Inspection Flashcards
According VPGA 8 what matters can impact on the market’s perception on value that should be considered on an inspection for valuation?
Surrounding area, communications and facilities
Characteristics of the property:
- Dimensions, areas and use(s) of constituent elements
- Age, construction and nature of buildings or structures
- Accessibility
- Installations, amenities and services
- Fixtures, fittings and improvements
- Plant and equipment that would normally form an integral part of the building
Characteristics of the site
- Natural hazards
- Flooding
- Non-natural hazards such as ground contamination
Potential for development or redevelopment
- Any physical restrictions on further development
What is radon?
- Natural radioactive, odourless and tasteless gas
- Low levels in the outside air, but collects in enclosed places like buildings
What is the risk of radon exposure?
Long term exposure increases the risk of lung cancer
How is radon mitigated in buildings?
- New buildings can be protected by installing a radon-proof barrier/membrane within the floor structure
- Radon sump – small cavity under the floor with a pump drawing air from it, reduces underfloor pressure with respect to radon in the soil and vents the radon gas outside the building where it dissipates
- Improved underfloor and indoor ventilation, sealing large gaps in floors and walls in contact with ground
According to the RICS Professional standards and guidance: Environmental risks and global real estate, 1st edition, 2018, what factors can negatively impact a valuation?
- Contamination
- Flooding
- Asbestos
- Invasive non-native species
- High voltage overhead tension lines
- Telecommunication base stations
- Solar farms
- Wind farms
- Mineral and shallow mine workings
- Hydraulic fracturing and other energy recovery methods
- Natural subsidence risk
- Radon affected areas
- Waste management processes illegal waste dumping
- Ozone depleting substances
- Energy performance ratings
- Earthquake-prone and geo-thermal areas
Name some common Asbestos Containing Materials (ACMs):
- Insulation lagging
- Insulation boards
- Cloth in fire blankets, mattresses, curtains, gloves
- Profiled sheets: roofs and wall cladding
- Flat sheet and partition board: bath panels, soffits, walls, ceiling linings
Other than ACMs, name some other deleterious materials?
High alumina concrete
Calcium chloride cement
Mundic
What is high alumina cement and what is its risk?
- Rapid strength development made it popular in 1950 to 1970
- Mainly used in pre-cast beams
- Mineralogical ‘coversion’ sometimes caused reductions in concrete strength and increased vulnerability to chemical attack
- Some buildings collapsed in the 1970s and it was banned
What is calcium chloride cement and what is its risk?
- Used as an accelerating admixture in concrete up until mid-1970s
- Causes corrosion to embedded metal
- Outlawed in May 1977
What is mundic and what are its risks?
- Mineral mine waste in Devona and Cornwall
- Used as aggregate in concrete blocks and concrete construction between 1900 and 1950
- Chemical changes causes concrete to deteriorate
What needs to be completed before visiting a premises or site?
- Carry out a pre-assessment of the hazards and risks likely to be encountered
- Including the requirement for appropriate PPE
What matters need to be considered before visiting a site or premises?
- Travel
- Lone-working
- Condition of property
- Occupation
- Activity
- Site rules and welfare
- Roofs
- High structures
- Dangerous substances
- Diseases
- Special access
- Special risks
- Access equipment
- Other equipment (PPE: gloves, safety helmet, safety footwear etc.)
- Environmental matters (weather conditions, temperature extremes)
- Personal matters (level or fitness, vertigo etc.)
What matters should be considered when arriving and during site inspections?
- Structural stability
- Timbers, glass and sharp objects
- Roofs
- Unsafe atmospheres
- Danger from live and unsecured services
- Radio frequency (RF) hazards
- Slip and trip hazards
- Falls from height
- Hidden traps, ducts and openings
- Impact of other people/animals on the property
- Contamination
- Rural environments
- Adverse weather conditions
- Vermin and birds
What are key signs of structural stability/instability that should be looked for on inspection?
- Chimney stacks, gable walls or parapets
- Leaning, bulged and unrestrained walls
- Rotten or corroded beams and columns
- Roofs and floors
- Corroded metal fire escapes, platforms, balconies and walkways
What timbers, glass and sharp objects should be looked out for on inspection?
- Rotten and broken floors and staircases
- Projecting nails and screws, broken glass
- Loose glazing in windows, partitions, walls and doors
- Sharp edges and projecting objects
What are examples of unsafe atmospheres that should be considered when undertaking an inspection?
- Confined spaces with insufficient oxygen
- Rotting vegetation
- Stores containing flammable materials
- Excessive mould or fungi growth
- Insecticides, herbicides and fungicides
- Gas build-up in subfloor voids
How should the risk of falls from height be assessed when working on site?
