Inspection Flashcards
How do you identify a Victorian house?
Patterned brick
Steep roofs
Bay windows
Barge board
High ceiling
good sized rooms
What is a barge board?
Board attached to the roof of a house at the gable end.
What defects might you expect in a Victorian property?
Penetrating damp
rising damp
condensation
What is rising damp?
Upward movement of moisture into the house
What differences do you make for inspecting medical centres?
GN60 floor differences - additional WCs, clinical waste storage, baby change
Fitout - vinyl floors, IPMS sinks
Can you name 3 positives of a pitched roof?
Efficient water run off
Gives loft space
low maintenance
Can you name 3 negatives of a pitched roof?
Expensive compared to flat roofs
Longer to build
Larger burden
Function of a roof?
Provide protection from weather
Insulation
What is a warm roof?
Roof that includes insulation in its structure
What is a cold roof?
Roof that does not include insulation in its structure
What is a flat roof?
Not completely flat, generally have a pitch of less than 15 degrees
What is a pitched roof?
Pitch of at least 15 degrees.
Usually 40-50 can be 70 degrees.
What can be used to cover a pitched roof?
Clay tile
Slate
Thatch
What is a hipped roof?
A roof where all four side slope downwards from the peak
Where two sides of a roof meet is called what?
the ridge
Positives of a flat roof?
Cheaper than a pitched roof
Quicker to build
Negatives of a flat roof?
More likely to hold water
More maintenance required
What is brick render?
Type of cladding for the exterior of brick buildings
Purpose of rendered brick?
Attractive appearance
Protect bricks from weather
What is condensation?
The inside air condenses and forms droplets.
occurs when the air outside is colder than the air inside.
How can you prevent condensation?
Ventilation using windows and extractor fans
How can you prevent rising damp?
Ensure soil does not rise higher than damp proof course
Ensure rainwater goods are well maintained
What is penetrating damp?
Water that penetrates through walls, roof or ceiling of a house
What can cause penetrative damp?
Leaking roof
Defective gutters
damaged exterior walls
How can you spot penetrative damp?
Damaged plaster
Mould growth
Rotting floor timbers
What types of asbestos are there?
White - most used, found in roofs, ceilings, walls and floors
Brown - Used in cement sheets and pipe insulation
Blue - most dangerous due to extremely small fibres, used to insulate steam engines, ceiling tiles, cement products
How do you decide what PPE you need?
Risk assessment
ask occupier
speak with colleagues
What do you mean by shell?
Area has not been fit out by occupier.
It will have a floor, walls, windows and roof but no interior improvements
How do you know if a wall is solid?
Tap them and hear no hollow noises
What is a portal frame?
Construction technique that uses vertical supports connected to horizontal beams or trusses to create a rigid, stable structure
Main benefit from steel framed construction?
Uninterrupted space due to frames strength - no need for pillars
Common types of construction and defects?
Brick - Cracking, frost damage
steel - buckling
Timber - warping
Where do you record information gathered on inspection?
In database within VOA secure drives
What were the key factors noted on inspection of the shop in Birmingham?
Brick construction which led to structural columns inside the property.
racking along the edge of the perimeter of the property.
Size
Age - need to check
Located in a parade of shops
What were the key factors noted on inspection of the Industrial in Birmingham?
Steel framed construction with brick elevations - two units separated by a brick wall.
Halogen spot lights hanging from roof.
Low eaves height not really any use of modern equipment.
Industrial location
Did you undertake a risk assessment for the industrial in Birmingham?
I firstly checked there wasn’t already a risk assessment on file.
I spoke to the occupier to determine the PPE required on site
As the used it as workshop I took steel toe capped shoes and high vis jacket
Also updated my calendar and took people safe device
Can you describe the office you inspected in Birmingham?
This was a steel framed constructed unsealed building with aluminium coated window frames and exposed concrete finish.
Internally specification varied between floors with some having older strip lights and no air con or raised floors. All floors had painted and plastered walls.
Others had new LED lights, raised floor and suspended ceiling with air con
How did you know the office you inspected in Birmingham had suspended ceilings?
Air con units built into ceiling
How did you know the office you inspected in Birmingham had raised floors?
In this case the floor was ramped up from lift area into office.
Generally can tell if there are plug sockets on the floor or stamp foot and it sounds hollow.
What advice did you provide following the inspection of the office in Birmingham?
I advised senior surveyors of the quality of fit out on each floor such as which had raised floors
The outcome of this was that they could accurately analyse the rental information we had on the building.
Can you describe the GP practice you inspected in Leeds?
This was a converted detached house of brick construction and tile roof. There was an automatic entrance door. Internally there was sealed vinyl flooring throughout the property with IPS sink (integrated panel system) There was also a disabled toilet.
Why is sealed vinyl floor important?
It removes gaps between flooring and skirting which can be difficult to clean - very important in medical properties.
What advice did you provide for the GP practice in Leeds?
I advised the practice manager on site of the overall compliance of the property to the Equality Act 2010 and NHS Health Building Notes in terms of its sealed vinyl flooring and sink specification.
I advised them of how this will be used to value the property using other properties of a similar specification.
Key changes to RICS surveying safely?
a greater emphasis on ensuring the competence of individuals, including their responsibility to ensure the use of safe work equipment and safe systems of work for themselves and others
What regulations cover asbestos in the UK?
The Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012
What would you if you were advised a property contained asbestos?
Do my own due diligence and check asbestos register
Ask occupier for their asbestos management plan and if it has been disturbed
Dynamic risk assessment whilst on site.
What are the different grades of offices?
Grade A - High specification city centre office with all new technology (modern aircon, roof terrace, health rooms, gym)
Grade B - Further from centre older office maybe refurbed in business areas.
Grade C - Out of city centre locations low quality may need refurbishment.
Different categories of office?
Category A - Basic fit out so that it can be used - lighting, air con, toilets
Category B - Fit out to be fully operational includes partitions, kitchen, floor finishes, decor
Standard ceiling height for an office?
around 3m
What is the normal load bearing for an office floor?
3.0kn/m2 at ground level 2.5kn/m2 above ground level
Typical eaves height for industrial?
Typical is between 4 and 6m. Height have increased in recent time to an average height of 14m
Usual site coverage for industrial compared to land?
Around 40-50% depending on its use.
What is the safe person concept?
to mean that each individual assumes individual behavioural responsibility for their own, their colleagues’ and others’ health and safety while at work
What is Japanese knotweed?
Rapidly spreading bamboo like weed which covers other plants and can damage building structures such as foundations.
How do you identify Japanese knotweed?
Bamboo like, with zigzag stems and heart shaped leaves.
What is RAAC and why it is dangerous?
Reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete - bubbly form which has life span of around 30 years. water can get into bubble holes and cause it to degrade and rebar within to rust. Used between 1950 and 2000.
