1 Flashcards
What’s the purpose of an inspection?
To understand all possible factors which can effect value such as location, tenure, aspect, construction, defects, condition
When inspecting, what do you consider in the immediate area?
1) location / aspect / local facilities / public transport / business vibrancy
2) contamination / environmental hazards / flooding / power lines
3) comparable evidence / local market conditions / agents boards
When inspecting externally what do you have regard to?
Method of construction
Repair and condition
Car parking / access / loading area
Defects / structural movement
Site boundaries
Age of building
What equipment do you take on inspections?
Mobile phone
Disto
Plans
PPE
Pen and inspection check list
When inspecting internally, what do you have regard to?
Layout & specification
Repair & maintenance
Defects
Services
Statutory compliance
Fixtures and fittings and improvements
Compliance with lease obligations
What are the 4 types of foundations?
1) trench or strip footings
2) raft
3) piled
4) pad
What are the two types of brickwork construction?
Solid wall- solid brickwork with headers, usually one brick thick
Cavity wall - two layers of brickwork and tied together metal ties, and cavity usually filled with insulation
What’s efflorescence?
White marks caused by water reacting with natural salts in the brickwork.
What’s spalling?
Damaged brickwork where the surface of the bricks starts to crumble due to freeze / thaw
What’s the institutional specifications of shops?
New shops are constructed of either steel or concrete frame
Services capped off
Concrete floor and no suspended ceiling
Let in shell condition, ready for retailers fit out
What’s the institutional specification for offices?
New office buildings are of either steel or concrete frame
Steel frame buildings usually have less columns and a winder span between columns
Suspended ceilings
What’s the institutional specification of industrial properties?
Usually steel portal frame with insulated profile steel cladding
Approximate site cover of 40%
Minimum 8m clear eaves height
Full height electric loading doors
What’s an inherent defect?
A defect in the design or a material which has always been present
What’s a latent defect?
A fault to the property that could not have been discovered by a reasonably thorough inspection
If you were to identify a defect on site, what would you do?
1) take photographs of the defect
2) try to establish the cause of damage whilst on site
3) inform client of findings
4) recommend they seek advice from a building surveyor or a structural engineer
What are the 3 common causes of defects?
1) movement
2) water
3) defective building material
What’s subsidence ?
The vertical downward movement of a building foundation caused by a loss of support beneath
What is heave?
The expansion of the ground beneath part of or all of a building
What could horizontal cracking of brickwork indicate?
Cavity wall tie failure
Name some forms of damp
Wet rot
Dry rot
Rising damp
Condensation
What are deleterious materials? Can you name some?
Can degrade over time causing structural problems and can results in non compliance with building regs
Eg, high alumina cement, woodwool shuttering
What’s a hazardous material? Name some?
Any material which is harmful to health e.g asbestos, lead piping, radon gas
What is Japanese Knotweed?
An invasive plant which can damage hard surfaces such as foundations and tarmac.
It’s hard to control, costly to eradicate and require a specialist.
What does Japanese knotweed look like?
Purple / green hollow stems and green spade shape leaves
Stems are bamboo like
What RICS document contains advice on Japanese knotweed?
Rics professional statement
“Japanese knotweed and residential property” 2022
What does the rics document on Japanese knotweed include?
Contains a decision tree based on risk level to help valuers determine the appropriate management approach
What is asbestos?
A group of fibrous minerals used to strengthen and fireproof materials. 3 types: blue, brown, white
Products and materials containing asbestos were commonly used when?
Used throughout the 20th century, with a peek period during the 60s & 70s
It’s use was fully banned in 1999
What rics document is there regarding asbestos?
RICS Guidance Note: “Asbestos: legal requirements and best practice for property professionals and clients” 2021
What were some common asbestos products?
Asbestos insulation - insulation to pipes and boilers
Asbestos coating
Asbestos insulating boards (AIBs)
Asbestos cement
What legislation is there regarding asbestos?
The control of asbestos regulations 2012
What is regulation 4 under the control of asbestos regulations 2012?
Duty to manage asbestos in non domestic properties. To carry out a survey to enable an asbestos register to be compiled.
Assessing the risk from any identified asbestos
What is the key legislation regarding contamination?
Environmental Protection Act 1990
With regards to contamination, what’s the typical 3 phase of investigation?
1) review the site history, site inspection & investigation
2) investigation to identify nature and extent of contamination with soil samples
3) remediation report
If a property contains asbestos what 2 things must be in place?
An abestos register
An a management plan
What is an EWS1 form?
Is designed to be used for residential properties. And the from delivers assurance to lenders, valuer, residents etc that the external wall system has been assessed for safety by a suitable expert
What are the legalities regarding Japanese knotweed?
Must not let it spread from your property to another outside of your boundaries. Must control it and manage it