- Using ladders, step ups, etc.
- Working near unprotected edges
- Use of MEWPs, scaffolds and access towers
- Working near excavations or shafts
What are some examples of hidden traps, ducts and openings that you may come across on inspection?
- Lift and service shafts, stairwells and other unguarded openings
- Manholes
- Surfaces concealed by debris or standing water
What are the risks associated with other people or animals that may be encountered on property inspections?
- Squatters and trespassers or dogs
- Aggressive tenants or property owners
What are the contamination risks that need to be considered on property inspections?
- Asbestos, lead and other substances hazardous to health
- Chemicals in storage
- Contaminated water supplies
- Contaminated air-conditioning systems (legionella bacteria)
What is English bond brickwork?
Brickwork formation where each course consists of alternate headers and stretchers
What is Flemish bond brickwork?
Brickwork formation where each course consists of alternate headers and stretchers
What is a solid wall?
- Typically two bricks wide with each row of bricks interlocking to forma completely solid 9 inch brick wall
- No gap between the bricks to insulate
- Identified by alternative between a mix of headers and stretchers
How thick is a solid brick wall?
230mm with plaster finish
What is a cavity wall?
- Has two layers of brick with a gap in between
- Gaps is between 20 to 100mm thick
- Developed as a way to alleviate damp
How thick is a cavity wall?
280mm with plaster finish
From external inspection only, how can it be determined if a brick wall is of solid or cavity construction?
The presence (solid) or absence (cavity) of headers
What are cavity wall ties?
- Ties used in buildings with cavity walls
- Used to join the two leaves of a cavity wall together providing additional support to ensure the structure is safe and stable
- The tie design prevents water from transferring to the outside of the wall – this usually comes in the form of a twist in the centre
- Building regs require 2 ½ wall ties per m² of masonry
What are the different types of cavity wall ties?
- Double triangular
- Vertical twist
- Butterfly
What is the size of a standard brick?
215 x 102.5 x 65 mm
What is the size of a standard block?
440 x 100 x 215 mm
What is a rafter and purlin roof?
Roof constructed with purlins and rafters
What are rafters?
- The beams of a roof construction that are angled upward from the ground
- They meet at the top of the gable at a ridge beam
What are purlins?
The horizontal beams of a roof construction that are used for structural support in the construction of a roof
What is a roof truss?
Structure that consists of pieced of straight wood or steel joined together in triangular shapes to support the weight of the roof
What are the different types of roof truss?
- Monopitch truss (right angle)
- Asymmetrical truss (off centre)
- Attic truss (symmetrical)
What is a trussed roof?
- Structural framework made of timber or steel and is specifically designed to bridge the space above a room to provide maximum ventilation and support for a roof
- Consists of roof of angles, channels, plates and eye bars
- Permanent frame structure which determine the shape of roof and ceiling typically consisting of rafters, webbing/posts and struts used to support the roof
What is a building frame?
- Structure in which weight is carrid by a skeleton or framework, as opposed to being supported by walls
- Essential factor in a framed building is the frame’s strength
- Steel and reinforced concrete are the most common materials in large contemporary structures
What are the characteristics of grade A offices?
- Located in the most desirable area
- New of highly maintained structures
- Steel or reinforced concrete frame
- Fully accessed raised floors with 150mm void
- Suspended ceilings with void of 350mm
- 2.6m clear floor to ceiling height
- Latest elevator
- HVAC systems
- LG7 compliant lighting
- Exceptional disability access
- Excellent BREEAM rating
- High energy performance rating (A or B)
- On site car parking
- Cycle racks, lockers and male and female shower facilities
- High profile reception area
- Food court, café, restaurant, coffee shop
- Gym
- High-tech security
What are the characteristics of grade B offices?
- Former grade A office property aged 10 – 20 years
- Well maintained
- Elevator and HVA systems that are functional but no longer industry leading
What are the characteristics of grade C office?
- Located in less desirable areas
- Much older than grade A or B
- Out of date furnishings
- Poor maintenance services
- No elevators or decent disabled access
What is a portal frame?
- Type of structural frame
- Beams supported by columns at either end
- The joints between the beam and the columns are ‘rigid’ so that the bending moment in the beam is transferred to the columns
- Typically span 15 – 50 m
- Frame spacing 6 and 8 m
- Clear height between 5 – 12 m
- Roof pitch between 5 – 10° (6°) is commonly accepted
What are portal frame structures typically used for?
- Typically low rise structures
- Industrial and warehouse buildings
What are the benefits of a portal frame structure?
- Large spaces can be enclosed with little use of material and so lower costs
- Efficient for enclosing large volumes
What is considered optimal site cover for an industrial development?
- 35% - 40%
- 50% is likely to lead to congestion