experience questions

Question 1

When have you demonstrated care for a client

Answer 1

NHS Freedom Access / NHS Dentistry - Identify stakeholders; end users, infection control, manual handling, fire e.c.t Receive initial brief from clients, confirm back to them and develop initial designs RIBA stages 0-2.

Frankfort Gate - Report on KPIs, Report progress to clients, request copies of insurances, represent the client when dealing with statutory bodies and prepare option appraisal of cladding arrangements for consultation.

Question 2

When have you managed clients expectations?

Answer 2

Leigham Primary - Value management to ensure clients expectations are met.

Question 3

When have you produced a report for a client

Answer 3

Mount Wise Towers - Complete weekly reports, reporting on progress, weather, attendance, health and safety matter e.c.t.

Frankfort gate - Record and issue meeting minutes bi-monthly progress meetings, temporary works coordination meeting, pre-start e.c.t

Question 4

Have you undertaken a negotiation

Answer 4

Frankfort Gate - Negotiate color scheme with the city center team to reach a win-win arrangement. Facilitate final account and LAD negotiations.

Question 5

When have you undertook conflict avoidance

Answer 5

Frankfort Gate - Conflict avoidance; undertook monthly valuations with contractor, clear and robust change control system, undertaking monthly valuations with the contractor.

Question 6

When have you managed personal data

Answer 6

The Vision - Due to the numerous latent defects the personal data of the residents needed to be passed across to various contractors. A data use consent letter was drafted and authorised by each resident so we could pass across their information.

Question 7

Have you identified a conflict of interest

Answer 7

The Vision - Complaint received from a resident about our handling of the defect rectification period. Dealt with in line with our complaints handling procedure.

Question 8

Have you dealt with a complaint

Answer 8

The Vision - Identify party conflict of interest with current client (leasehold developer) and client on other job (freeholder) leaks in the leasehold occurred after the defect rectification period we obtained Informed consent and confirmed their understanding of the conflict before they confirmed we could proceed.

Question 9

What has your involvement been with the RICS

Answer 9

Attend RICS South West Matrics events and committee meetings. Member and user of the RICS Insight Community. Provided feedback for RICS CPD and draft guidance notes.

Question 10

Have you received a gift from someone for your work

Answer 10

Frankfort Gate - received a bottle of wine from contractors post-completion, recorded on gift register and got raffled off.

Question 11

Have you dealt with asbestos

Answer 11

Frankfort Gate - Discovery of unforeseen asbestos; site shutdown, arrange for testing and change in methodology to ensure ACMs were dealt with in a safe manner.

Question 12

Have you identified any H&S issues

Answer 12

Mountwise Towers - weekly inspection identified various H&S issues i.e. no caps on low level scaffold vertical members, tripping hazards e.t.c.

Various - Designer Hazard Identification Forms - Identify what the hazard is, who is at risk, the likelihood of the hazard being realised, rejected mitigation measures and mitigation measures.

Question 13

When have you designed an accessible space

Answer 13

Devonport Live Cafe - Ensure that appropriate Part M measures were in place such as a compliant bathroom.

Question 14

When have you undertaken moisture diagnosis

Answer 14

City Market - Assist Moisture Mapping, use the protomiter to establish the dew point to map penetrating damp and condensation.

Question 15

When have you reported on a building’s condition

Answer 15

Blue Water - Part of a team of surveyors who undertook a full condition survey of an industrial complex. Limited to the grounds i.e. retaining walls, boundary wall/ fences, above ground drainage and hardstanding.

Question 16

When have you specified remedial measures

Answer 16

Coachmans Cottage - Raise concerns over crack following vegetation removal. Recommend and specify crack stitching bar solution.

Frankfort Gate - Specify reinforcement protection measures.

Question 17

When have you assessed delays

Answer 17

Frankfort Gate - Full CA JCT; Issuing instructions, Dealing with payment provisions, Managing variation procedures, dispute avoidance and resolution, Dealing with completion and possession issues, Issuing certificates, Assessing EoT and LADs, Final account.

Coachmans Cottage - Full CA NFDC; Issuing instructions, Dealing with payment provisions, Managing variation procedures, Dealing with completion and possession issues, Issuing certificates, Assessing EoT and LADs, Final account.

Question 18

When have you facilitated change control?

