Our proven expertise in design services, design-by-analysis and structural integrity assessment is brought together to provide an independent third party review capability.
FCL’s independence from other engineering and financial organisations also enables the company to offer expert witness and arbitration services.
Third party review is undertaken in many different capacities such as:
FCL’s arbitration service can be valuable in circumstances where disputes arise between contractor and vendor concerning, for example, the fitness-for-purpose of supplied equipment. Our arbitration service could culminate in the use of FCL staff as an expert witness in support of litigation.
Key FCL staff are represented on relevant British Standards Institution (BSI) and European Committee for Standardisation (CEN) technical committees.
In accordance with Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE) recommendations, the continuous professional development of FCL staff is enhanced by attendance at industry conferences, seminars and training courses.
FAQs
Added January 2026.
An independent third party review of a pressure vessel design can prove indispensable in cases where the purchaser does not have the resources necessary to carry out a thorough technical review in-house, or when an independent opinion is required to support contractual / legal negotiations.
Engineering contractors can frequently benefit from our expertise in reviewing fabrication drawings, analyses and substantiation documents provided by vessel fabricators, while in other situations our review services can provide validation of design documentation prepared to support the sale of proprietary equipment and/or components, and appraisal of safety cases..
FCL can review the completeness and accuracy of fabrication drawings, substantiation reports based on both design-by-rule calculations and design-by-analysis methods, and safety cases.
Our approach ranges from relatively straightforward checking of the documentation submitted against the relevant Code rules, through to the preparation of independent calculations and analyses to confirm the adequacy of the proposed design. Our extensive knowledge of all commonly used pressure vessel codes enables us to offer commentary on almost every aspect of the proposed designs, which could encompass everything from material selection, weld geometry and sound design practice, through to whether the loading conditions considered are sufficient to fully address the anticipated service.
Yes, we are able to validate the design of proprietary equipment and bespoke products. This validation can be performed against any of the principal pressure vessel design codes (e.g. ASME BPV Code, PD 5500 and EN 13445) and may be based on either design-by-rule or design-by-analysis methods.
A third party review of a design can form the basis of our arbitration service, enabling FCL to offer an independent opinion on the fitness-for-purpose of supplied equipment. Should it be required, our arbitration service could also culminate in the use of FCL staff as an expert witness in support of litigation.
Yes, we have significant experience in reviewing fabrication drawings on behalf of engineering contractors. When carrying out such work, our in-depth knowledge of the design codes and of constructional methods often enables us to identify potential problem areas in timely fashion, permitting our clients to reduce project timescales and avoid unexpected costs.
Please use this form if you have any questions about our capabilities or would like to obtain a quotation.
Alternatively, you are welcome to call or contact us by e-mail.
+44 (0)1992 585450 enquiries@finglowconsultants.co.ukYour enquiry has been safely and securely received. Our office is open weekdays from 9am to 5pm - you can expect a response during the next 2-3 working hours.
