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Housebuilders could be hit by higher insurance premiums and added deterrents to using timber frame if a 拢2.6m court claim against Taylor Wimpey is successful.

The claim has been launched by insurer Brit Insurance Holdings and Heathside (Hounslow) Management Company for the loss of an occupied timber-framed apartment block in a fire in west London in June 2008.

The insurer is seeking the cash from George Wimpey, Taylor Wimpey and timber frame erector Brendan Flynn Construction for the costs of rebuilding two apartment blocks, temporary accommodation and damage to residents鈥� possessions.

Fire safety experts have warned that the case could set a worrying precedent.

According to the writ, Brit Insurance says cavity barriers were either inadequately installed or missing. It claimed the flats did not conform to regulations and that properly installed fire barriers would have limited the fire to just two flats.

Taylor Wimpey declined to comment and Brendan Flynn Construction was unavailable.

All future fires in timber-framed buildings may be investigated with this in mind

Jim Glockling, FPA

Jim Glockling is the Fire Protection Association鈥檚 technical director and group chair of RISCAuthority, a technical research group set up by insurers. He said the legal move was significant because it showed insurers were trying to limit their losses where fires caused disproportionate damage to defectively constructed timber-framed apartment blocks and warned more such action could follow.

He said: 鈥淚f this does form a landmark decision, all future fires in timber-framed buildings will be investigated with this in mind. When new timber-frame buildings come up to be insured, if there is a suspicion the fire stopping measures aren鈥檛 installed properly, a survey may be needed before an insurer will cover it.鈥�

He also warned the case could do 鈥渞eputational damage鈥� to timber frame.

Robin Hardy, a housebuilding analyst at KBC Peel Hunt, said it was unusual for an insurer to go after a housebuilder for damages and the likely result would be higher premiums.

He said: 鈥淜nowing the mindset of insurers, it will not take much for them to put premiums up where the balance of risk is altered.鈥�

A spokesman for the Association of British Insurers said premiums would not necessarily rise on a single case, but added that it served as 鈥渁 timely reminder that will add further pressure on builders using timber frame鈥�.

The UK Timber Frame Association (UKTFA) said it was understandable that insurers sought redress for poor quality construction.

Geoff Arnold, chair of the UKTFA, said: 鈥淚f something isn鈥檛 built properly it鈥檚 fair enough that people claim for that loss. 好色先生TVs just need to be built correctly.鈥� He added that the UKTFA would shortly be issuing guidance on the correct installation of fire barriers and was looking into the possibility of UKTFA members fitting these in the future rather than leaving this to follow-on trades.