Answer 18

Eggbuckland Vale & Leigham - Full CA JCT; Issuing instructions, Dealing with payment provisions, Managing variation procedures.

Question 19

When have you recommended the use of a contract type

Answer 19

Lipson and Ashburton - Recommend the use of minor works contracts due to the simplicity and low value of the proposed works.

Question 20

When have you utilised a nontraditional contract

Answer 20

Coachmans Cottage - Utilise the NFDC contract as the works consisted of partial demolition of a historic cottage with minor builders works.

Question 21

When have you produced a full design

Answer 21

Frankfort Gate - Designed and specified repairs to wall and cladding system to meet various requirements i.e. depth, weight, fire, temperature, vertical curing e.t.c

Question 22

When have you used design standards that differ from building regulations

Answer 22

NHS Primrose and NHS Dental Surgeries - Designed the output to meet HTMs & HBNs as they are focused on delivering practical health care spaces which have different requirements to the building regulations such as medical gases and infection control.

Ashburton, Lipson, Widewell and Victoria Road CIF Bids - Specify output using Building bulletins and The output specification as they are focused on delivering safe and functional education spaces which have different requirements to the building regulations such as improved security, safeguarding and safety measures

Question 23

When have you used the building regulations

Answer 23

George Street Cafe - Building regulation compliant alterations (Part M&B)

Question 24

When have you applied for building regulations approval

Answer 24

Pennygillam Way - Building regulations application demonstrate Part B compliance.

George Street Cafe - Building Regulations application demonstrate Part B & Part M compliance

Question 25

Have you obtained any building performance certifications?

Answer 25

The Vision - Arrange for energy performance certificates prior to sale.

Question 26

When have you advised on fire safety

Answer 26

George Street Cafe - Advise on the type of fire alarm system required, produce a fire strategy drawing to sign off the pre-commencement condition.

Question 27

When have you designed to Part B

Answer 27

PennyGillam Way - Inspect non-compliant compartment wall and recommend remedial works to meet Part B e.g. introduce fireline board, intumescent sealant at junctions and pipe collars at penetrations.

Question 28

When have you undertaken a fire inspection

Answer 28

The Vision - Inspection of 60minute compartment walls to identify areas of concern i.e. unprotected penetrations, incorrect fire signage and missing hinges to fire doors.

Question 29

When have you planned any maintenance

Answer 29

Whitemoor, Treverbyn and PHSG - Undertook an inspection to inform the school’s maintenance plan for the next five-plus years advising on the condition, repair, priority and cost.

Question 30

When have you recommended component repairs

Answer 30

Undertook an inspection of 20+ properties windows and doors to identify issues with window design, maintenance and workmanship. Recommend remedial solutions.

Gravesend - Render surveys and specify repairs

Question 31

When have you undertaken regular inspections

Answer 31

Frankfort Gate - Progress, quality and H&S inspections weekly reported back in fortnightly progress meetings. Snagging inspections.

Question 32

When have you undertaken completion inspections

Answer 32

The Vision - Snagging inspections of newly finished apartments

Question 33

When have you reviewed damage

Answer 33

Batter Street - Undertake a photographic schedule of condition following a fire.

Question 34

When have you dealt with building control

Answer 34

Pennygillam Way - Building regulations application demonstrate Part B compliance.

George Street Cafe - Building Regulations application demonstrate Part B & Part M compliance

Frankfort Gate - Building regulations application.

Question 35

When have you dealt with planning

Answer 35

Frankfort Gate - dealt with the city centre team who was one of the stakeholders of the project.

Elliot Terrace - Sign off pre-commencement conditions on Grade 2 listed building by detailing existing carpentry details

Question 36

When have you met environmental standards

Answer 36

The Vision - Arrange for energy performance certificates prior to sale.

Question 37

When have you checked dimensions

Answer 37

NHS Dental Surgeries - Dimensions to inform existing drawings

Elliot Terrace - Dimensions to record the locations of items of interest on party wall drawings i.e. pipework, joining door and steel.

Question 38

When have you measured quantities

Answer 38

Coachmans Cottage - Confirm contractor measured quantities for lime mortar repointing and render repair following uncertainty over amount.

Question 39

When have you utilised Public procurement regulations 2015

Answer 39

Frankfort Gate - Open tender on Pro-Contract in accordance with Public Contracts Regulations 2015. Invitation to tender and pre-qualification questionnaire.

