Inspection Flashcards
Which document gives guidance regarding how to perform the role of a surveyor, safely?
RICS Surveying Safely 2018 (reissued July 2023)
Which responsibilities does Surveying Safely place on Employees and on Employers?
Employees: duty to ensure corporate H&S policy is practiced, recognise when a situation is beyond their expertise, report any risks/breach of H&S regulations.
Employers: put H&S structures in place, provide training, hold appropriate insurance.
What is the legal framework governing H&S?
Health & Safety at Work Act 1974
It set up the HSE
HSE releases Approved Codes of Practice
What are the penalties for not complying with H&S regulations?
Criminal - not taking necessary action to protect people from available danger = fine. If manslaughter charges, may bring imprisonment.
Civil - where there is a duty of care to someone who could be affected by their action & the effect of the action is reasonably foreseeable = damages.
What H&S measures should be taken when procuring and managing construction work?
- Identify the job and select appropriate contractor.
- Review their H&S management and experience and determine their capabilities.
- Discuss job with contractor and monitor
Name different types of surveys and what they do.
Building Survey (acquisition/vendor) – due diligence is the investigation of all facts about a building that would be of material interests to an investor or acquirer by identifying issues that will affect the building as an investment of asset.
Reinstatement Cost Assessment – calculates the cost to rebuild the property (including demolition) for insurance purposes.
Condition Survey – records the current condition of a building, normally for legal or contractual reasons e.g., to be appended to a lease or prior to refurbishment works.
Planned Preventative Maintenance (PPM) – forecast of future maintenance/repair requirements and costs, typically 5-10 years.
Defect pathology (building advice)
Dilapidations
Feasibility study
Measured survey
Party Wall
What are the different types of RICS Home Surveys?
- RICS Condition Survey - purely focuses on condition for conventional properties
- RICS Homebuyers Survey – more extensive & includes ‘market value’ & RCA figure. Should allow the client to make an informed decision about whether to proceed with the purchase of a property.
- RICS Building Survey – most extensive & need for old unusual or large buildings or where major works are planned.
What is the process of taking an instruction from a client?
- ID of the client
- Scope of service
- Timescales
- Fee
- T&Cs of business
- Limitations
- The need for any specialist sub-consultants
- Arrange suitable access
What is the methodology for surveys?
- Desktop Survey
- Reconnaissance survey
- Risk Assessment
- Arrival
- Preliminary inspection
- Inspection
- Report
What is a desktop survey?
Examine all documentation and other information related to the building.
e.g. as-built plans, title deeds, maps, planning applications
What is a reconnaissance survey?
Establish physical and spatial contexts of the building on the site, such as overhead power lines, mining areas and access restrictions.
What should you do upon arrival?
Update the risk assessment and sign in if required.
How should you survey a building?
Systematically and thoroughly.
Step by step, top down and in a clockwise rotation.
How should you report findings after the survey?
Evaluate findings in writing and keep appropriate records.
Any verbal feedback should be brief and consistent with subsequent written feedback. Not too concise to overlook important issues and might expose the surveyor to a negligence claim.
Reports should clearly establish defects and compliance issues, options for rectification, liability for costs, anticipated timeframes and risk ratings.
What is included in a risk assessment?
Travel arrangements, inductions, lone working procedures, property condition, occupation, site rules, dangerous structures, dangerous substances, diseases, PPE, appropriate dress, tenant notification.
