Hot Topics

Question 1

Can you tell me of any recent MODUS articles you have read?

Answer 1

I recently read a modus article on common recruitment mistakes and how to avoid them. This gave companies advice on how to market themselves to surveyors in the competitive market, including selling the client base, type of property and advertising any benefits.

I also read an article recently which had an interview with the new CEO - justin young. He detailed his personal history as well as his plans to engage younger members while not neglecting more experienced members, to rebuild trust and focus on sustainability.

I also read an article focused on the modern office, and how it can be improved in order to attract workers back to the office

Question 2

Tell me about the building safety act and its impacts

Answer 2

The building safety act is a piece of legislation enacted as response to Dame Judith Hackitt’s Building a safer future report.
It introduces high risk buildings, which are residential (have 2 resi units) and are more than 18 meters in height.
This created the Building Safety Regulator, which will become the building control authority for all high risk buildings.
These will have to pass three gateways. Planning, pre-construction, handover. Could be 12 weeks per gateway (36 weeks total delay)
Accountable person will hold a golden thread of all safety information.
An additional requirement is for a second staircase in buildings above 18m.

Question 3

Are you aware of any changes to approved document B?

Answer 3

Previous changes made include requirements for sprinklers for buildings and wayfinding signage for the fire service for buildings above 11m high, ban of combustible materials in external walls and requirement for evacuation alert systems for buildings taller than 18m.
A planned change is the introduction of a second staircase for buildings above 18m

Question 4

You mention embodied carbon assessments in your documents, are you aware of any recent changes relating to this?

Answer 4

The RICS published an updated ‘Whole life carbon assessment’ professional standard in September this year effective from July 2024.
It contains mandatory requirements for RICS members undertaking carbon assessments, and aims to be the foremost standard method of carbon assessment in the construction industry.

Question 5

What else can you tell us about the ‘Whole Life Carbon Assessment’ Professional standard?

Answer 5

• It should increase accuracy in carbon assessments
• Links to international carbon measurement standards
• Aims to allow more consistency in measurement for benchmarking and comparison
• Specific details about requirements for different type of projects and durations for WLCAs
• The overall aim is making sure a wholistic appraisal is made so that the upfront, operational, in use, lifecycle and end of life carbon implications are all considered.

Question 6

What is ICMS?

Answer 6

A principle-based international standard that sets out how to classify, define, measure, record, analyse, present and compare construction project life cycle costs.
Provides high level structure, does not include detailed measurement rules for buildings.

Question 7

What are the categories within ICMS?

Answer 7

ACROME

Aquisition costs
Construction costs
Renewal costs
Operation costs
Maintenance costs
End of life costs

Question 8

How is ICMS Mapped to NRM1?

Answer 8

The ICMS sub groups are matched to the elements.
For example the sub group for ‘internal divisions’ in ICMS would be matched to ‘Internal walls and partitions’ in NRM 1