Inspection - Summary of Experience Flashcards
When did RICS Surveying Safely come into effect?
1st February 2019
Can you give me some examples of invasive species?
- Japanese knotweed
- Grey squirrel
- Giant hogweed
What are the risks of radon exposure?
long term exposure - cancer risk
What is radon?
Natural gas
- radioactive
- odourless
- tasteless
Low levels in outside air - collects in buildings
How is radon mitigated?
Works - Ventilation and sealing hatches
- Radon pump
What are the procedures necessary when undertaking inspections?
- Pre-assessment of hazards and risks likely
- PPE requirement
Examples of common Asbestos Containing Materials (ACMs)?
- Corrugated roofing
- Insulation
- Asbestos cement
- Fire blankets
How much notice is ‘good time’ when undertaking an inspection?
At least 2 days
What needs to be considered before visiting site?
- Lone working
- Property condition
- Occupation
- Dangerous substances
- Access equipment
- Documentation (TS, arrears report)
- Weather conditions
What H+S matters should be considered during an inspection?
- Structural stability
- Sharp objects
- Slip/trip hazards
- Hidden traps/openings
- Contamination
What is mundic?
Deterioration of concrete - due to decomposition of mineral constituents within aggregate (Originated from Cornwall and is evident in many buildings in the southwest of England)
What is high alumina cement?
Rapid strength used in precast beams (1950s-1970s)
- Building collapses 1970s and resultant ban
What is calcium chloride cement?
Accelerating admixture in concrete until 1970s
- Caused corrosion in embedded materials and outlawed in 1977
Tell me the key signs of structural instability?
- Leaning walls
- Rotton beams/columns
- Corroded metal fire escapes
What is Workman’s lone working policy?
in accordance with surveying safely
- Charged phone
- Diarise
- Inform colleagues
- Risk assessments
Which objects should be looked out for on inspection?
- Rotten/broken floors
- Sharp objects
- Broken windows
What other items apart from PPE and your phone do you take with your on your inspection?
- Measuring device
- Property files (lease, title plan)
- Pen/paper
What is efflorescence?
White marks on brick - caused by reaction between salts used in bricks and water
What is spalling?
Damaged bricks - bricks starts to crumble from freeze/thaw
What are the encountered risks associated with people/animals ?
- Squatters/trespassers
- Aggressive tenants
- Dogs
Are there any contamination risks within properties?
- Asbestos
- Chemicals
- Legionella (A/C / water)
Can you give me an example of PPE that may be necessary on site?
- Steel toe cap boots
- Safety goggle
- ## Hard hat
Can you provide examples of unsafe environments or atmospheres?
- Confined spaces (lack of oxygen)
- Rotting vegetation
- Flammable material stores
- Excessive mould/fungi
What is English bond brickwork?
Brick formation - each bond consists of either headers or stretchers (NOT BOTH ON SAME BOND)
What would you do if you noted unauthorised occupation or alteration within the tenant’s demise?
1) Take photos
2) Check the lease
4) Inform tenant
3) Inform client / solicitors (If necessary) - Serve notice on breach
What is flemish bond brickwork?
Brick formation - headers and stretchers alternate next to each other
What is a solid wall?
External walls of a building that have no gaps (flemish) - two bricks wide
How can you tell if brick is solid or cavity from external inspection?
Solid wall = presence of headers
Cavity wall = absence of headers
What is a cavity wall?
Two layers of bricks with gaps in between of between 50-70cm
What is a rafter?
wooden roof beams angled upwards from the ground that meet at top of gable at ridge beam
Can you tell me the standard brick size?
215mm x 102.5mm x 65mm
Can you tell me the standard block size?
440mm X 215mm X 100mm
What is a purlin?
Horizontal beams in a roof used for structural support
Where does brickwork typically crack?
Along mortar joints as this is the weakest point
What is a roof truss?
Structure that consists of pieces of straight wood or steel joined together in triangular shapes to support the weight of the roof
What does horizontal line cracking indicate?
