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Technical Comps > BP Questions > Flashcards

BP Questions Flashcards

1
Q

What is carbonation?

A

Carbon dioxide mixed with pollutants and water reduce the PH value of concrete making it more acidic, this breaks down the passive layer to reinforcement and causes corrosion.

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2
Q

What is high alumina cement?

A

An additive used to resist chemical attack from acids and sulphates and speed up the curing process. Mainly used in pre-cast concrete between 1950s-1974 when it was banned. Concrete increases in porosity which results in loss of strength - ‘Conversion’.

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3
Q

What are the symptoms of high alumina cement?

A

Visual assessment not to be relied on. May have brown tinge. Deflection to structural members.

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4
Q

How would you test for high alumina cement?

A

Lab testing required > Concrete becomes friable and can often turn a brown colour.

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5
Q

What are the main treatment options for high alumina cement?

A

Removal of HAC elements. Secondary support. Carbon plate bonding (bonding carbon fibre to the underside of the member).

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6
Q

What are the causes of chloride attack?

A

Caclium chloride additive - additive used in 1960s - 70s to speed up curing process, Can also be introduced by sea water and unwashed aggregates in concrete.

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7
Q

What are the symptoms of chloride attack?

A

Whilst cracking and spalling of concrete accompanied by rust staining is indicative of chloride attack, high strength dense concrete may suffer damage to reinforcement without exhibiting such obvious symptoms until substantial loss of steel has occurred.

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8
Q

How would you test for chloride attack?

A

Rapid chloride permeability test. This test method is used to provide an indication on the penetrability of concrete. It is used for evaluation the resistance of a concrete sample to the penetration of chloride ions.

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9
Q

What are the causes of alkali-silica reaction?

A

Aggregates containing certain forms of silica will react with alkali hydroxide in concrete to form a gel that swells as it adsorbs water from the surrounding cement paste or the environment. Commonly known as ‘concrete cancer’.

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10
Q

What are the symptoms of alkali silica reaction?

A

In unrestrained concrete, the cracks have a characteristic random distribution often referred to as ‘map cracking’. In restrained concrete, the cracks tend to follow the line of main reinforcing bars

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11
Q

How would you test for alkali silica reaction?

A

Microscopic examination

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12
Q

What are the causes of sulphate attack?

A

Reaction between suphates and water leading to expansion. Likely to occur in ground bearing floor slabs and chimneys (sulphates from flue gases).

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13
Q

What are the symptoms of sulphate attack?

A

Expansion in brickwork (horizontal and vertical), bowing and map cracking to concrete floors, leaning of chimney stacks.

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14
Q

How would you test for sulphate attack?

A

Microscopic examination

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15
Q

What are the causes of honeycombing in concrete?

A

Poor compaction of aggregates, poor formwork. Wood wool slabs (shredded timber in concrete) reduce compaction of aggregate around steel reinforcement when used as a permanent shuttering, causing honeycombing.

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16
Q

What are the symptoms of concrete honeycombing?

A

The honeycombed surface looks very rough with voids and gaps between concrete and reinforcement.

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17
Q

What is Regent Street Disease? (Also known as Deansgate Disorder)

A

Name given to the corrosion related damage that occurs in some buildings constructed during the first half of the 20th century using a steel frame embedded within the facing stone

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18
Q

What is a cover test used for?

A

Measure depth of reinforcement

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19
Q

What is a filler joist floor?

A

Filler joist is an early form of floor slab construction, which was commonly used , between about the 1880s and 1920s. It was formed from iron or steel joists spaced , between 600 and 900mm apart and in-filled with unreinforced concrete. The concrete often had coke breeze in it acting as an aggregate. The cover on the steel joists was often , insufficient. The coke releases acids which change the passivity of the concrete and the , lack of cover increases the risk of carbonation

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20
Q

What would you recommend for the repair of steel reinforcement?

A

Cleaning the exposed steelwork involves removing the surface rust by either sand blasting or needle gunning and treating the exposed surface with a protective paint coating.

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21
Q

Which part of the Approved Documents cover drainage?

A

Approved Document H

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22
Q

What are the minimum sizes of foul drainage pipework and minimum gradients?

