Inspection 2.0 Flashcards
According to the RICS Proffessional STandards and guidance: Environmental risks and global real estate 1st Edition, 2018, what factors can negatively impact a valuation?
- Contamination
- Flooding
- Asbestos
- Invasive non-native species
- Solar farms and wind farms
- Radon affected areas
- Natural subsidence risk
- EPCs
Name some Asbestos Containing Materials (ACMs)
- Insulation lagging
- Insulation boards
- Roofs and wall cladding
- Soffits, ceiling linings
Name some Asbestos Containing Materials (ACMs)
- Insulation lagging
- Insulation boards
- Roofs and wall cladding
- Soffits, ceiling linings
What is Alumina Cement and what is its risk?
- Popular in the 1950s - 1970s due to its rapid strength development
- Mainly used in pre case beams
- Some buildings collapsed in 1970s and it was banned
What is Calcium CHloride and whats the risk?
- Used as an accelerating admixture in concrete up until mid 1970s
- Causes corrosion to embedded material
- Outlawed in May 1977
What matters need to be considered prior to visiting site?
- Travel
- Purpose of visit
- Lone working
- Occupation
- Condition of property
- Dangerous substances
- PPE
- Special access
What matters should be considered when arriving and during site inspections?
- Risks and hazards
- Slips and trips
- Working from height?
- Conditions / extreme weather
- Unsafe atmospheres
- Vermin and birds
- Structural stability
- Timbers, glass and sharp objects
- Impact of people and animals
What are key signs of structural stability / instability that should be looked for on inspection?
- Chimney stacks, gable walls or parapets
- Leaning, bulged and unrestrained walls
- Rotton or corroded beams and columns
- Roofs and floors
What timbers, glass and sharp objects should be looked out for on inspection?
- Rotton and broken floors and staircases
- Nails, screws, broken glass
- Sharp edges / protruding objects
What are examples of unsafe atmospheres that should be considered when undertaking an inspection?
- Confined spaces
- Rotting vegetation
- Stores containing flammable materials
- Excessive mould or fungi growth
How should the risk of falls from height be assessed when working on site?
- Using ladders / step-ups
- Avoid working near unprotected edges
- Use of MEWPs, scaffold and access towers
What are some examples of hidden traps, ducts and openings that you may come accross on inspections?
- Lift and service shafts
- Manholes
- Surfaced concealed by debris or standing water
What are the risks associated with other people or animals that may be encountered on property inspections?
- Squatters / trespassers
- Aggressive dogs
- Aggressive tenants / property owners
What are contamination risks that need to be considered?
- Asbestos, lead, other sunstances hazardous to health
- Chemicals in storage
- Contaminated water supplies
- Contaminated air-conditioning systems (legionella bacteria)
What is english bond brickwork?
Formation consisting of alternative headers and stretchers
How thick is a solid wall?
230mm with plaster finish
How thick is a solid wall?
230mm with plaster finish
How thick is a cavity wall?
Depends on size of gap -> 280mm with plaster finish is common
What are cavity ties?
- ties used to join two leaves of cavity wall together to provide additional support
- Building regs -> 2.5 wall ties per m^2 of masonry
What are the different types of cavity wall ties?
- Double triangular
- Vertical twist
- Butterfly
What is the size of a brick?
215mm x 102.5mm x 65mm
What is the size of a block?
440mm x 100mm x 215mm
What is a rafter and purlin roof?
Roof constructed with purlins and rafters
What is a rafter and purlin roof?
Roof constructed with purlins and rafters
What are rafters?
- The beams of a roof construction that are angled upward from the ground
- They meet at the top of the gable at a ridge beam
What are purlins?
The horizontal beams of roof construction that are used for structural support in the construction of a roof
What is a roof truss?
Structure that consists of pieced straight wood or steel joined together in triangular shapes to support the weight of the roof
What are the different types of roof truss?
- Monopitch truss (right angle)
- Asymmetrical truss (off-centre)
- Attic truss (symmetrical)
What is a building frame?
- Structure in which weight is carried by a skeleton or framework as opposed to being supported by walls
- Usually steel and reinforced concrete
What are characteristics of Grade A offices?
- Most desireable areas
- Steel or reinforced concrete frame
- HVAC systems
- LG& compliant lighting
- Excellent BREEAM rating
- Excellent disability access
- High EPC
- On site parking
- Good facilities
- 2.6 clear floor to ceiling height
- Suspended ceilings with void of 350mm
- Fully accessed raised floors ith 150mm void
What are characteristics of Grade A offices?
- Most desireable areas
- Steel or reinforced concrete frame
- HVAC systems
- LG& compliant lighting
- Excellent BREEAM rating
- Excellent disability access
- High EPC
- On site parking
- Good facilities
- 2.6 clear floor to ceiling height
- Suspended ceilings with void of 350mm
- Fully accessed raised floors ith 150mm void
What are the characteristics of Grade B offices?
- Former Grade , aged 10-20 years
- Well maintained
- Elavator and HVA systems that are functional but no longer industry leading
What are the characteristics of Grade C offices?
- Located in less desireable areas
- Much older than Grade A or B
- Out of date furnishings
- Poor maintenance services
- No elavators or decent disabled access
What is a portal frame?
Type of structural frame
- Beams supported by columns either end
- The joints between the beam and the columns are ‘rigid’ so that the bending movement in the beam is transferred to the columns
What are portal frame structures typically used for?
- typically low rise structures
- Industrial and warehouse buildings
What are the benefits of a portal frame structure?
- Large spaces can be enclosed with little use of material and so lower costs
- Efficient for enclosing large volumes
What is considered optimal site cover for an industrial development?
- 35-40%
- 50% is likely to lead to congestion
What is the floor loading requirement for industrial buildings?
- Between 30 and 40 kN/m^2
- Design rule of thumb for 2.5 kN/m^2 of eaves height
What is typical office coverage for industrial properties?
10% of the total floor area
What is the typical fit out provided by developers for industrial property?
- Offices with carpet
- Roller shutter or sliding door to main factor
- Landscaping to site perimeter
What is a dock leveller?
- used to bridge the difference in height and distance between the warehouse floor and vehicle
- Height-adjustable platform use to ensure smooth transition between dock and truck, preventing accidents
What is a typical retail unit?
- Rectangle with depth 3 to 4 times the width
- No changes in floor level
- Staff and stockroom facilities provided
Where will brickwork typically crack?
Along mortar as this is the weakest point
What are the 4 types of cracking typically seen in brickwork construction?
- Horizontal line cracking
- Triangular cracking
- Steeped cracking
- Cracking running down floor level
What is horizontal line cracking indictive of?
Cavity wall tie failure
What is triangular cracking indictive of?
Lintel failure
What is stepped cracking indictive of?
Structural failure
What is cracking running down to ground level indictive of?
Below ground movement
What are 4 types of damp?
Penetrating
Rising
Condensation
Plumbing failure
What are the 3 causes of rising damp?
- No damp proof coursse
- Failed damp proof course
- Birdged damp proof course
What is a sign of condensation in property?
Presence of black mould growth
What would you take with you on an inspection?
- Phone
- Tape measure / disto
- Files / tenancy schedule
- PPE
- Notebook / pen
How can the age of the building be assessed?
- Ask Client
- Research the data of planning consent of building regs approval
- The Land Registry
- Local historical records
- Architectural style or certificate of practical completion
What should be considered specifically in a property management inspection?
If occupied -> check lease, breach obligations?
If unoccupied:
- Condition of building
- H&S compliance
- Ready to let?
- maintenance