Inspection

Question 1

What is the 4 step process to an inspection

Answer 1

• Consider you health and safety, ppe etc
• Inspect the local area
• External inspection
• Internal inspection

Question 2

What are the different types of foundations?

Answer 2

1. Trench - Resi buildings
2. Raft - Slab foundation for lightweight buildings
3. Piled - Concrete cylinders
4. Pad - Slab under individual collumns

Question 3

What are the different types of construction?

Answer 3

1. Solid Wall - Solid Brickwork, usually at least one brick thick ( different forms of brickwork, English bond/Flemish bond etc) - 9 inches thick
2. Cavity Wall - Two layers of brick tied together with metal ties, filled with insulation (stretcher only)

Question 4

What can be the usual defects to brickwork?

Answer 4

• Spalling: Brick starts crumbling due to freeze/thaw

- Efflorescence: White marks on the brick when water mixes with natural salts

Question 5

What is an inherent and latent defect?

Answer 5

Inherent defect: A fault with the design or material that has always been there
Latent: A fault that could not be found through reasonable inspection

Question 6

What is the process if you find a defect?

Answer 6

1. Take photos
2. Try to establish what has caused it on site
3. Inform you client
4. Seek specialist advice where required/

Question 7

What is a deleterious material?

Answer 7

It degrades with age, can cause structural problems.

These materials include:

• High Alumnia cement
• Woodwool shuttering
• Calcium chloride

Question 8

What are the three common defects?

Answer 8

• Water (damp)
• movement
• deterioration of building materials

Question 9

What is the key legislation relating to contamination of the site?

Answer 9

Environmental Protection Act 1990

Question 10

What is a hazardous material?

Answer 10

Something that causes damage to your health

These can include:
Asbestos
Lead piping
Radon Gas

Question 11

What do you know about Japanese Knotweed?

Answer 11

Its an invasive plant that can penetrate through hard surfaces such as brick or tarmac

It is illegal to plant it - can face fines

Often found new train tracks

Purple stem

Question 12

What are the different types of fit outs?

Answer 12

Shell and Core - The common parts are complete, the other parts are left for the tenant to fit out

Grade B - Done to the occupiers spec

Grade A - Specific spec

Question 13

What is included in a Grade A office spec?

Answer 13

•	Full access raised floor with floor boxes
•	Approx ceiling height 2.6 – 2.8m
•	Air con & double glazed windows
•	1 cycle space per 10 & 1 shower per 100 
Floor boxes
Lifts 
-8-10 sq m of working space per person
- BREEAM Excellent

Question 14

What is the usual construction of an office ?

Answer 14

Usually steel or concrete frame

Steel has less columns - wider span between each
Concrete has more columns - shorter span between each

Check architects plans if unsure

Question 15

What is the usual construction of an industrial unit?

Answer 15

Steel portable frame with steel cladding walls and roof

Question 16

What can affect the value of a property?

Answer 16

• Location
• Tenure
• forms of construction
• Defects
• Condition
• occupation details.

Question 17

What should you look out for when inspecting the local area?

Answer 17

• Location
• Local facilities
• Transport links
• contamination, environmental hazards
• Comparable evidence, local market conditions and agents boards.

Question 18

When was the building in your case study built?

Answer 18

Circa 1900s - spoke to building surveyors, did local research

Question 19

What type of construction is your case study building?

Answer 19

Stone built building, pitched tiled roof and steel framed windows

Question 20

What is a ‘safe person’ as defined in RICS surveying safely?

Answer 20

each individual assumes individual behavioural

responsibility for their own, their colleagues’ and others’ health and safety while at work.

Question 21

What has changed in the surveying safely 2011 to 2018

Answer 21

• Concept of a safe person
• Fire regs
• asbestos

Question 22

Whats the purpose of surveying safely 2018?

Answer 22

This guidance note sets out basic, good practice
principles for the management of health and safety for
RICS-regulated firms and RICS members.

Question 23

What are the 4 causes of damp?

Answer 23

• damp coming in from the outside most commonly roof,
• rising damp coming from the ground
• plumbing failure
• condensation

Question 24

How would you tell if it is a cavity wall or a solid wall?

Answer 24

Solid wall - around 9 inches thick. Different kind of bonding, english and flemish.
Cavity Wall - Stretchers

Question 25

How can you tell if cracking is something to be concerned about?

Answer 25

The cracks are wide - could be sign of structural damage or subsidence

The cracks run diagonally - a sign of structural movement

If the pavements outside the property are raised, could be a sign of heaving. Soil expanding, upward moving.

Question 26

Talk me through the condition of the boundary fence at the scout hut?

Answer 26

Bad condition fence, panel missing and not re errected.

Question 27

Talk me through the construction of Wickwar community center?

Answer 27

It was a traditional building, stone built, not a cavity wall with a pitched tiled roof,

Question 28

What can cause wall movement in properties?

Answer 28

Movement can be caused by defects, movement of the ground, foundation failure, decay of the building fabric, and so on.

Cracking can be a cause of movement

Subsidence.

Question 29

Where would you look for asbestos?

Answer 29

Lagging around pipes, insulation, celling panels

Question 30

What is a desirable industrial unit comprise of?

Answer 30

-Min 8m eaves height with 10% roof lights
-min 30 sq m of floor loading
Steel portal frame
Steel cladding walls and roof
Minimum 8 m clear eaves height
10% roof lights
Full height loading doors (electric)
3 phase electricity power
5-10% office content
WC facilities
Main services capped off
Minimum site cover of 40%

Question 31

What are good eaves height in an industrial unit?

Answer 31

min 8m eaves height with 10% roof lights