Inspection - Level 1 Flashcards
Explain a key issue raised by RICS Surveying Safely
Guidance note effective from February 2019
Visiting premises and sites:
- Tell someone where you are going and when you leave the building/site
- Where appropriate protective clothing where appropriate
- Sign in and out of a building or construction site and receive a site induction
- Consider whether safe to inspect alone and observe special lone working arrangements
Emphasis is placed on Members having correct operational practices in place
How do you ensure you make appropriate access arrangements for inspections?
Read the lease to ensure that access notice is given in accordance with the agreement
Plan ahead to ensure that the appropriate equipment is taken
What things would you check before attending site for an inspection?
Potential health and safety concerns
That access has been arranged appropriately
Briefly explain the construction of a recent building you have inspected
Bethnal Green - former warehouse
Solid wall construction
Steel frame - less columns
In construction phase
What is the size of a brick?
Standard UK brick size = 215mm x 102.5mm x 65mm
How do you take good inspection notes when on site?
- Use a structured approach so that critical information is not missed - use a checklist to ensure all necessary areas are covered
- Take photos
- Record all observations - including defects, damages or issues identified
- Record measurements
- Include dates and times
Tell me about how you would ensure safe working at height / on a site with working machinery
Wear non slip shoes/boots when going up ladders
Conduct a risk assessment to identify potential hazards
Wear PPE
What building characteristics do you look for when inspecting a property?
- Structural characteristics/issues (foundations, brickwork, frame type)
- Building services (air conditioning, M&E systems etc)
- Energy efficiency
- Compliance with building regulations
- Condition of finishes
- Accessibility - compliance with Equality Act 2010
- Health and safety considerations
What are the usual sizes of floor and ceiling void in a new office building?
Ceiling void of 350mm and a raised floor void of 150mm
What does Grade A specification mean for an office?
Typically refers to the highest quality office space available in a particular market or location.
Usually includes features such as high-quality finishes, modern design and technology, excellent environmental credentials and good access to transport links.
How do office Grade and Category differ?
Grade typically refers to the quality of the building itself, taking into account factor’s such as building age, design, location and quality of materials used in its construction.
Category refers to the level of services and amenities provided within the building and the fitout upon signing of the lease.
How do CAT A+, CAT A and CAT B differ?
In terms of office space:
CAT A = usually finished with a suspended ceiling, lighting, heating and raised flooring.
CAT A+ = plug and play space delivered by the LL
CAT B = follows CAT A and often delivered by the T to suit their business needs
What does turnkey mean?
An office that is fully equipped and ready to use immediately
It is a fully operational and functional workspace that is move-in ready
What is the British Council for Offices?
Non-profit organisation in the UK that provides research, best practice and thought leadership with a particular focus on the design, specification, management and operation of offices.
When was their office guidance last updated?
2019
What changes were made?
Key changes include areas such as sustainability, wellness and technology
What is the optimum depth of an office to allow for natural light?
This depends on factors such as the orientation & height of the building as well as the type of glazing used
A general rule of thumb is that an office depth should be no more than 2.5 times the height of the window to ensure adequate daylight penetration
OR
Max depth of 12m to 15m (shallow plan) or 15m to 21m (deep plan)
What eaves height is desirable for an office building?
This depends on factors such as intended use, number of floors and architectural design.
A general rule of thumb is that the eaves height should be around 2.7 - 3 metres as this allows sufficient space for services and installation of partitioning and other fit-out requirements.
What is the normal floor loading for an office building?
Approximate flor loading of 2.5-3.00 kN/sq m with an allowance of up to 1.2 kN/sq m for partitioning
How would this differ to an industrial/warehouse building?
Minimum 30 kN/sq m floor loading
Minimum 8m clear eaves height with 10% roof lights
What is an easement?
legal right granted to someone to use another person’s property for a specific purpose, even though they do not own the land.
Easements can be granted for various reasons such as a right of access
How would you find out about the existence of an easement?
- Land Registry & Title Deeds
- Local searches
- Surveyor’s report
What types of air conditioning would you find in a modern office building?
VAV - Variable air volume (highest capital cost but most flexible)
Fan coil - Usually 4-pipe (lower initial cost & good flexibility but higher operating & maintenance costs)
VRV - Variable refrigerant volume (lower capital cost but higher running and maintenance costs)
Static cooling - chilled beam and displacement heating (a natural approach to climate control with lower capital and running costs but less flexibility)
How can you tell if a wall is of solid or cavity construction?
Solid brickwork uses headers whereas cavity wall construction does not