A

Pipework should be at least 75mm in diameter. 150mm pipework should be at least 1:150 in accordance with Approved Document H Diagram 3.

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23
Q

What are the causes of dry and wet rot?

A

Lack of ventilation, give examples. E.g.
Wet rot in roof where source of moisture - usually 50-60% relative humidity.
Dry rot in basement where moisture and lack of ventilation - usually 20-40% relative humidity

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24
Q

What are the symptoms of dry rot?

A

Deep cuboidal cracking, reduction in weight, dull brown in colour. Strands are typically 3mm in diameter and off-white/dark grey in colour. Fruiting bodies yellow-ochre when young, rusty red when mature. Distinct mushroom smell.

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25
Q

What is the severity of dry rot?

A

High - can travel through timber, plaster, masonry and concrete

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26
Q

What are the symptoms of wet rot?

A

Cuboidal cracking on smaller scale, localised infection where dampness is present.

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27
Q

What is the severity of wet rot?

A

Medium - Affects timber only but can cause structural issues if left untreated.

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28
Q

What is the life cycle of rot?

A

1 - Spore, 2 - Hyphae, 3 - Mycelium, 4 - Fruiting Body

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29
Q

When would you engage with a structural engineer when you identify cracking?

A

Review crack size in accordance with BRE Digest 251. Generally cracks over 5mm may cause serviceability issues and anything in category 5, being more than 25mm, are considered to require structural intervention.

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30
Q

What are the typical symptoms of cavity wall tie failure?

A

Horizontal cracking at regular intervals, every 3rd or 4th course of brick. Typically due to rusting of metal ties.

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31
Q

What could be the possible causes of cracking between a bay window and the main structure?

A

Differential settlement caused by differences in the foundation depths between the bay window and the main wall. Can also be due to bay window being insufficiently tied to main structure.

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32
Q

What are the typical defects to a flat roof?

A

Crazing - Surface crazing is caused where there is a lack of adequate protection from the harmful effects of exposure to the sun.
Blistering - Caused where water vapour pressure occurring below the roof covering becomes trapped.
Ponding - Minimum gradient of 1:40 required for flat roof to discharge water effectively.

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33
Q

What is damp?

A

A building is only considered to be damp if moisture levels are such that staining and discolouration of finishes occurs or causes mould growth, sulphate attack, frost damage, or even drips and puddles.

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34
Q

How can you test for damp?

A

The use of a protomiter moisture meter or carbide meter

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35
Q

What are the symptoms of woodworm infestation?

A

Emergence holes in timber will typically be 1-2mm.

36
Q

What are the treatment options for woodworm infestation?

A

Dependent on the severity of the infestation and the location. For attack on structural timber, it will be required to utilise insecticide treatment which may need to be highly intrusive to ensure that all larvae/eggs are removed.

37
Q

What are the symptoms of death watch beetle infestation?

A

Emergence holes in timber will typically be 4mm. Active period: March - June

38
Q

What are the treatment options for death watch beetle infestation?

A

Larger larvae and adult beetles increases the likelihood of damage to structural integrity. Will require insecticide treatment and replacement of structural timber members - BRE Digest 307

39
Q

What materials can roof lights be constructed from?

A

Glass, polycarbonate or GRP.

40
Q

Discuss the likley causes of a leaning chimney stack?

A

Sulphate attack - Hydroscopic salts created by burning fuels and in an unlined chimney these salts collect in the mortar between the bricks.
Inadequate support - Chimney may have inadequate support where the chimney breast below roof level has been removed.

41
Q

What are the main differences between Georgian and Victorian buildings?

A

Georgian buildings - Highly symmetrical and decorative. Windows are consistent sizes. Roofs are commonly hipped and concealed behind parapet walls to all sides.
Victorian buildings - Typically have steeply pitched roofs and are less symmetrical.

42
Q

Why is animal hair used in lime plaster?

A

Lime plaster might shrink after drying so animal hair of about 5 Kg is used for 1 m2 to avoid lime plaster cracking and shrinking.

43
Q

When would you use a calcium carbide meter?

A

The calcium carbide ‘speedy’ test helps us to determine the moisture content within a suspected damp wall. The test is more accurate than simply using a protimeter as conductive salts can produce false reading on electrical damp meters.