Cavity wall tie failure
What are the 4 types of cracking?
- Horizontal line
- Triangular
- Stair step
- Cracking running down to floor level
What does triangular cracking indicate?
Lintel failure
What does cracking to ground level indicate?
Below ground movement (foundations)
What does stair stepped cracking indicate?
Structural failure
What is in your inspection report?
- Date/address/purpose
- Photos
- Condition of property
- Tenant compliance with lease
- Any maintenance issues
What is the floor loading requirement for industrial buildings?
40kn/m2
What is the spec of a grade A office?
- Desirable area
- Steel/reinforced concrete frame
- Raised floor - 150mm void
- Suspended ceiling - 350mm void
- HVAC, LED lighting
- High EPC
- Car parking / Cycle rack
- Shower
What is the spec of a grade B office?
Was Grade A 20 years ago
- Well maintained
- Partitions
- Kitchen area
- Systems functional but no longer industry leading
What is the spec of a grade C office?
- located in less desirable area
- Older than grade A and B
- Out of date furnishings
What is a portal frame? - What are they used for?
Structural frame whereby beams are supported by columns at either end
- Joints between beam and column rigid so bending movement is transferred to columns
USE FOR LOW RIS/INDUSTRIAL-WAREHOUSE BUILDINGS
What are benefits of using a portal frame?
Can enclose large spaces with little use of material (therefore lower costs)
What is the typical industrial fit out?
- Concrete screed floor - office may have carpet
- Roller shutter doors
- Dock levellers (hydraulic and manual)
- Landscaping to site perimeter
- 40kn/m2
- 10% office (kitchen/toilet)
- Mezzanine
- Partitions
What are the four common forms of foundation?
- Trench/strip footings
- Raft
- Piled
- Pad
I can see at 148-170 Ilford High Road there was an issue with damp. Please can you take me through the 4 types of damp?
- Penetrating damp
- Rising damp
- Condensation damp
- Plumbing failure
Please can you confirm what caused the damp at 148-170 Ilford High Road and also name the 3 other causes of damp?
Penetrative damp caused this (gutter had failed)
- No damp proof course
- Failed damp proof course
- Bridged damp proof course
How is damp measured?
Using a moisture/damp meter
How did you identify the damp at 148-170 Ilford High Road?
Visibly the wall was moist. This was confirmed by the use of a moisture meter
- Was a slightly musty smell
- Cracking of the interior paintwork
How do you prevent penetrative damp?
Regular guttering, downpipe, roof and window maintenance
What was considered during (upon arrival) these property management inspections? (examples of Ilford, Horsham and Lea Bridge)
- Risks and hazards
- Working from height
- Working conditions
- Impact of people and animals
- Unsafe atmospheres
What is considered during a valuation inspection?
Aspects that impact value
- Area
- Age/construction
- Environ risks
- Sustainability
- Occupation/tenure
What was the risk of having fading zebra crossings at Lea Bridge Road?
Can lead to accidents
- H+S risks as road users unaware of crossing areas
- Property can’t be used properly - Chaos
What do you do if you discover asbestos?
No need to remove if undisturbed
- Check asbestos register
- Advise client and instruct inspection survey
What is japanese knotweed?
Fast growing, clump-forming dense plant, white flower blooming in late summer/autumn
- Deeply penetrating underground stems
- Invasive non-native species
What are the issues that japanese knotweed can bring?
- Difficult to control
- Expensive to eradicate - need specialist
- Damages foundations
- Lenders may refuse loan if evident at prop
Is there any RICS publications relating to Japanese knotweed?
RICS Guidance Note: Japanese Knotweed and Residential Property (1st Edition) 2022
What is wet/dry rot and the difference between them?
Wet rot = caused by damp and timber decay (visible fungal growth and musty smell)
Dry rot = caused inside by fungal attack - cracks paintwork and can destroy timber and masonry