Inspection

Question 1

Characteristics and impacts of Japanese knotweed

Answer 1

Non native invasive
Fast growing
Green, 7-8 feet tall, white flowers in the base of leaf
Dies back in winter and comes back in spring/early summer

Impacts
Displaced native fauna
Nuisance to control
Structural defects

Question 2

What is the 4 step process for inspections?

Answer 2

Personal safety
Inspection on local area
External inspection
Internal inspection

Question 3

What 6 things should you take on an inspection?

Answer 3

Mobile phone
Camera
Tape measure/laser
Plans and other information
PPE
Pen and paper/ipad

Question 4

What 6 things should you consider on an external inspection

Answer 4

Method of construction
Repair and condition
Car park/access/loading arrangements
Defects/structural movement
Check site boundaries against plans
Check age of building - planning consent, land reg, architectural style

Question 5

Which 7 things should you consider on an internal inspection

Answer 5

Layout and spec
Repair and maintenance
Defects
Services-age and condition
Compliance like asbestos, building regs, equality act
Fixtures fittings and improvements
Compliance with lease obligation

Question 6

What are the four types of foundation

Answer 6

Trench

Raft

Piled

Pad

Question 7

What are white marks in the brick work and why is it caused?

Answer 7

Efflorescence

Hydroscopic salts in the brick work when water reacts with natural salts

Question 8

What is the process of bricks crumbling due to freeze thaw action?

Answer 8

Spalling

Question 9

What is an institutional spec for a shop? 4 points

Answer 9

Steel or concrete frame

Services capped off

Concrete floor and no suspended ceiling

Let as a shell condition ready for fit out

Question 10

What is the traditional spec for offices as defined in the British council for offices specification 2019? Name 6

Answer 10

Full access raised floors with floor boxes
Approximate ceiling height of 2.6-2.8m
Ceiling void of 350mm and raised floor void of 150mm
2.5 to 3 kn/sq m floor loading
Air conditioning
Double glazed windows
Passenger lifts
Max depth 12-15m shallow plan
1 cycle space per 10 staff
1 shower per 100 staff
Workspace density 8-10sq m

Question 11

Name types of fit out and what they are for

Answer 11

Shell and core - where common parts of the building are completed and the office floor areas are left as shell

Cat A fit out - such as to a grade A spec as above

Category B fit out - to complete the fit out of the occupiers specific requirements, such as the installation of cellular offices, enhances finishes and IT

Question 12

What’s the standard spec for a warehouse ?

Answer 12

Steel portal frame with insulated steel cladding
Min 8m clear height
10% roof lights
Min 30kn/sq m
Full height loading doors
3 phase electricity power
5-10% office content and WC
Main services capped off
Approximate site cover of 40%
LED lighting

Question 13

What is an inherent defect?

Answer 13

Defect in the design or a material which has always been present

Question 14

What is a latent defect?

Answer 14

A fault to the property that couldn’t have been discovered through inspection of the property

Question 15

What’s the difference between subsidence and heave?

Answer 15

Subsidence is down movement of a foundation due to ground conditions

Heave is expansion of the ground underneath because of tree roots or moisture build up

Question 16

If you saw a horizontal crack in the brickwork what might it indicate?

Answer 16

Cavity wall tie failure

Question 17

What’s the difference between wet rot and dry rot?

Answer 17

Wet rot = damp and timber decay. Wet and soft timber

Dry rot = fungal attack. Fungus spreading and cracking/crumbling of timber

Question 18

How high does rising damp rise to

Answer 18

1.5m above ground level

Question 19

Name some common defects for offices/shops/resi? 6

Answer 19

Dry rot
Wet rot
Tile slippage
Damp
Water ingress
Structural movement

Question 20

Name some common defects on modern industrial

Answer 20

Roof leaks around roof lights
Damaged cladding panels
Cut edge corrosion
Blocked gutters
Water damage

Question 21

Name some common defects in modern offices

Answer 21

Damp penetration
Water damage
Structural movement
Damaged cladding
Cavity wall tie failure

Question 22

What are deletious materials ? Provide an example?

Answer 22

Materials which can degrade over time causing structural problems

Brown stains on concrete

Question 23

Name 3 hazardous materials ?

Answer 23

Asbestos
Lead piping or paint
Radon gas

Question 24

Who should dispose of Japanese knotweed? Where should it go?

Answer 24

Specialist contractors

Licensed landfill site

Question 25

What is the fine for allowing Japanese knotweed to spread?

Answer 25

£5,000 or 6 months in prison

Question 26

Name 3 types of invasive plant

Answer 26

Hogweed
Himalayan balsam
Japanese knotweed