Focused

Question 1

Sustainability: What specific criteria leads to a higher BREEAM rating?

Answer 1

It looks at the following 9 areas:
1. Energy Efficiency: Reducing energy consumption through the use of efficient building services, such as HVAC, lighting, and appliances, can have a significant impact on the BREEAM rating.
2. Water Efficiency: Using efficient plumbing fixtures and fittings and recycling rainwater can help reduce water consumption, which can improve the BREEAM rating.
3. Materials and Waste: Choosing sustainable materials, reducing waste through recycling and reuse, and implementing construction waste management plans can all contribute to a higher BREEAM rating.
4. Transport: Encouraging the use of public transport, bicycles, and electric vehicles can reduce carbon emissions and improve the BREEAM rating.
5. Ecology and Biodiversity: Incorporating green spaces, wildlife habitats, and green roofs can enhance the biodiversity of a building site and improve the BREEAM rating.
6. Pollution: Reducing pollution through measures such as air filtration systems, low-emission vehicles, and monitoring of indoor air quality can contribute to a higher BREEAM rating.
7. Health and Wellbeing: Promoting occupant health and well-being through measures such as natural light, access to outdoor spaces, and ergonomic design can also improve the BREEAM rating.

Question 2

Sustainability: Why would a business want their building to have a higher BREEAM rating?

Answer 2

Attractive to tenants / investors.
Helps environment.
Looks good for business.
Increases value of property.
Should be able to charge more rent.
People should be more productive.

Question 3

Sustainability: How can the design phase lead to a more sustainable building?

Answer 3

Can design in early sustainable practice.
By ensuring pre-fab materials to limit waste
specifying certain u-values
certain things such as rainwater harvesting
Can require a certain bream rating
Specifying recyclable products.
Using brown sites.

Question 4

Sustainability: How can the construction phase lead to a more sustainable building?

Answer 4

Not ordering too much materials
Not cutting corners
Using recyclable products
Ensuring to not pollute water / release toxins etc.
Ensuring to not damage wildlife
Noise pollution avoidance

Question 5

Sustainability: How can using technology lead to a more sustainable building?

Answer 5

Timers on lights, heating etc.
Solar panels, wind turbines etc.
Laptop instead of printing

Question 6

Sustainability: How can incorporating brown sites, using solar panelled technology and naturally resourced materials make a building more sustainable?

Answer 6

BrownFIELD sites are sites which have previously been built on but are now (typically out of use)- this allows for existing greenFIELD sites to remain untouched.
Solar Panels allow for electricity to be gained via the sun instead of from burning greenhouse gases etc. The sun does not die from being used.
Naturally sourced materials- doesn’t require energy to form and often can be reused etc.

Question 7

Measurement: How do you recalibrate a disto?

Answer 7

In settings, hit calibration, follow props, stand it up, turn it around etc. and measure- it will automatically calibrate.

You can check this is correct by finding a distance you know (maybe use a steel tape etc).Keep it still and take 10 measurements. Use the standard deviation calculation to see its accuracy. If still far off you can send it off to be recalibrated or buy a new one.

Question 8

Measurement: When should you recalibrate a disto?

Answer 8

If you drop it, haven’t used it for a while, it has had a large temperature change.

Question 9

Measurement: Why do you work in a systematic approach?

Answer 9

Easy to retrack my steps after the report, allows everything to piece together. Starting outside allows me to see how defects may look internally etc.

Question 10

Measurement BRV: What two RICS documents did you use and what was included within each of them?

Answer 10

RICS Code of measurement practice- whats included within GIA /IPMS2

RICS Reinstatement cost assessment of building- This covers a template, what steps to do

Question 11

Which Elements were to be included within the GIA and which elements were to be discounted?

Answer 11

excl- perminter wall thickness
Balconies
Canopies
greenhouses

Question 12

Measurement: How do you calculate a BRV?

Question 13

Measurement: What international measuring standard should RICS surveyors use, what’s the latest document and how should it be incorporated?

Answer 13

IPMS- International property measurement standards. IPMS: All Buildings 2023. Came out in Jan 2023. RICS haven’t updated code of measurement yet but will soon or realise new guidance to incorp IPMS.

Question 14

Measurement: Why did you not use IPMS All buildings?

Answer 14

Was Before IPMS all buildings came out so RICS guidance was up to date. IPMS All buildings came out Jan 2023.

Question 15

Inclusive En- Tell me about the Equality Act?

Answer 15

It protects against discrimination. This includes accessing and being in a building.
Replaces the Disability discrimination act. (dda)

Question 16

Inc EN- What are the fines related to breaching the equality act?

Answer 16

Employers who do not comply with the publication requirements could face civil enforcement procedures or be liable for a criminal offence, punishable by a fine of up to £5,000.

Question 17

Inc Env- What role do local authorities play in regards to building standards?

Answer 17

They check that upcoming work is suitable and in line with current standards.

Question 18

Incl Env-What building regs are in place to ensure buildings are inclusive environments?

Answer 18

Parking bays
Ramped access
Disabled toilets
Handrails
Minimum widths
Lifts
Wheelchair spaces in lecture halls
Unisex toilets

Question 19

Inc Env- What is the difference between legal requirements and ethical issues relative to inclusive design?

Answer 19

Relates to must v should.
Eg. must provided level access, should provide brail throughout.
Legally you must have level access into a commercial building. Ethically you may decide to have all access ramped.

Question 20

Inc Env- Is there any other legislation / guidance for improved inclusivity for building users?

Answer 20

British Standard BS 8300- IT PORVIDES RECCOMENDATIONS NOT MADATORY REQUIREMENTS ON INCLUSIVE DESIGN.
Includes for brail, maps, automatic doors etc.

Question 21

L+R Fin- What kind of lease was used and what were typical lease clauses?

Answer 21

If any alterations are to be removed the Tenant must be informed at least 3 months prior to lease end. I was instructed at month 2.
Decoration
Repair
Renew
Yield up
Comply with statue
Not to sub let
To pay Landlord’s costs
To use for use permitted
SOC

Question 22

L+R Fin- How did negotiations look?

Answer 22

USED A SCOTT SCHDULE
Opposing surveyor explained areas of work they had done. Then we disagreed on a few rates. BCIS and previous tender rates were used.

Question 23

L+R Fin- How did you come to an agreement?

Answer 23

Using BCIS and previous tender rates I was able to be confident that most of the costs were realistic enough for the Client to then go do the works and no be short on money.

Question 24

L+R Fin- Who recommended the settlement figure and how was it done?

Answer 24

Phoned them to explain and then sent it in an email. Highlighted that rates and breaches were generally reasonable.

Question 25

L+R Udd- Who issued the SOC?

Answer 25

Me

Question 26

L+R- Udd- What did you disagree on and what needed changing?

Answer 26

Decoration was poor in areas however had been recently painted. I said it was in poor condition not good condition however opposing surveyor wanted it as good as it was recently decorated. We agreed to state it was in poor condition however had been recently painted.