Final Bits and Bobs

Question 1

What’s included in the new ‘fire chapter’ in surveying safely?

Answer 1

• Requirements for fire and the need to keep these separate (source of fuel, oxygen, and a source of ignition
• Considerations to make in terms of fire safety when designing and building buildings, e.g. safe evacuation routes, importance of early detection and extinguishing of fire, and the means of raising the alarm.

Question 2

What sub sections are there in the new ‘fire’ chapter in surveying safely?

Answer 2

7.1 Risk of Fire
7.1.1 Fire at a residential property
7.2 Fire safety management

Question 3

What are some key items under 7.2 in the new ‘fire’ chapter in surveying safely?

Answer 3

7.2 ‘fire safety management’ references the things to consider when evaluating the risk of fire, such as:

• Component parts of a building e.g. insulation materials and cladding.
• Passive fire protection e.g. fire doors and compartmentation
• What the property is used for
• Active fire protection systems e.g. fire and smoke detection, firefighters lifts.

Question 4

Once you have evaluated the risk of fire, what does the new ‘fire’ chapter in surveying safely suggest you produce?

Answer 4

A fire safety management system incl.;

• system to ensure all appropriate plant is serviced and maintained
• emergency evacuation plan
• information readily available to emergency services
• training for occupants of the building.

Question 5

What does ‘surveying safely’ advise you to consider when lone working?

Answer 5

• is it safe to lone work, if so what provisions are there for communication in the event of an emergency
• What will the phone signal be like on site?
• Does my company have my mobile number?
• Have I arranged regular ‘check-in calls’ with anyone?
• If needed, how would someone rescue me? Can they access the building I am in?
  -‘if I did not come back from the property, who would know that I was missing and how would they be able to find me?’
• Is the site safe for lone working? e.g. is it classed as an ‘unsafe atmosphere’?

Question 6

What are some elements of surveying safely?

Answer 6

• Process of evaluating and managing risks
• Lone Working
• Fire Safety
• Elements to be aware of when conducting risk assessments (prior to site and dynamically on site) e.g.
  
  • slip and trip hazards
  • live and unsecured services
  • impact of other people and animals on the property
  • adverse weather conditions.

Question 7

What do you need to consider when you have finished your site visit?

Answer 7

• lessons learned
• are there hazards on site that need to be notified to the appropriate manager?
• accidents of near-miss incidents that need to be logged in the accident book?

Question 8

What do you need to consider before your site visit?

Answer 8

• pre-assessment of the hazards and risks likely to be encountered
• Use Arcadis’ risk assessment to capture and assess the risks
• use the checklist of matters to consider e.g. is it safer to use public transport than my car? is the member particularly vulnerable (e.g. under medication), is the access to site safe?

Question 9

What are some different types of flat roof?

Answer 9

• EPDM membrane
• Modified bitumen (asphalt based)
• Mastic asphalt
• Stone mastic asphalt

Question 10

What is the build up of an inverted roof?

Answer 10

• Roof deck
• Vapour control layer
• Insulation
• Water flow reducing layer e.g. gravel
• concrete tiles/slabs on supports

Question 11

What is the build up of a warm roof?

Answer 11

• Roof deck
• Vapour control layer
• Insulation
• Roof covering or finish e.g. timber deck and EPDM membrane

Question 12

What is the build up of a cold roof?

Answer 12

• Ceiling finish
• Vapour control layer
• Insulation between the studs internally
• Roof deck
• Waterproofing finish

Question 13

What is the IEQM?

Answer 13

the Inclusive Employer Quality Mark (IEQM), designed. to help firms in the profession gain competitive. advantage and a diverse workforce.

Question 14

When a firm signs up to IEQM what does it mean they are committed to?

Answer 14

• improving inclusivity according to the four key principles
• to monitoring performance: by completing a bi-annual self-assessment which means gathering specific inclusivity data and submitting it to RICS

Question 15

What are the four key principles of IEQM?

Answer 15

Leadership - demonstrable commitment at the highest level to increasing the diversity of the workforce

Recruitment - engage and attract new people to the industry from under-represented groups best practice recruitment methods

Culture - an inclusive culture where all staff engage with developing delivering monitoring and assessing diversity and inclusivity

Development - training and promotion policies that offer equal access to career progression to all members of the workforce