Question 40

When have you obtained services

Answer 40

Various - Obtaining Services - Obtained drainage surveys, ground-penetrating radar surveys, measured surveys, refurbishment and demolition surveys.

Question 41

When have you used a tender scoring matrix

Answer 41

NHS Dental Surgeries - Assessed quotations using a scoring matrix provided by the client consisting of a mixture of pass/fail and weighted questions.

Question 42

When have you completed a tender exercise

Answer 42

Coachmans Cottage - Tender analysis - Undesirable work lead to 2Nr tender returns, compare returns to PTE and review programme, method statement, cost and errors.

Question 43

How did you assess the delay

Answer 43

Once the contractor notified us of a delay as per the contract I undertook an analysis consisting of the following;

Overview of the Facts - The facts will be evidenced by letters, emails, meeting minutes, progress records, photographs, instructions, drawings and other contemporaneous documents. Suitable for straightforward claims.

Critical Path Analysis - The primary purpose of a critical path analysis is to show which activities on a programme of works are critical to completion and which are non-critical.

Comparing actual and planned progress - Quite simply, the duration of the work activities, as actually carried out on site, are plotted on the planned programme, thereby illustrating discrepancies.

Question 44

What was the outcome of your delay analysis?

Answer 44

An extension of time and LADs were awarded due to the following relevant events and matters;

Client change in sequencing due to obstructive shop owner (L&E)
Client change in sequencing due to Christmas shopping (L&E)
Christmas shutdown (None)
Inclement weather (L&E Prelims only)

A Non-completion certificate was issued due to the following relevant matters;
Product availability - Sikagaurd 720 EpoCem (LAD)

Question 45

How was the project procured

Answer 45

Due to the public nature of the works it was posted on OJEU utilising the open tendering procedure. The client produced an Invitation to tender form and a pre-qualification questionnaire.

Question 46

Did you attend any meetings

Answer 46

Fortnightly Progress meetings - I arranged, chaired and minuted fortnightly progress meetings held on-site as per the contract.

Question 47

What alternative systems did you consider for the cladding and why did you dismiss them

Answer 47

Counter batten insulated rain screen cladding system with the breather membrane. This was generally dismissed as the system had to sit within the precast concrete frame (50mm) else it would be beyond the demise of the property.

Brick slips with an insulated backing panel were considered to match the North and South elevations and improve the thermal performance of the wall. However, it was agreed with our architects that it would be more appropriate to find more lightweight solution as the panels that were to be removed weighed approximately 50kg and the brick slips weighed 32kg/m2 in addition to the unknown quantity of repair mortar.

Question 48

What cladding system did you specify

Answer 48

We selected a lightweight narrow system consisting of 32mm x 150mm treated battens and 8mm thick Steni Colour façade panels which consist of stone composite panels with a smooth surface of electron beam-cured acrylic.

Question 49

What did you submit for statutory approvals

Answer 49

Before my involvement pre-application advice was sought after and a pre-application report was provided.

Using advice from this report I prepared a package of information in preparation of completing the planning application. The package contained;
Location Plan 1:1250
Site Plan 1:500
Existing elevations 1:100
Proposed elevations 1:100
Design and access statement containing;
Local context
Local materials
Proposals
Visuals

Question 50

Were building control involved

Answer 50

I completed and submitted a full plans Building control application. Building control provided conditional approval

Question 51

What was the building control conditions

Answer 51

Any openings in the elevations should be adequately fire stopped at the perimeter of the opening to prevent fire spread to the cavity.

It is strongly recommended that the cavity behind the cladding is insulated if this is practicable.

Question 52

How did you discharge these conditions

Answer 52

I highlighted to the building control officer that the building is less than 18m, the superstructure has a masonry inner skin and reinforced concrete exterior skin cavity wall with no openings above ground level, that combined with the lack of any combustible material in the wall proving that the condition is unnecessary. The building control officer agreed and confirmed that this was acceptable pending their review of the products. A datasheet of the Steni colour panels was provided indicating that the Euroclass rating was B-S1 D0. Building control approved

I highlighted to the building control officer that there is only a 35mm cavity and it was not feasible to add any additional insulation. The building control officer signed off condition 1 and withdrew condition 2. Completion sign off was achieved on 8 July 2020.