Flat-rated scale (excluding VAT)

1.Items delivered to our premises for laboratory or workshop disassembly, test and examination.

Flat-rated at £425.00, plus any carriage charges.

2. Small and moderate fires such as washing machines and localised single room fires. This scale also encompasses motor cars, motorcycles and small fires in commercial vehicles/plant.

Zone A: £875
Zone B: £1050
Zone C: £1295

3. Larger fires in buildngs requiring more extensive documentation. This scale also includes commercial vehicles/plant, and small ship fires.

Zone A: £1100
Zone B: £1300
Zone C: £1500

For fires and investigations that fall outside the flat-rate scheme, the following rates apply.

Hourly / Daily rates

Investigator/engineer: £120 - £150/hour
Overseas/offshore work: £120 - £150/hour
Expert Witness: £130 - £150/hour
Court attendance: £1300 - £1500/day

All rates to include travelling time.

Car mileage (excluding VAT)

60p/mile

Storage charges (excluding VAT)

Physical evidence pertinent to any case is stored free of charge for the first six months. Thereafter, storage is charged at between £2.00 and £3.00 per week, dependent upon size.

Having worked with a flat-rated fee structure for the past twenty years, we feel that it offers the most cost effective solution for the majority of investigations. In particular, it makes economic sense in the production of preliminary reports, and so serves to discriminate between those losses that are worthwhile pursuing and those that do not merit further expenditure.

Remember, the flat-rate scheme includes site investigation up to one day, travel, photography and report.

Only when the loss is on a large scale would this fee scheme not be available. Joint Investigations with other parties are also excluded because, in these circumstances, it is more important (and most cost effective) to concentrate on representing your best interests rather than fees.

The flat-rated scheme is based on 50-mile 'zones' as the crow flies from our two offices - Surbiton for fires in buildings and Presteigne for vehicle, plant and machinery fires.

Fee rates are given here for Zones A to C ('A' being the nearest). For Zone D and beyond we may quote separately for air-fare etc. For fires in the north of Scotland, Northern Ireland and Eire, an hourly fee rate is likely to be applied.