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Definitions

1a. ‘SDL’ means Scandeck Ltd.

1b. ‘Contract’ means the contract between the Customer and SDL which incorporates these terms and conditions.

1c. ‘Customer’ means person, firm or company requesting services from SDL.

1d. ‘Materials’ means any materials or equipment agreed to be supplied and installed as part of the services provided to the Customer.

No Find No Fee

2a. Applies to internal hot and cold pipe leaks only (excludes central heating leaks and incoming mains).

2b. Not applicable to damp and/or water damage caused by construction defects.

2c. Not applicable if there are no plumbing leaks to be found.

2d. Limited to a single 7-hour day.

2e. Applies to domestic properties only with a maximum of 1 kitchen and 3 bathrooms (includes WCs/cloakrooms, ensuite and alike).

2f. Not applicable when pipe runs in any type of ducting or beneath a membrane.

2g. Leak detection is considered successful when the leak is narrowed down to a room and/or an area of 5m x 5m.

2h. Not applicable when we are not also instructed to carry out the leak access and repair.

2i. If there are multiple leaks, then our time is chargeable if we have to return at a separate date or time.

2j. All other terms and conditions apply.

Site Access & Permissions

3a. Due to the size and weight of equipment SDL use, we require free and available parking within 100 metres of the property subject to the leak detection service. Parking permits should be provided where necessary. If free and available parking is not available within 100 metres of the property, and/or permits cannot be provided, then any parking fees or fines incurred by our company will be payable at cost.

3b. It is the customer’s responsibility to arrange good access to all necessary areas, including other properties if required (especially in multi occupancy buildings), stopcocks, and inspection chambers (manholes). If adequate access is not arranged and testing cannot be carried out or completed, then our standard charges will be payable. Any return visit(s) required will also be payable.

3c. SDL will use best endeavours to work around limited access. However, heavily cluttered areas, or refusal of necessary access, may result in our engineer being unable to conclude their work and our standard fees will be payable.

3d. If at any time SDL receives customer refusal to our proposed testing methods, and we are unable to continue, then our standard fees will be payable.

Leak Detection

4a. It is not possible to predict how long it will take to find any leak(s).

4b. SDL will attempt to find all leaks within the customer brief given to us, but no guarantee is possible as to how long this will take, and how many return visits are necessary.

4c. If undetected leaks cause any damage, then SDL accept no responsibility for such damage.

4d. Leak detection is carried out as per the customer brief. If the brief is inaccurate and this impacts the leak detection in any way, we accept no liability and our standard fees will be payable. We are not responsible for leaks in areas and/or on systems not included in the customer brief.

4e. Our testing is designed to find leaks in water supply pipes. Pressure and other testing will therefore be made up to the point at which any appliance is isolated, e.g. washing machine and dishwasher isolation valves, and shower thermostatic mixers. This is to avoid causing damage to appliances which are designed to work at standard water pressure. Whilst we will try and use common sense visual tests to the appliances for any water leak during use, this is not a guaranteed service. To be sure an appliance is not leaking during use, an appliance specialist would be required to attend and inspect, and it is the customer’s responsibility to arrange this.

4f. Using a range of specialist equipment, we will try to locate a leak to a specific area. Although our non-invasive methods are more accurate and preferable to the traditional destructive approach, there are limitations to these methods. Certain floor constructions which may include ducting, sheathing, and/or plastic membranes, can reduce the accuracy of testing. In the case of non-solid floors, e.g. timber suspended and concrete block and beam floors, tracer gas can fill the void space, and/or be moved from the leak source by underfloor ventilation. Tracer gas can escape into an area or areas where the leak is not located.

4g. In certain circumstances limited invasive works are required, e.g. removing bath panels, removing boxing in, and removing light fittings for using endoscopic cameras. Invasive procedures of this nature will only be carried out if we are given clear instruction by customer. If return visits are required to carry out further leak detection, because instruction was not given on the day, then this will be payable.

4h. Our equipment can ‘set’ liquid leak seal which has been injected to a plumbing system before we attend. If leak sealant has previously been added to any system, it may make locating the leak more difficult or even impossible.

4i. Leaks can be intermittent, i.e. only leak under certain circumstance. For example, some heating leaks only occur when the system is hot and running. Leaks of this nature can be much harder to locate, and it may not be possible to locate a leak of this type using non-invasive methods.

4j. Leak detection is considered successful even when we find no leak is present. This is especially true when a property is damp. If we confirm there is no plumbing leak, then this allows investigation by others to move onto other areas such as construction defects. This would also be true where no leak is found because there is a boiler fault.

4k. There are limits to what leak detection technology can provide and every effort is made to ensure the accuracy and reliability of our findings and reports. Information is presented as we find it, with no warranty as to accuracy, and is intended for guidance only. SDL cannot be held responsible for the way in which the customer may interpret or act upon our findings and/or report.

4l. It is the customer’s responsibility to continue to monitor the situation after we have left and call us back as necessary to investigate any on-going leak(s).

4m. Leak detection and leak repair sometimes need to be done together interactively. It is always preferable if we are instructed to both find and fix leaks. Should we be instructed to locate the leak only, and the leak fix is done later by others, we cannot be held responsible if the leak is not where we have indicated.

4n. Systems should be able to cope with the testing carried out on them, including pressure testing. If secondary leaks or problems occur due to the leak detection and testing carried out on them, we accept no liability. If return visits are required to repair such leaks this would be payable

Access and Repair

5a. Access and/or repair, including invasive works, will not be carried out without the customer’s prior consent.

5b. On some occasions, when leaking pipes are exposed, they are in close contact with other pipes, or another obstruction, and can be difficult to access for repair. In these circumstances there is a risk of collateral damage during repair. We accept no responsibility for such collateral damage should it occur, and any necessary additional repairs will be payable.

5c. Repairs to old, poor quality, poorly designed, poorly installed, defective and/or damaged pipe work must be viewed as temporary and may fail. If we do need to attend again because of a failed temporary repair, this will be chargeable. We accept no liability for any damage or loss caused as a result of a failed repair.

5d. Our leak detection will aim to locate the leak as accurately as possible. Exposing and accessing the leak will be carried out on a best endeavours basis, using the results obtained from the leak detection equipment. Access will only be carried out if authorisation is gained from customer. If access works are carried out and there is no leak in this area, then we accept no liability for any damage caused.

5e. Materials: we offer nothing more or less than the guarantee provided by the material manufacturer and/or supplier. If a material fails through no fault of SDL, then the manufacturer warranty would apply, and where necessary we would charge our labour to replace the failed material.

Recomissioning

6a. To carry out certain testing we may need to drain down and re-fill the central heating system. If you would like us to re-fill the system with the correct chemicals an additional charge for the necessary materials will apply.

6b. If a system is drained down for testing our engineer will attempt to recommission the system on the day. Any time involved in carrying out this work will be chargeable. It is not always possible to fully recommission the system on the same day as the leak detection. If return visits are required this will be chargeable. It is recommended the customer bleed any trapped air from the system as necessary.