Inspection Flashcards
Explain a key issue raised by RICS Surveying Safely.
One key issued raised by surveying safely is when visiting premises or sites. The professional standard sets out how surveyors must prepare themselves, before, during and after an inspection, to identify, be aware of and report and risks/hazards they have identified, prior, during and after inspection and make provisions to ensure that the surveyor takes the appropriate PPE with them.
How do you ensure you make appropriate access arrangements for inspections?
I ensure appropriate access arrangements are made by contacting the relevant person at my clients property. I make a call to talk through the reasons for inspection and provide a date and time. I follow this up with an email to confirm the appointment.
What things would you check before attending site for an inspection?
firstly consider if i am competent to undertake the inspection.
ensure that i am properly insured
check that a formal appointment has been made
risk assessment carried out to determine risks involved
ensure i know reason for survey and review all relevant building information available
Briefly explain the construction of a recent building you have inspected.
I recently inspected a warehouse in london. The main warehouse was of steel portal frame with corrugated profile metal cladding.
What is the size of a brick?
215 x 102.5 x 65mm
How do you take good inspection notes when on site?
I always aim to make inspection notes before I start to measure. When i enter the room I take notes based on specification, condition, construction type and fixtures and fittings.
Tell me about how you would ensure safe working at height / on a site with working machinery.
Safe working at height, I will always aim to avoid working at height alone. Should I find a space to be inspected has a high risk associated to height I would seek supervision.
On site with machinery, I will always wear PPE such as a high visibility jacket, steel toe capped boots and a hard hat to ensure I have made myself as visible as possible. I will also actively stay away from operating machinery should I be able too and aim to got to areas of property where there is less machinery being operated.
What building characteristics do you look for when inspecting a property?
Working in rating I have to assume that the property I am inspecting is in a state of reasonable repair, therefore i do not assess the state of the property unless it is off uneconomic repair. I therefore look for construction type, I check for fixtures and fittings, such as plant and machinery and heating and air conditioning. I also look for any yard space and the functionality of the space.
Tell me about the basic construction of a building you have recently inspected.
SPF
Corrugated Profile metal cladding, with insulation board.
Profile metal roofing with insulation board
RSD
Eaves 9m
What are the usual sizes of floor and ceiling void in a new office building?
8-12 feet for floor to ceiling
2-3 feet for floor to floor
What does Grade A specification mean for an office?
Grade A is the most sought-after and usually comprises of a new or recent development in a key business location. The systems and furnishings included are state of the art and the fit-outs are stylish and to a very high standard.
What features would you expect to find in a Grade A specification office?
- On-site parking space is usually available.
- They’re equipped with heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems of the highest efficiency.
- Energy and building efficiency. Many of these offices are purpose-built with sustainability in mind, and feature smart technology to reduce waste and keep efficiency high. Some are located in BREEAM or LEED-certified buildings.
How do office Grade and Category differ?
The term ‘class B office space’ refers to property that has been previously occupied and is not quite to the level of quality expected of a grade A office. Grade B office space is considered ‘average’ and perfectly usable.
This type of commercial space may be categorised as so because it is in a less desirable location, for example in an out-of-town industrial estate rather than in the city centre, or because it hasn’t been renovated in recent years.
How do Cat A plus, Cat A and Cat B differ?
A grade A office building is the pinnacle quality that can be achieved.
Grade B office space is considered ‘average’ and perfectly usable.
Class C office space is the lowest specification available. This usually refers to buildings that are twenty plus years old and are found in less desirable areas.
What does turnkey mean?
built, supplied, or installed complete and ready to operate.
What is the British Council for Offices?
The British Council for Offices is Britain’s leading forum for discussion and debate about the issues affecting the office sector.
When was their office guidance last updated?
The British Council for Offices last updated their guidance in February 2023.
What changes were made?
The update responds to challenges emerging from the pandemic and the accelerating need for the built environment to respond to climate change. The update advises designers how to create healthier offices that support changing working patterns, while reducing carbon emissions.
