Inspection

Question 1

How do you know if there is mining in the area?

Answer 1

Check coal authority website and interrogate interactive map against site address/area.

Question 2

Which part of Red Book relates to inspections?

Answer 2

VPS 2 - Inspections, Investigations & Records

Question 3

RICS guidance for inspections

Answer 3

GN: Surveying Safely 2nd Edn
Effective 1st February 2019

Health & Safety principles for property professionals

Question 4

Types of invasive species:

Answer 4

Japanese Knotweed
Dwarf Japanese Knotweed
Giant Hogweed
Himalayan knotweed
Poisonous hemlock`

Question 5

Where can you find information on invasive species?

Answer 5

RICS iSURV ‘building defects database’.

Question 6

Which invasive species has a professional standard?

Answer 6

Japanese Knotweed & residential property
1st edn - effective from 23 March 2022

Question 7

Why is Japanese knotweed a problem?

Answer 7

• Can cause structural damage to substantial buildings such as dwellings;
• Treatment is expensive, disruptive and time consuming;
• Affective ground cannot be developed without taking special precautions to remove contaminated soil by appropriately licensed operators;
• Can cross property boundaries and result in expensive legal action;
• Can affect saleability of land & property.

Question 8

Key features of japanese knotweed?

Answer 8

• purple speckled stems;
• smaller zig-zag stems;
• shield shaped leaves with flat base.

Question 9

Different types of asbestos?

Answer 9

1. Amosite (Brown)
2. Crocidolite (Blue)
3. Chrysotile (White)

Question 10

Asbestos Regs

Answer 10

The Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012

Question 11

Size of standard brick

Answer 11

215mm x 102.5mm x 65mm

With repeated stretcher bond and 10mm joints, ratio is 3:2:1 - 225mm length & 75mm height.

Question 12

Names of proper brick bonds

Answer 12

Stretcher - all stretchers;
Header - all headers;
Flemish - alternating headers & stretchers in each course;
Flemish Garden Wall (Sussex bond) - one header to three stretchers in each course;
English - alternating rows of headers and stretchers;
English Garden Wall - one course of headers for every three course of stretchers.
English Cross - alterating headers and stretchers with every stretcher course offset by half a brick

Question 13

Different types of foundation

Answer 13

• Strip;
• Trench;
• Raft;
• Pile.

Question 14

Risks of spray foam insulation?

Answer 14

• Roof leaks - decay in roof timbers;
• Condensation - blocked ventilation;
• Fire risks - most types of foam are flammable;
• Not compatable with listed building consent.
• Higher risk of not being able to secure mortgage until its removed.

Question 15

RICS guidance on spray foam?

Answer 15

RICS Consumer Guidance: Spray foam insulation.
March 2023

Question 16

Steps to take if defects identified on inspection?

Answer 16

Take notes and seek advice of competent professional as it it outside expertise.

Question 17

Importance of surveying safely 2nd Edn guidance note?

Answer 17

Provides overview of best practice for surveyors, including corporate and personal responsibilities relating to health and safety.

Question 18

What has suveying safely 2nd edn introduced?

Answer 18

• The Safe Person Concept

Question 19

What is the ‘safe person concept’?

Answer 19

Each individual assumes individual responsibility for their own, their colleagues and others health and safety whilst at work.

Question 20

10 ways to ensure personal safety on site?

Answer 20

1. Take charged mobile phone and personal alarm
2. Plan an escape route
3. Implement a call back system with the office
4. Make your daily schedule available to colleagues
5. Be careful in roof voids adn when using ladders
6. Park your car close by and keep your keys on you
7. Make sure you know who you are meeting
8. Follow your gut instinct
9. Understand the site rules for construction sites
10. Be aware of agressive occupants and dogs

Question 21

10 ways to ensure safety of your personal property

Answer 21

1. Keep personal property safe and with you at all times
2. Don’t leave possessons on view in your car
3. Don’t leave possessions lying around on site
4. Register electronic devises with Immobilise
5. Back up photos and phone numbers
6. Keep confidential information safe
7. Use a cross-shredder for personal data no longer needed
8. Remove shoes when entering property
9. Take care of other’s personal items when in confined spaces
10. Leave accomodation as you found it

Question 22

Name two important regulations with regards to inspections?

Answer 22

1. Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012
2. Legionnaries’ disease and the Construction (Design & Management) Regulations 2015

Question 23

What are the valuation significant factors that may impact the market value as per VPGA 8 (para 1.2)?

Answer 23

a. Characteristics of the locality and surrounding area, adn availability of communications, services and facilities that affect value
b. Charactertistics of the property and its use
* dimensions, areas and use(s) of consituent elements
* age, construction and nature of buildings or structures
* accessability both for occupiers and visitors
* installations, amenities and services
* fixtures, fittings and improvements
* plant and equipment that would normally form an intergral part of the building
* apparent state of repair and condition
* hazardous materials kept on the property.
c. Charateristics of the site
* natural hazards - ground instability, mining, mineral extraction, risk of flooding
* non-natural hazards - ground contamination from historic or current uses
* potential for development or redevelopment, if appropriate
* any physical restrictions on further development.

Question 24

What are trench/strip foundations for?

Answer 24

Generally for residentail dwellings and closlely spaced walls/coloumns.

Question 25

What are raft foundations used for?

Answer 25

Slab foundation over whole site to spread load for lightweight structures – conservatory or workshop.

Question 26

What are piled foundations used for?

Answer 26

long and slender reinforced columns into ground to deeper strata for less good soil conditions and high loads.

Question 27

What are pad foundations used for?

Answer 27

slab foundation under individual or groups of columns so load is spread evenly.

Used for large purpose-built structures like warehouses.

Question 28

Types of cladding?

Answer 28

• Load bearing masonry & stone veneers - early steel frames (20s & 30s)
• In-fill panels - post WW2
• Pre-cast concrete (60s - 80s)
• **Curtain Walling
• Profiled metal sheeting**
  *** Brick panel
• Modern brick panel
• Insulated render
• Rainscreen**

Question 29

What type of cladding was used in Grenfell Tower?

Answer 29

Rainscreen cladding

Problem with vented cavities is potential for fire, smoke and heat to be transferred within that cavity.

Question 30

Three types of curtian walling cladding?

Answer 30

1. Stick construction - grid of mullions (vertical) and transoms (horizontal) support infill panel.
2. Unit construction - sections are prefabricated and delivered with joints sealed on site.
3. Structural glazing - large sheets of glazing are fixed to building.

Question 31

What is rainscreen cladding?

Answer 31

Overlapping panels form the outer skin/rain protection whilst ventilated air gap between this and inner layer allows for rain penetration to be evaporated or drained away.

Used for medium to high rise buildings.