Inspection level 1 Flashcards
What are the different types of office fit out
What occurs after a new building is completed?
You undertake a snagging process, whereby the property is inspected against the construction plans to check that it has been finished correctly and that the construction is of sufficient quality to ensure the building operates as desired and designed. This process is carried out by a contractor under warranty.
What are the three common causes of defects?
Water, Movement and Deteriorating Materials.
What are some common building defects for period residential/shop/office properties?
Dry rot, wet rot, tile slippage on the roof, death watch beetle, damp penetration from the roof, water ingress (doors and windows), settlement.
What are some common defects of modern industrial buildings?
A. Roof leaks around roof lights, damaged cladding;
Cut edge corrosion - Cut edge corrosion occurs to the sheet laps and sheet ends on a profiled metal roof
Blocked valley gutters – Results in water running down surfaces that are not designed for this to happen.
What is the key piece of legislation in relation to the contamination of land?
The Environmental Protection Act 1990.
As a developer what can you apply for if you develop a contaminated site?
Land Remediation Relief – A form of tax relief that gives the developer up to 150% corporate tax relief.
Can you give an example of a “Hazardous Material”
Radon Gas, Asbestos, Lead piping
What is the RICS Paper that was published on Japanese Knotweed?
RICS Guidance Note RICS Information Paper on Japanese Knotweed & Residential Property 2022 which provides guidance on dealing with Knotweed and a decision tree to help valuers determine the appropriate management approach.
Why did Japanese Knotweed come to the UK mainly?
Because the railway companies used it to sure up the banks of railway cuttings as it is incredibly effective at making soil not slip.
What is the Recent Case Law for Damages relating to the Spread of Japanese Knotweed?
Williams vs. Network Rail Infrastructure Ltd. 2018 – the court held that Network was liable for the cost of treating the invasive plant plus damages for the loss of use of the neighbours property (but not the reduced value of the property) even after the knot weed was gone.
Under What Act is it a Criminal Offence to Allow the Spread of Japanese Knotweed?
What would you do if you arrived at an inspection of a vacant building and there were squatters in position?
What would you do if you arrived at an inspection of a vacant building and there were squatters in position?
I would not conduct the inspection and inform the client that there were squatters in occupation.
This is a criminal offence, therefore, the landlord would rely on common law powers to use ‘reasonable force’ to remove trespassers from land through a bailiff or civil proceedings.
On a site, how do you look out for contamination?
I have had regard to the RICS Guidance Note ‘Contamination, the Environment and Sustainability, 2010. I would review the site history and investigate the nature and extent of contamination by taking soil samples. If I suspected soil contamination due to dead soil then I would call a professional to take detailed soil samples using bore holes. A remediation report would then be carried out.
What are common material defects for Steel?
(1) Regents street disease / steel frame corrosion
(2) Clinker
(3) Cut Edge Erosion (Industrial – think case study)
(4) Wall Tiles
What is Regent Street Disease?
It is the corrosion of steel that has been in cased in stone (Steel Frame Erosion). It was particularly prevalent on Regent street, where the buildings are encased in Portland Stone.
What is Cut Edge Corrosion?
Cut-edge erosion is the wearing of steel sheets along the edge where the sheet has been cut.
If the sheet were coated, the cut edge is where corrosion (rust) will occur.
What are the benefits of steel frames?
(1) Design/Manufacture:
Four ‘Cs’ – Cover, compaction, constituents of the mix, curing…
(2) Atmospheric
Carbonation
(3) Chemical
Sulphates, chlorides and admixtures
What is ASR?
ASR is Alkali–silica reaction, better known as concrete cancer. It is a swelling reaction that occurs over time in concrete between the highly alkaline cement paste and the reactive non-crystalline silica found in many common aggregates.
What are typical material Defects for Timber
(1) Fungus
(2) Wet and Dry Rot (There is only one variant of Dry Rot, numerous wet rots)
(3) Woodworm
(4) Death-watch Beetle
(5) House Longhorn
What are typical material Defects for Glass
1) Thermal stress cracks
(2) Impact damage
(3) Spotting / ‘Leopard’ spots (efflorescence)
(4) Solar gains
(5) Roller waves
(6) Newtons rings
(7) Nickel sulphide inclusions
What are the different types of foundation properties can have?
- Raft/Slab Foundations
- Piled Foundations
- Trench Foundations
What is a Deleterious Material?
A. Two definitions of deleterious materials below.
(1) “Materials and conditions with inherent health and safety and environmental safety hazards”.
And (2) “Materials and conditions with potential to undermine the integrity and structural stability of the buildings during or subsequent to the construction phase”
Office tenant fit out
What is a CAT A fit out?
A Cat A fit out is the basic finishing of an interior space, this type of fit out includes the installation of a building’s mechanical and electrical services.
What is a Cat B fit out?
A Cat B fit out is the term used to describe a fully operational workplace that has been designed to a client’s unique specifications to make it their own.
What is a Cat A+ fit out?
A Cat A+ fit out is typically conducted by landlords as a way of attracting tenants into their space rather than leaving the space as Cat A which would require the tenant to spend money on designing.
- Meeting rooms and breakout spaces
- Furniture and workstations
- Fitted kitchens
- Power
- IT infrastructure
- WCs
What is a shell and core fit out?
While part of the fit out spectrum, shell and core is technically the state of a building before any type of fit out occurs.
The space won’t be usable at this stage and is the result of the initial construction of the building.
What is RAAC?
Reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete.
What is RAAC?
it is a lightweight concrete used to form panels or planks. Usually found in roofs and some walls.
Buildings include, schools, hospitals and public buildings
What does RAAC look like?
fractures that could lead to collapse. The risk is greater when there could be water ingress from leaking roofs.
What are other features you could look for on inspection
High alumina cement
lead piping
other features such as pot holes in the surface of car parking. I realise I have duty of care to the public so should be aware of these factors.
