Portal frame building warranty
Latent defects insurance for steel portal frame and large-span buildings - the frame, the roof sheeting and cladding, and the slab where included - with inspections as each part goes up.
- Instant response
- Insurer quotes usually within one working day of your proposal
- UK FCA Regulated Broker
- No broker fee to pay
- Trade counters to big-box logistics
Portal frame and large span
A simple structure that has to get the details right
Most industrial and logistics buildings are built around a steel portal frame - columns and rafters joined by rigid connections, clear spans with no internal columns in the way, and a roof and walls of sheeting or composite panels fixed to purlins and rails. It is fast to build and very efficient.
The same efficiency means there is little margin for error. Water follows every lap and fixing, a small movement in the frame shows in the cladding, and a large span puts real demands on the design. A portal frame building warranty covers damage caused by hidden defects in those elements, usually for 10 or 12 years from completion and within the terms of the policy.
The building, part by part
What a provider looks at on a portal frame building
Foundations and ground
Pad foundations, piles or ground improvement, designed from the site investigation. Varying ground across a large footprint is a common concern.
The steel frame
Column and rafter sizes, haunches and connections, bracing and the structural engineer's calculations for the spans involved.
Roof sheeting and rooflights
Falls, laps, fixings, rooflights and gutters. Roof leaks are a known risk on large-span buildings, so providers look closely at these details.
Cladding
The cladding system, how it is fixed and how joints, corners, openings and the junction with the ground are detailed.
The floor slab
Design loads, joints and specification. Some policies include the slab and some do not, so it is worth checking.
Drainage
Getting water off the roof and away from the building, which becomes more important the bigger the roof.
Inspections
When the provider's surveyor visits
The provider usually sets out an inspection plan before work starts. The exact stages vary, but on a portal frame building they commonly include:
- ground works and foundations, before they are covered
- the frame once erected and before it is clad
- roof sheeting and cladding while they go on
- the floor slab, where it is part of the cover
- a final inspection at practical completion
Anything the surveyor raises normally has to be put right and signed off before the final certificate is issued.
Portal frame building warranty questions
Are roof leaks covered on a portal frame building?
On many policies the weatherproof envelope, including the roof, is covered against damage caused by a defect. Wear and tear, maintenance and blocked gutters are usually excluded. The policy wording sets out the detail.
Does the frame need to be inspected before cladding goes on?
Usually, yes. Once the frame is clad, the connections and bracing are much harder to see, so providers generally want to inspect the erected frame first. Your inspection plan will say.
Does cover depend on the cladding system used?
The provider will want to know the system and how it is fixed, and some are viewed more favourably than others. Tell us the specification early so there are no surprises at technical review.
Get a portal frame warranty quote
Tell us about the building, the frame and the cladding, and where you are up to on site. We will come back with the underwriters likely to cover it.
- Takes under a minute
- Instant reply by email with your reference
- Insurer quotes usually within one working day of your completed proposal
- Sites anywhere in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland
- Free and no obligation
Already filled in a proposal form? Email it to us or send it on WhatsApp with any drawings you have and we will take it from there.
