West Ryde: Defects found at Bangalla Construction-built house on Victoria Rd

Structural dangers, loose bricks and fire safety hazards have been exposed during an inspection of a property in Sydney’s northern suburbs.

The property at 1110 Victoria Rd West Ryde under construction in July. Picture: Google Maps

Company Bangalla Construction has been ordered to rectify nine defects identified in a house built at West Ryde.

The NSW Building Commission has ordered the Wahroonga-based contractor to repair masonry and fire-safety problems at the two-storey attached duplex at 1110 Victoria Rd following an inspection in August.

A failure to use the sufficient number of angle brackets between walls and floors was identified as a fire risk and one that also flouted installation rules.

“Failure to install sufficient angle brackets … can lead to instability, increase the risk of

wall collapse during a fire event including possible resistance to wind and seismic forces, compromising the safety, structural adequacy of the structure,’’ the report stated.

The inspection found joints were insufficiently sealed in wall joints, which “compromised the fire rating integrity to provide the required level of fire protection”.

“This has also compromised the sound insulation of the separating wall,’’ the report stated.

Shonky work could lead to hazards.

A failure to seal bricks properly was also detected when gaps were found in mortar –

a fault that could lead to cracking.

Bricks were also found to be laid incorrectly on edge – a fault that means the “strength has been compromised, therefore compromising the structural adequacy of the wall, potentially leading to cracking”.

Absent slip joints in walls were highlighted and had the potential to lead to cracking.

A failure to attach two walls properly meant there was no support “to the front wall for strength and stability”.

“This can lead to cracking of the wall,’’ the report stated.

Shonky work was also uncovered with too much timber cut from a beam, which could “result in potential failures under load’’.

Insufficiently-installed framing could also compromise the structural adequacy of building materials and “loss of amenity for occupants”.

A joint was also not properly installed in a plate to walls.

The report continued: “The omission of the nailing plate to the top plate of connecting wall frames reduces structural rigidity of the wall frames.’’