Inspection Level 3 Flashcards
How do you ensure you make appropriate access arrangements for inspections?
I contact the property manager/site manager if there is one based on site. I ask them to let the occupiers know I will be attending site and ensure I arrive at the specified time carrying my PSRA license.
What things do you check before attending a site for inspection?
- Age of the building (asbestos)
- Any hazards (building or area)
- Due diligence - surveys etc.
- Ask property manager if any hazards or anything to be aware of and ask if I will need PPE.
Briefly explain the construction of a recent building you have inspected.
I inspected an apartment in Lancaster Gate. It had a steel structure and concrete core with precast concrete floor levels and external walls. It was constructed in 2008, had a flat roof, timber frame windows and basement slab foundations.
How could you tell if a building was of cavity brick wall construction?
No headers used, also evidence of a cavity tray.
How could you tell if a building was of solid brick wall construction?
There would be headers used.
How could you tell the age of a building?
Certificate of completion from the architect.
How can you tell if a building has strip foundations?
It is common for cavity brick walls to have strip foundations.
What is the size of a brick?
215x102.5x65mm
What us the usual size of floor and ceiling void in a new office building?
Raised floor void: 150mm
Ceiling void 350mm
What is the optimum depth of an office to allow for natural light?
12m to 15m (shallow plan) or 15m to 21m (deep plan)
What eaves height is desirable for an office building?
2.6m - 2.8m
What is an easement & how might you find out about the existence of one.
A right to cross or otherwise use someones land for a specific purpose.
May find out by looking at title register or may have been made apparent by seeing someone walking/trodden down grass
What type of air conditioning would you find in a modern office building
Likely VAV - Variable air volume.
What is a hidden valley gutter and what problems can arise because of one?
Where two main roofs meet or where there is a change in roof direction. Can be easily blocked especially where nearby trees.
Where does surface water drain into and how does this compare to foul water?
Surface water drains into the water course, such as soak away or storm drain.
Foul water drains from soil pipes into a sewerage system (private or public)
Statutory undertakers own a private sewer from the boundary of a property
What is a deleterious material and how might you identify it? Can you name me some?
Deleterious materials can degrade with age causing structural problems.
Tell tale signs include brown staining on concrete, concrete frame building, 1960s and 1970’s buildings as well as modern buildings.
Deleterious materials include;
- High alumina cement
- Woodwool shuttering
- Calcium chloride
What is a hazardous material? Can you name me some? How would you deal with this?
A hazardous material is one which is harmful to health.
Hazardous materials include; - Asbestos - Lead piping/lead paint - Radon gas I would always recommend a specialist report and make appropriate assumptions.
I would always check the contents of an asbestos report/register.
What do wet and dry rot look like?
Cracks in brickwork - for subsidence
Wet rot - wet, soft timer or high reading on damp meter
Dry rot - fungus, strong smell, cracked paintwork.
What is rising damp?
In short, rising damp in buildings occurs when water from the ground rises up through the bricks and mortar of a building by capillary action. Usually stops 1.5m up
Can you tell me about any RICS guidance on contamination?
RICS guidance note ‘Contamination, the Environment and Sustainability, 2010 (3rd edition).
What is the general principle relating to contamination?
The principle is that the polluter or the landowner pays the remediation.
What signs would indicate that a site is contaminated?
Evidence of chemical, oils, oil drums, subsidence and underground tanks, bare ground etc.
What is an environmental impact assessment?
The purpose of an EIA process is to inform decision makers and the public of the environmental consequences of implementing a proposed project. the EIA document itself is a technical tool that identifies, predicts and analyses impacts on the physical environment, as well as social, cultural and health impacts.
Why and when would you need an EIA?
Large development - This enables planning authorities to be fully aware of the broader environmental picture when they decide to grant planning permission.
E.g. Maglin had an EIA prepared
What is radon?
Radon is a colourless, odourless radioactive gas. It is formed by the radioactive decay of the small amounts of uranium that occur naturally in all rocks and soil.
How can you reduce the risk of radon?
Positive ventilation - a small quiet fan blows fresh air, usually from the roof space, into the building.
Natural under-floor ventilation - many homes and some workplaces have a suspended ground floor with space underneath. Good ventilation of this space can reduce radon concentrations.
Tell me what an inherent/latent defect is.
An inherent defect is a defect in the design or a material which has always been present
A latent defect is a fault to the property that could not have been discovered by a reasonably thorough inspection of the property.
Why are building warranties important?
Form of insurance policy that the building has been constructed to a high standard – covers defects and structural damage.
