Inspection Flashcards
What are the four steps to consider when carrying out a property inspection?
- Consider personal safety 2. Inspect the immediate area 3. External Inspection 4. Internal Inspection
What do you look for in the immediate area when you assess the locality?
Location Transport links Local amenities Other occupiers in the vicinity and surrounding uses Any new developments or properties under construction Comparables and agents boards Contamination / environmental hazards - flooding
What do you look for when undertaking an external inspection of a building?
Construction Condition and repair Access, car parking etc. Defects / structural movement Check site boundaries
If you don’t know the date of a building how could you find out?
Ask the client Look at the planning consents and building regs sign off The Land Registry Architectural style
What do you look for when undertaking an internal inspection?
Layout Specification Condition Amenities Defects Age of services Fixtures, fittings, improvements
What do you take with you on an inspection?
Mobile / camera Laser measurer / tape Files, plans and other infor PPE if required Pen and paper
What is PPE?
Personal Protective Equipment: High Visibility Jacket Hard hat Goggles Gloves Steel toed boots Ear defenders
Why do you go and inspect property?
Valuation purposes, property management purposes, agency purposes.
What factors can influence value?
Location, condition, specification, amenities, layout, use etc.
Why undertake property management inspections?
Police leases and ensure statutory compliance. Assess the condition of the building - requirement for repairs and maintenance
Why to agents inspect buildings?
Assess the marketability - condition, repair, maintenance, layout, location, amenities etc.
What are the different types of foundation?
- Strip - concrete foundation used for load bearing walls 2. Pad - used for a concentrated load from a single point e.g. column. 3. Piled - reinforced concrete cylinders buried in the ground with a pile cap - large buildings 4. Raft - reinforced concrete slap under the whole of a building
What is the measurement of a brick?
215mm x 102.5mm x 65mm
How can you tell if a wall is of solid construction?
Alternating header and stretchers
How can you tell if a wall is a cavity wall?
Only stretchers used with metal ties between and space for insulation. You may also see air holes
What are typical defects seen with brickwork?
Efflorescence Spalling
What is Efflorescence?
When water dissolves natural salts and evaporates leaving the salts deposited on the brickwork causing white marks
Is Efflorescence an issue?
No it is mainly cosmetic but could indicate a moisture issue.
What is spalling?
Crumbling of brick due to freeze/thaw action.
What is the typical office frame construction?
Steel or concrete frame Steel frame buildings usually have less columns, a wider span between columns and larger floor to ceiling heights
How can you determine the construction of a building?
Check as built plans or architects plans
Where can you find the recommended specification for offices?
British Council for Offices Guide to Office Specification (2019).
What is the current institutional specification for offices?
MAY INCLUDE: Raised floors - void of 150mm,
Floor to ceiling height - 2.6-2.8m,
Ceiling void - 350mm,
Maximised opportunities for day lighting Approximate floor loading of 2.5 - 3.0 kN/sq m with an allowance of 1.2 kN/sq m,
for partintioning Passenger lift Planning grid of 1.5m to 1.5m
1 cycle space per 10 staff
1 shower per 100 staff
8m2 to 10m2 general workspace density
Carpeting LG7
compliant lighting
Air conditioning
Double glazed windows
What different air conditioning systems are you aware of?
VAV - highest cost, most flexible Fan Coil - lower initial cost, high operating & maintenance cost, flexible VRV - lower cost, high operative & maintenance cost Static Cooling - chilled beam and displacement heating - natural approach to climate control - lower capital and running costs but less flexibility Mechanical ventilation - when fresh air is moved around the building Comfort Cooling - simple form of A/C
What is the typical construction of an industrial building?
Steel portal framed with insulated profiled steel cladding walls and roof with brickwork walls up to c.2m
What is the institutional specification for industrial?
Clear eaves heights of 8m (min) 10% roof lights Min 30KN/m2 floor loading Full height electric loading doors 3 phase electricity 5-10% office content and WC facilities Main services capped off c. 40% site cover
What is a shell and core office fit out?
Common parts complete but office floors left as a shell ready for fit out by the occupier
What is a Cat A fit out?
Fit out ready for occupier to install their specific fit out requirements
What is a Cat B fit out?
Fit out to the occupiers specific requirement such as installing cellular offices, enhanced finishes, IT etc.
What is the usual construction of a shop?
Steel or concrete frame, capped off services, concrete floor, no suspended ceiling and let in a shell and core condition with no shop front, ready for the retailer’s fitting out works.
What is an inherent defect?
Defect in the design or a material that has always been present
What is a latent defect?
Fault that couldn’t have been discovered by a through inspection.