution legislation.
* Causation in construction contracts.
* Construction litigation.
* Contractors’ all-risk insurance.
* Damages in construction contracts.
* Fitness for purpose in construction.
* Glossary of property law terms.
* Latest defects.
* Legal indemnity insurance.
* Measure of damages for construction contracts.
* Negligence in building design and construction.

=== External references ===

Eversheds - [http://www.eversheds.com/global/en/what/articles/index.page?ArticleID=en/Construction_And_Engineering/Decennial_Liability_in_Construction_Projects Decennial liability in construction projects]

[[Category:International]] [[Category:Case_law]] [[Category:Property_law]]