G Questions

Question 1

What is the Provisional Sum clause in the JCT?

Answer 1

The JCT defines a provisional sum as “…a sum provided for work,
identified as being for defined or undefined work within the meaning of paragraph 2.9.1 of the Measurement Rules.

Question 2

What do the RICS recommend for complaint handling procedures? What happens if it cant be dealt with by the company?

Answer 2

Typically it’s a 2 phase procedure which includes provisions for escalating the complaint if not satisfactorily resolved.The complainant can formally lodge a complaint with RICS if the internal resolution process fails or if the complainant is dissatisfied with the outcome.

Question 3

Who doesn’t need to do CPD? continous professional development

Answer 3

Non-practicing members are generally not required to fulfill CPD requirements. They should, however, inform RICS of their non-practicing status to ensure that their membership status is correctly updated.

Question 4

cpd requirments

Answer 4

members must undertake a minimum of 20 hours cpd each year. 10 hours must be formal cpd.

Question 5

Failure to undertake enough CPD?

Answer 5

you will receive a caution in accordance with Rule 4(c).The caution (called a Fixed Penalty caution) will remain on your disciplinary record for 10 years.

Question 6

Final Account review timescales

Answer 6

Practical Completion: Project reaches practical completion.
Within 3 Months: Contractor submits the final statement of account.
Within 3 Months of Submission: Employer or employer’s agent reviews the final statement, raises any queries, and negotiates adjustments.
Agreement Reached: Final account agreed upon by both parties.
Within 2 Months of Agreement: Employer or employer’s agent issues the final certificate.

Question 7

What are party wall agreements and what would you expect to see in one?

Answer 7

A party wall agreement is a legally binding document that outlines the rights and responsibilities of neighboring property owners when one of them intends to carry out construction work that affects a shared wall. Agreement on how any damage will be assessed and repaired.A clear description of the proposed construction or excavation work/with programme

Question 8

Difference between management and statutory accounts?

Answer 8

management is for internal decision making normally monthly. i.e profit & loss statements/cash flow forecasts. Statutory is for external reporting annually i.e. provide a formal record of the company’s financial performance and position

Question 9

what are standard brick dimensions

Answer 9

215mm x 102.5mm x 65mm

Question 10

how many standard bricks are required per m2

Answer 10

60 bricks per m2

Question 11

how many blocks are required per m2

Answer 11

10 blocks per m2

Question 12

what are weep holes

Answer 12

small openings in the outer skin of masonry construction. weep holes provide ventilation for the cavity and allow moisture to drain away.

Question 13

name 2 different types of brick bond

Answer 13

english bond/stretcher bond- vertical joints are staggered each time by half a brick.

Question 14

what is a project charter?

Answer 14

A Project Charter is a formal document that authorizes the initiation of a project. It outlines the objectives, scope, participants, and responsibilities, providing a clear framework and direction for project execution

Question 15

What contract provisions may affect a cash flow forecast?

Answer 15

Payment terms are critical; for instance, the timing of interim payments and the percentage of retention withheld can affect our liquidity. Variations and change orders also play a role; delays in approving and valuing these can postpone expected cash inflows.

Question 16

what type of business structures are there?

Answer 16

there is sole trader/partnerships/limited liability company (Provides limited liability protection with flexible management

Question 17

What is a business plan and what may be included?

Answer 17

business plan summarises the operational and financial objectives of a business. It is the businesses road map to success with a timescale of 3-5 years.

Question 18

difference between business planning and business strategy

Answer 18

strategy is concerned with the entire organisation i.e what it produces and where it competes. Business plans are detailed implementation plans of the overall strategy.

Question 19

WHat are building support services.

Answer 19

Business support services are a wide range of services designed to assist organizations in their day-to-day operations,i.e IT/Legal services

Question 20

RIDDOR/ COSHH

Answer 20

Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations//Control of Substances Hazardous to Health

Question 21

What payment timelines are in my contracts? Main contract vs Subcontract

Answer 21

Contractor is required to submit an application before the valuation date 7 days before the due date. A payment notice is then submitted 5 days after. 14 days after the due date is final date for payment.

Question 22

What payment timelines are in my contracts?Subcontract

Answer 22

Subcontractor to submit an applicaition, these works are then valued 7 days after the application date. from the valuation date +14 days is the final date for payment.

Question 23

What is in the RIBA plan of works?SPCSTCHU

Answer 23

RIBA organises the processes of briefing, designing, constructing and operating building projects into 8 stages. strategic/preparation/concept/spatial coord/technical design/construction/handover/use

Question 24

What are the CDM notification requirements?

Answer 24

A project must be notified to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) if it meets either of the following criteria:

The construction work is expected to last longer than 30 working days and will have more than 20 workers working simultaneously at any point in the project.
The construction work involves more than 500 person-days of construction work.

Question 25

On what basis can a contract be terminated?

Answer 25

if the notified sum is not paid by the final date for payment, under the construction act 2009 the contractor can suspend the performance/insolvency or breach of contract

Question 26

Whats in a cost to complete?

Answer 26

estimate of the remaining expenditure required to finish a project. This calculation is crucial for project management, budgeting, and financial planning. includes labour/material costs-site overheads.