44
Q

When were some deleterious materials banned from use?

A

HAC - 1974
Calcium Chloride Additive - 1977
Asbestos - 1999

45
Q

What are the signs of rising damp and why does it occur?

A

Breached or poor DPC. Tide marks on wall, salt deposits and deterioration of timber skirting.

46
Q

What are 3 remedies for rising damp?

A
  • Removal of source of persistent moisture,
  • Introduction of chemcial injection DPC or physical DPC
  • Lime wash and plaster
47
Q

What is the relevance of BRE Digest 251?

A

Cracks over 25mm, very severe / affects stability

48
Q

When was the Victorian era?

A

1837-1901

49
Q

What are typical defects found in the victorian era?

A
  • Rotten joist ends (Due to floor joists being built directly in to external wall)
  • Leaning chimneys (Sulphate attack)
  • Condensation
  • Sagging roof (Concrete tiles, removal of roof struts etc)
  • Penetrating damp (Corroded RWP, flashings poor etc)
  • Rising damp (DPC from 1875)
  • Poor subfloor ventilation (Blocked vents common)
50
Q

If you were to submit an LBC application, how much does it cost?

A

It costs nothing

51
Q

What is the significance of the listings of buildings?

A

Buildings or structures that have historical interest that needs protecting. Spanning from Grade II through to Grade I.

52
Q

What tools can you use to test for moisture in walls/ceilings etc

A

Speedy carbide meter (Calcium carbide test), moisture meter

53
Q

When was a DPC introduced?

A

Public Health Act 1875

54
Q

What is subsidence, what causes it, how does it differ from heave? What tests would you undertake to detect it? Tell tale signs of it (i.e. direction of cracking)? What remediation measures are available?

A

Sinking of soil below a property. (Heave is upward movement of building). Can be caused by ground shrinkage due to lack of moisture (Weather or trees nearby), Collapsed drains, collapsed mines, improperrly compacted ground etc. Vertical cracking if in centre of building or diagonal if on corner of building. Cracks larger at the top and thinner at bottom.

55
Q

What are common defects with slate pitched roofs, gutters & downpipes?

A

Slipped slates, Corroded cast iron guttering, lead water pipes, sagging (Due to weight of roof or removal if internal struts). Tingle to fix slipped slates due to corroded nails (Copper nails commonly used to replace due to their resiliance).

56
Q

Can explain the appropriate methods of timber window repairs?

A

Splicing repairs - Timber cut back to sound timber and new sections fixed in place with resin.

57
Q

How was the stonework repaired and any cleaning required?

A

Defetive stonework cut out, new stone fixed in place using dowels and bonded with epoxy resin. Lime mortar used to fill cracks.

58
Q

Any special requirements for the arranging the drone survey?

A

Drone licenses, restricted airspace, weather conditions, public safety

59
Q

What’s the difference between hydraulic and non-hydraulic lime?

A

Hydraulic uses water to set, setting quicker. Non-hyraulic is traditional and sets over a longer period.

60
Q

Can you name some deleterious materials and what deleterious material is often found in the construction of a flat roof in a typical 1960-70’s building?

A

Woodwool, asbestos

61
Q

What is the difference between a cold and warm roof?

A

Warm roof - Insulation laid on top of the deck, more efficient.
Cold roof - Insulation below the deck between the joists and is vented (Less efficient).

62
Q

When designing the new roof coverings were the any statutory guidance you had to refer to?

A

Approved Documents: Part L, Part C, Part A,

63
Q

What is permeability? Why is this important in old buildings?

A

Old buildings are designed to breath. If a non-permeable material like cement is introduced it can cause moisture to get trapped and accelerate the deterioration of the fabric.

64
Q

How did you determine that the penetrating damp was a result of a flashing defect? How were you confident this was the only issue?

A

Could be observed from ground level. Areas in this location were checked and it could be seen.

65
Q

What code of lead would you specify for a flashing?

A

Code 4 or 5 would be most suited

66
Q

How is lead flashing installed?

A

It is chase in the mortar course, can be either apron or stepped, with lead wedges used to fix in situ. The lead is then fixed in place with mortar or another suitable product.