New recommendations include:
Adoption of 10m2 space-per-person
Minimum sustainability target of BREEAM ‘Excellent’ and 5 Star NABERS UK target for new buildings
Aspirational targets for operational and embodied carbon use to meet NZC (Net Zero Carbon) goals
Increased levels of outdoor air supply
More efficient lighting installations
Reduced power and cooling loads
Higher performance facades
More flexibility in the range of structural spans for office space
What is the optimum depth of an office to allow for natural light?
A floor depth of no more than 60 ft., 0 in. from south to north has been shown to be viable for daylighting. A maximum facade facing due south is the optimal orientation.
What eaves height is desirable for an office building?
2.5 metres to 3.5 metres
What is the normal floor loading for an office building?
UK office buildings have been designed and marketed with live loadings of 3.5–4.0 kN/m2
How would this differ to an industrial / warehouse unit?
What is an easement?
An easement is when a third party has a right to use your property for a particular purpose.
How would you find out about the existence of an easement?
The existence of easements should be recorded in the title deeds of an unregistered title or in the registered title.
What types of air conditioning would you find in a modern office building?
Single Split Systems - This type of system consists of an outdoor unit for every indoor unit.
Multi Split Systems - indoor units don’t need their own outdoor unit – instead, numerous indoor units be connected to single, larger outdoor unit.
VRV/VRF Systems - VRF systems are air-cooled and refrigerant-based,
How can you tell if a wall is of solid or cavity construction?
If the wall is more than 260mm thick, it is most likely a cavity wall. If it is thinner than 260mm, it is probably solid.
What is a hidden valley gutter?
gives a weatherproof seal between adjacent roofs. It will join any combination of double lap or interlocking Slates, along with clay and concrete Tiles, with minimum disturbance to the adjacent roof.
What problems can arise because of one?
One problem that can occur is a leak. When not detected early enough, leaks can cause expensive damage to the roof or walls, both exterior and interior.
Where does surface water drain into?
Most rainwater falling on properties drains into public sewers
How does this compare to foul water?
Foul Drainage is the system of pipework that carries waste water away from a bathroom, kitchen or utility room. For all properties connected to mains drainage, foul sewers will eventually transfer the contents of the drainage system to a local sewage treatment plant
What is a deleterious/hazardous material?
Deleterious materials are materials that are prohibited for use in a project. This could be for a variety of reasons including: reliability. health and safety. structural stability
hazardous materials are substances in quantities or forms that may pose a reasonable risk to health, property, or the environment. HAZMATs include such substances as toxic chemicals, fuels, nuclear waste products, and biological, chemical, and radiological agents.
Give an example of each.
Deleterious material - Asbestos
Hazardous material - Heating oil
What do dry and wet rot look like?
Dry Rot looks grey-whitish ‘skin’ tinged with yellow and lilac patches. mushroom-like fruiting body – soft, fleshy and looks like a pancake or a bracket – often orangey in colour, rust coloured in the centre, with wide pores. red dust from spreading spores, often found around fruiting bodies.
The common signs of wet rot include: Darkened timber – darker than surrounding timber. Soft and spongy timber. Cracked appearance that may crumble to touch when dry.
What is rising damp?
Rising damp occurs when groundwater rises through capillaries in masonry to saturate it.
What is Japanese Knotweed?
Japanese knotweed is a hardy bamboo-like deciduous perennial plant that grows quickly and
strongly. It spreads through its underground rhizomes or shoots, and thick clumps or stands
can quickly grow to a height of over 2m during the spring and summer
How would you identify it?
Japanese knotweed can be identified by its creamy white flowers that appear on panicles, formed of dense clusters of small flowers on thin spikes around 10cm long.
The root or rhizome of Japanese knotweed is orange/yellow in colour when the plant is live.
Why is it a problem?
Japanese knotweed can grow very quickly, and because of this rapacious growth, it has been known to cause damage to building structures and substructures by targeting weak points, such as cracks in masonry, and attempting to grow through them.
What does the RICS say about Japanese Knotweed?