Inspection: Building design and defects Flashcards
What is the method of construction of the Unit in your case study?
Steel portal frame, modern pitched roof, concrete floor
What kind of foundation was likely used for the building in your case study?
Concrete slab
What did you need to consider when inspecting the building from an agency perspective?
Condition
Repair and maintenance issues
Statutory compliance
Services
Presentation
Marketability
What are the common defects in brickwork structures? and what are they?
Cavity wall tie failure in cavity walls - When the all ties fail to hold the two leafs together
Efflorescence - White marks caused by salts in the brickwork when reacting with wtaer
Spalling - When the surface of the brickwork starts to crumble. This can be from freeze thaw
What are latent and inherent defects?
A latent defect is a fault in the property that could not have been discovered by a reasonably thorough inspection of the property
An inherent defect is a defect in the design or a material that has always been present
What is the purpose of snagging?
Snagging is the process of inspecting a newly built (or refurbished) property to ensure that the works completed meet the standards that the builder has agreed to meet.
What are the three most common causes of defects?
Movement
Water
Defective / Non-performance / deterioration of building materials
Damp and rot: What are the types and what causes them?
Wet rot - caused by damp and timber decay (wet and soft timber, visible fungal growth)
Dry rot - caused inside by fungal attack
Causes of damp:
Rising damp - reaches up to 1.5m above ground level and is caused by damp proof course failure
Condensation - can be caused by lack of ventilation
Leaking pipework/A/C units
What are the common defects in modern industrial buildings and office buildings?
Industrial:
Roof leaks around the roof lights, damaged cladding panels, cut edge corrosion, blocked valley gutters, water damage from poor guttering or burst pipes
Office:
Damp penetration via the ground or roof, water damage from burst pipes or A/C Units, cavity wall tie failure, structural movement
Movement:
What are the types of movement?
What kind of defects can this cause?
Subsidence - Vertical downward movement of a building due to lack of support beneath the foundation.
Heave - Swelling of the ground beneath a building (potentially by tree removal or moisture build up
Defects:
Horizontal cracks indicate cavity wall tie failure
Shrinkage cracking when plasterwork dries out