67
Q

What are the limitations of Drone usage in the UK?

A

Need a licence to fly commercially in the UK. Restricted by weather, airspace, risk assesment and insurance.

68
Q

How did you determine the render was cementitous if you couldn’t gain physical access? Why was cementious render an issue? How and why did it lead to damp internally?

A

The render was a dark grey colour, you could see the edge detail. Cementitious render is not permeable meaning it doesn’t let the building breath leading to moisture getting trapped.
(Recommendations caveated - Visual non-intrusive. Tests could be carried out to confirm)

69
Q

Why is cracking to bay windows typically found in Victorian properties?

A

Differential movement between the main building and bay. Typically due to the bay having shallower foundations. Can also be due to bay window being insufficiently tied to main structure. (Particularly affected in clay soil which shrinks when dry)

70
Q

What guidance would you use for assessing cracks?

A

BRE Digest 251. Generally, cracks over 5mm may cause serviceability issues and anything in category 5, being more than 25mm, are considered to require structural intervention.

71
Q

Define adequete ventilation

A

Enough to allow excessive moisture to escape the roof space.

72
Q

Talk me through what advice you provided around survey exclusions. What advice did you provide around site safety to undertake the survey? (Laundry Cottages)

A

Excluded opening up or access to any areas where safe access was not available (Dynamic Risk Assesment). Ensured asbestos reports and risk assemsnets were prepared prior to inspecting. Carried out in line with RICS Surveying Safely.

73
Q

Talk me through the options you recommended to fix the rising damp and why they were viable? Which option did you recommend as the most appropriate and why?

A

French drain - Trench lined with water permeable fabric, gravel laid with perforated pipe and filled to top with gravel. (Not suitable due to age of building with likely shallow foundations).
Lower Ground level - Most suitable as minimal work and stops existing DPC being breached.

74
Q

What specific deleteious materials might have been found at 187 High Street?

A
  • Asbestos
  • Lead Paint
  • Horse hair plaster
  • Anthrax
75
Q

How might you provide adequate ventilation to this new roof?

A

Ridge vents, Eaves vents. In compliance with Part F and BS 5250:2021

76
Q

What were the limitations of preparing a SoW for the roof works without gaining close physical access?

A

Didn’t allow close up visual inspection of all areas.

77
Q

What RICS documents are there governing PPMs?

A

Planned Preventative Maintenance of Commercial and Residential Property Professional Standard

78
Q

How would you test the waterproofing membrane to a flat roof?

A
  • Core samples
  • Electronic Leak Detection (Infrared)
  • Thermographic
  • Dye tracing
79
Q

What might you test for to assertain whther it is rising damp?

A

Carry out salt tests / analysis - presense of nitrates indicates the water is likely to have come from the ground. (Testing of baseline of tap water nitrate will help discount a water leak)

80
Q

What guidance would you follow when specifying lead repairs / replacement?

A

Lead sheet training academy guidance

81
Q

How does the repair differ for wet rot to dry rot?

A

Wet rot you only have to cut back to sound timber, however, with dry rot you have to cut back / remove finishes 500 mm beyond the last signs of fungal growth. Dr rot is a lot more extensive than wet rot.

82
Q

What guidance did you refer to when assessing the rising damp?

A

BRE Digest 245

83
Q

Please provide an example of a latent defect

A

Leaking pipework concealed within a plasterboard wall only became apparent when mould growth and excessive moisture was found

84
Q

What can effect the readings on a protometre?

A

Salt contamination

85
Q

When assessing defects in old buildings, how would you approach the inspection of wear and tear vs actual defects?

A

Using my experience. I would ensure they are highlighted in my report with a suitable RAG schedule. Actual defects being those which could be deprimental to building or health.

86
Q

How does a carbide meter work?

A

Mixing the sample and the calcium carbide together. The moisture within the sample reacts with the calcium carbide and releases a gas. This gas builds up within the flask turning the dial at the bottom of the flask.

87
Q

What is the dew point?

A

The temperature at which condensation occurs is called the Dew point and is dependent upon the humidity and pressure of the air.

Technical Comps (9 decks)

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