Inspection Flashcards

1
Q

Inspections is a four step process. Please explain ?

A
  1. Consider your personal safety. Referring to your firms H+S policy.
  2. Inspection of the local area.
  3. External Inspection
  4. Internal Inspection.
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2
Q

What should a surveyor take with them on inspection ?

A
  • Mobile Phone
  • Disto
  • Camera
  • Plans
  • PPE if needed
  • Pen/Paper
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3
Q

What does the inspection of the local area include ?

A
  • General location
  • Local facilities
  • Transport options
  • Contamination/ Hazards
  • Power Lines
  • Agents boards
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4
Q

What does the external inspection include ?

A
  • Methods of construction
  • Repair/Condition
  • Car parking/access
  • Defects
  • Site boundaries
  • Date of the building
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5
Q

What does the internal inspection include ?

A
  • Layout
  • Specification
  • Repair and maintenance
  • Defects
  • Services
  • Fixtures and fittings
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6
Q

What are the different purposes for a property inspection ?

A
  • Valuation purposes
  • Agency purposes
  • Property management purposes.
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7
Q

What are the 4 common forms of building foundations ? (TRPP)

A
  • Trench or strip footings
  • Raft
  • Piled
  • Pad
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8
Q

What are the differing types of brick work ? (CHSS)

A
  • Solid wall construction: Solid brickwork with headers
  • Cavity Wall: Two layers tied together by metal ties.
  • Stretcher: Bricks laid horizontally. Long side of the brick exposed.
  • Header: Short end of the brick exposed.
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9
Q

What is the typical space per person required for an office ?

A

80 - 100 sq ft

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10
Q

Describe the standard build of a modern warehouse/ industrial unit?

A
  • Steel portal frame
  • Insulated profiled sheet cladding walls and roof
  • 10% roof lights
  • Brick/Blockwork walls approximately 2m high
  • 3 phase power
  • W/C facilities
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11
Q

How do you look for building defects ? and what do you to if you identify one?

A
  • Start from the roof and work yourself down the building.
  • If i defect is identified;
  • detailed photographs should be taken
  • Try and establish the source of the defect.
  • Inform your client of the investigation
  • Recommend specialist advice.
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12
Q

What are the main causes of property defects ?

A
  1. Movement
  2. Water
  3. Deterioration of building materials.
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13
Q

What can cause ‘movement’ related defects ?

A
  • Loss of support of the site beneath the construction.
  • Cavity wall issues leading to cracking
  • Settlement cracks
  • Thermal expansion
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14
Q

What are main signs for damp in a property ?

A
  • Wet rot shows timber decay.
  • Dry rot - is a fungal attack that produces orange fungus/mushrooms.
  • Mould is due to poor ventilation - black spots.
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15
Q

What are the common building defects in ‘period property’?

A
  • Dry rot
  • Wet rot
  • Tile slippage
  • Water ingress around exterior doors
  • structural movement
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16
Q

What are the common building defects in ‘modern industrial buildings’?

A
  • Roofs leaking
  • damaged cladding
  • blocked valley gutters
17
Q

What are the common building defects in modern office buildings?

A
  • Water damage from burst pipes
  • damaged cladding
18
Q

What is the key legislation around Contamination ?

A

Environmental Protection Act 1990

19
Q

What are the RICS guidance notes on Contamination ?

A

RICS Guidance Notes - Contamination, the environment and Sustainability (2010) 3rd edition.

20
Q

What can cause contamination ?

A
  • Heavy metals
  • methane gas
  • diesel
  • oil
  • chemicals
21
Q

What sort of signs should surveyors look for in relation to contamination ?

A
  • oil drums
  • underground tanks
  • bare ground
22
Q

If you suspect the ground may be contaminated. How do you deal with that ?

A

Request a specialist report. Who will:

  1. Review site via desktop investigation only
  2. Conduct physical investigation into the site - details soil tests etc
  3. Remediation report outlining remedial options.
23
Q

Are there any government schemes that can help land owners with contaminated land ?

A

Yes

The LRR - The land remediation relief is available. This is a tax that allows company’s to claim up to 150% corporation tax reduction for expenditure in remediation of contaminated land.

24
Q

What sort of hazard materials should surveyors be concerned about?

A
  • Asbestos
  • Lead piping
  • roden gas
25
Q

What is the main RICS documentation discussing Japanese Knotweed?

A

RICS Guidance Notes - Japanese Knotweed & Residential Property (March 2022)

26
Q

What is Japanese Knotweed?

A

It’s an invasive plant that can damage hard surfaces such as building materials. Therefore can have a damaging impact on buildings.

It is hard to control and can be costly to remove.

27
Q

How can japanese knotweed be removed ?

A

A specialist company can remove Japanese knotweed and dispose of it. Usually this is done by using chemical treatment and being disposed off in a licensed landfill.

28
Q

How can you spot Japanese Knotweed?

A

It has a purple and green hallow stem, and green leaves.

29
Q

Is allowing Japanese Knotweed a criminal offence ?

A

Yes and a property owner can be given an ASBO or a fine up to £2,500

30
Q

What other invasive plants should surveyors be concerned about ?

A
  • Hogweed
  • Himalayan Balsam