Question 27

Three elements of a contractual agreement?

Answer 27

Offer-must be communicated to the other party /acceptance/consideration (refers to something of value that is exchanged between the parties.)

Question 28

What was the recent Hackett report

Answer 28

Hackett report identified shortcomings in the regulatory framework governing fire safety in high-rise residential buildings. It advocated for a change in the culture of the construction industry, prioritizing safety over cost-cutting.

Question 29

how does hackett link to Building Regs?

Answer 29

Part B of the Building Regulations deals with fire safety.
- ensuring that all new and existing buildings meet higher safety standards.
-ensure all parties understand their responsibilities regarding fire safety.
-professionals involved in the application of Part B are adequately trained and competent.

Question 30

Who would you need to inform if a complaint is made to yourself? 4

Answer 30

-Inform senior management or directors within the company.
-Report serious complaints to RICS Regulation.
-Contact your professional indemnity insurer. They will need to be involved if the complaint escalates to a formal claim.
-Acknowledge and keep the client informed by writing to them.
Consult legal counsel if needed.

Question 31

What is a conflict of interest?

Answer 31

This arises in a situation where there may be a potential risk of the professional judgment of an rics-firm/member will be compromised when undertaking an assignment.

Question 31

What should you do if you are aware of a colleague having a COI and not declaring it?

Answer 31

have a private conversation with the colleague. Express your concerns give them an opportunity to explain their perspective. They may not be aware of the conflict or may not realize the importance of declaring it.
- inform senior management
-Report the issue to RICS Regulation if the conflict is serious and remains unresolved.

Question 32

what are 3 types of conflict of interest? POC

Answer 32

party conflict/own interest/confidential information conflict

Question 33

examples of coi

Answer 33

-acting for both developer &contractor on the same project
-having other obligations that affects your relationship with the client
-i.e acting as an expert witness (mediation) where your firm has an interest in the outcome

Question 34

What are the 5 professional and ethical standards? ICQDP

Answer 34

-members/firms act with integrity & comply with their professional obligations
-m&f’s maintain -professional competence
-m&f’s must provide good quality service
-m&f’s must treat others with respect, encourage diversity and inclusion
-m&f’s must act in public interest,prevent harm and maintain public confidence

Question 35

Can I give an example in the last week of where I have demonstrated meeting one of these standards?

Answer 35

Act with integrity and comply with their professional obligations= Last week our team encountered an unexpected delay due to adverse weather conditions. The delay threatened to impact the project’s completion timeline, which was critical to the client. I took the following steps:

Open Communication: I immediately informed the client about the weather-related delay. I provided a detailed explanation of how the weather had affected our construction schedule and the potential implications for the project timeline alongside proposed resequence to make up for the delay.

Question 36

jct change process

Answer 36

employer will generally introduce changes and instruct that a variation or change be issued in writing. contractor may propose a change to the employers requirements. The contractor may share the saving with the employer on significant changes.

Question 37

case law on work outside the contract scope

Answer 37

blue circle industries v holland dredging- in the absence of an effective change clause the contractor was not obliged to carry out work that had been changed.

Question 38

how does change affect subcontractor vs main contractor

Answer 38

the change clause in the standard form may not be suitable for sc’s. for example certain subcontractors do not have the design capability requiring amendments to the subcontract form.

Question 39

how does BIM affect change

Answer 39

bim can signifcantly reduce the number and severity of changes needed during construction. it requires precise geometry and spec from the start. bim allows the team to formulate any changes and analyse whether they are beneficial.

Question 40

define deemed change

Answer 40

deemed change is known as neceesary change this requires a formal variation notice pursuant to clause 2.15

Question 41

how to report change in the change management process?

Answer 41

-registering any change on a register and allocoating a number to it
-board meeting minutes
-distribution of change docs

Question 42

what happens if there is a lot of change

Answer 42

this could result in a formation of a second, collateral contract that depends on the original main contract. these are normally written contracts to a separate agreement.

Question 43

how to assess loss and expense claim

Answer 43

first step is to review the contract, see if theres a provision that includes what happens in the event of compensation. The comparison is between the period of time that the
item would have been on site had the matter not occurred and the period of time that it was reasonable to have been on site given that the matter did occur. Where the plant in question is owned by the contractor, the measure of the loss is the amount (if any) that could have been earned by using the plant elsewhere had it not been tied up on the site for longer than would have been the case if the matter
in question had not occurred. These can include accommodation, lighting and power for example.

Question 44

what is threshold businesses must register for VAT

Answer 44

in spring 2024 budget vat threshold is 90k.

Question 45

what is FRAEW

Answer 45

fire risk appraisal of external walls, an assesment of the external wall system

Question 46

define party conflict/own interest/confidential matter

Answer 46

P= duty to act in the interests of a client or other party in a prof assignment conflicts with a duty owed to another client.
O= duty to act in the interests of a client conflicts with the interests of that same RICS firm
C= conflict on providing material information to one client and the duty of that member to keep the info confidential

Question 47

how to identify COI

Answer 47

=the processes in place for identifying conflicts will be based on size, complexity and number of practice areas in rics.
=some firms might wish to request that staff declare any personal interests at the time of joining the organisation and to update the register on an ongoing basis.