With Irelands damp climate, materials failure investigation in which water is involved, are common. Our laboratory is regularly asked to investigate water leaks occurring both in metal and plastic pipes, but also fittings and appliances which store or transport water. Such was a case we received several months ago.
A family contracted a plumber to install a water filtration system. The system was installed and in service. One month after installation, the family went for a weeks holidays, leaving a neighbour to call in daily to feet two cats.
The family returned from holiday and found that their tiled kitchen and solid wood dining room floor, were both flooded. The family contacted a house sitting neighbour, who said that she had visited the night before and nothing was out of the ordinary.
The family contacted the plumber who visited the house. Without evidence, they accused the plumber of negligence and a Solicitors letter received by the plumber, stated that ‘the works were not carried out with due care and skill, and because of this, the plumbers acts or omissions did cause the Claimant to suffer damage or loss.
The Solicitor for the plumber made contact with our laboratory. We established that there was a leak in the polyethylene pipe connecting the mains supply to the water filter. Our Materials Engineer removed the pipe and brought it back to our laboratory for technical examination. The pipe was 400 mm long and examination of it under digital microscopy showed what appeared to be two incised puncture marks, almost parallel to each other on the circumference of the pipe. We cut a 25 mm long sub sample from the pipe and examined it with our Electron Microscope.
Examination using the Electron Microscope showed two clearly identifiable incised marks which we opined came from an animal.
