Damage Assessment and Expert Reports in China

A damage assessment is the independent technical account of what caused a failure, how far the damage extends and who carries the damage, and itmad provides independent damage assessment and expert reports in China for insurers, owners and parties in dispute. itmad attends site, preserves evidence, analyses the failure and gives a technical opinion on cause, extent and responsibility. itmad has worked in China for more than 10 years. Last reviewed: October 2026.

What a damage assessment settles

When plant fails or a structure is damaged, the parties involved disagree about three things: what caused the damage, how far the damage extends, and who carries the damage. itmad provides the independent technical account that settles the three questions on evidence rather than assertion.

What itmad assesses

• Mechanical and rotating plant
• Pressure equipment and piping systems
• Process plant and installations
• Electrical systems and equipment
• Lifting equipment and cranes
• Structural and civil damage
• Building services and installations
• Transport and cargo damage
• Fire and heat-affected plant
• Multi-cause and complex events

How the investigation runs

Evidence degrades and sites get cleared, so the first priority on instruction is attendance and preservation.

• Site attendanceAt the earliest opportunity, before clearance or repair alters the evidence.
• Evidence preservationPhotographic and dimensional recording, identification and secure retention of failed components, and a documented chain of custody.
• Preliminary reportIssued quickly, giving the instructing party enough to make immediate decisions on safety, containment and reserve.
• Component examinationIncluding fracture surface examination, dimensional checks, material verification and non-destructive testing.
• Laboratory analysisArranged where the failure mechanism requires metallurgical, chemical or electrical examination beyond what site work can establish.
• Records and documentation reviewMaintenance history, operating data, design and manufacturing records, inspection certificates and previous findings.
• InterviewsWith operators, maintainers and witnesses while recollection is current.
• Reference to the state of the artEstablishing what the applicable standards, codes and industry practice required at the relevant time.
• Progress reportingThroughout the investigation, so the instructing party is not waiting in silence on a long investigation.

The expert report

The report states the failure mechanism, the sequence of events that produced the failure, and the technical opinion on cause, with the evidence for each conclusion set out so the conclusion can be examined independently. The extent of damage is assessed and separated from pre-existing condition and unrelated deterioration, which is usually the point on which claims turn. Where the evidence does not support a firm conclusion, the report says so and states what would be required to reach one. Reports are written to be read by non-technical parties (adjusters, legal advisers and management) without losing the technical basis that a specialist would want to check.

When damage assessment is used

• Following a failure where cause is disputed or unclear
• To establish the extent of damage and the scope of necessary repair or replacement
• To distinguish damage caused by the incident from pre-existing wear or defect
• To support or challenge an insurance claim on technical grounds
• To establish whether a third party's act, product or workmanship caused the loss, for recourse or subrogation
• Where a contractor and client dispute responsibility for a defect
• To assess the technical condition of plant following an event, before returning the plant to service
• To determine whether a repair carried out by others was adequate

Independence in damage assessment

itmad holds no interest in the outcome of any claim. itmad does not carry out repairs, does not supply replacement equipment, and does not act for a party on a contingent basis. The finding is the finding, including where the finding does not favour the instructing party, and that is what makes the report worth having when the finding does favour the party.

Related services

Damage assessment is frequently instructed alongside liability assessment, technical due diligence and valuation work, and draws on the same testing and inspection capability used across the inspection services of itmad. Where an investigation identifies a systemic cause rather than an isolated failure, itmad can extend into review of the wider asset population.

Contact itmad in China

Contact itmad as early as possible after an incident, because the evidence available on day one is rarely available on day ten.

Frequently asked questions

What is a damage assessment?

A damage assessment is an independent technical investigation of a failure or damaged structure that establishes what caused the damage, how far the damage extends, and who carries the damage. The technical account settles all three questions on evidence rather than assertion.

What does an expert report state?

An expert report states the failure mechanism, the sequence of events that produced the failure, and the technical opinion on cause, with the evidence for each conclusion set out so the conclusion can be examined independently. Where the evidence does not support a firm conclusion, the report says so and states what would be required to reach one.

Why is early attendance important in damage assessment?

Evidence degrades and sites get cleared, so the evidence available on day one is rarely available on day ten. The first priority on instruction is attendance and preservation, before clearance or repair alters the evidence.

What does itmad assess in a damage assessment?

itmad assesses mechanical and rotating plant, pressure equipment and piping systems, process plant, electrical systems, lifting equipment and cranes, structural and civil damage, building services, transport and cargo damage, and fire and heat-affected plant. itmad also assesses multi-cause and complex events.

When is a damage assessment used?

A damage assessment is used following a failure where cause is disputed or unclear, to establish the extent of damage and the scope of repair, and to distinguish damage caused by an incident from pre-existing wear or defect. A damage assessment also supports or challenges an insurance claim on technical grounds and establishes whether a third party caused the loss, for recourse or subrogation.

Does itmad carry out repairs or supply replacement equipment?

No. itmad holds no interest in the outcome of any claim, does not carry out repairs, does not supply replacement equipment, and does not act for a party on a contingent basis. The finding is reported as found, including where the finding does not favour the instructing party.