Rossi Long Consulting were appointed following a severe fire at the Grade II Listed Oulton Hall. Temperatures in excess of 1000 degrees Celsius were developed during the fire which raged for over 6 hours and 2-3 million litres of water were used to dowse the fire.

Initial structural engineering consultancy services were provided to advise upon temporary stability of the building to allow safe clearance of debris and retention of as much of the historic fabric as possible.

We subsequently undertook a regime of thorough visual inspections, investigations, and laboratory testing of materials to advise upon appropriate and sympathetic repairs to the structure. As a consequence of the extreme temperatures and rapid quenching of the masonry fabric, brick samples were taken for petrographic and compression testing. This laboratory testing offered further information regarding the strength of the brick work and the effects of the fire thus enabling us to specify restricted reconstruction and repair works.

Due to the extensive fire damage throughout the main range, there was limited evidence to advise us upon the structural framing and aesthetic details pre-fire. We hence undertook an historic review of archived information supplemented by an Architectural Historians Report.

Following extensive surveying of the fabric we utilized our Revit Building Information Modelling software to develop a virtual 3 dimensional model of the building prior to the fire damage. This assisted the team and helped us collaborate closely with the Architect, Conservation Officer and Historic England to develop a sensitive scheme of repairs including the design of conventionally pegged oak framed roof trusses, and flitched oak floor beams.

Long term monitoring of moisture levels was undertaken by specialists within the building fabric to minimize risks of future dry rot outbreaks.