Hot Topics Flashcards
COVID 19
Are you aware of any guidance notes on COVID 19?
The RICS Covid 19 Guide to Surveying services. Which contains a range of guidance notes to work safely and inline with government guidelines.
Can you give an example of where Covid 19 has impacted your area of surveying?
- Significant material cost increases and a reduction in the availability of materials
- In particular steel.
- Shortage in labour availability
- Due to significant cost increase the financial viability of developments has been affected.
How have you helped client deal with issues related to COVID 19?
- Secure early order placement of materials to negate risk of price issues and material availability.
- Update client on impending price increases.
What precautions do you take in you day to day surveying concerning Covid-19?
I practiced inline with RICS Covid-19 Guide for inspections and visits for non-domestic properties which requires me to
- Maintain social distancing
- Minimise physical contact with occupiers where possible
- Comply with H&S procedures in operation.
Did you experience any contractual implications for you projects around COVID 19?
- I am aware of projects that utilised JCT Contracts, which include a Force Majeure clause that was called upon.
- This entitled the contract to an extension of time for the shutdowns/ delays that were imposed onto the contractor due to the impact of Covid 19.
- Additional preliminary cost for additional health and safety items.
BREXIT
How has Brexit effected the UK Property and Construction Industry?
- Movement of people is now restricted as the UK has a new global immigration system.
- With the supply of labour being restricted this has led to labour cost increases and reduction in the availability of labour.
GRENFELL DISASTER
Following the Grenfell Disaster are you aware of any guidance the RICS has published to support fire safety?
The RICS Guidance note ‘Cladding for Surveyors’ 2021. This supports surveyors working on multi storey and multi occupancy residential buildings.
What is ACM Cladding?
- It stands for aluminium composite material.
- It consists of two skins of aluminium bonded together with a lightweight insulated core.
GRENFELL DISASTER
What is the significance of ACM in relation to Grenfell?
- ACM cladding in use was thought contain combustible materials that contributed to the spread of fire across the external elevation of the building.
- The UK Government banned the use of combustible material on highrise homes from November 2018.
- Combustible material are not permitted on external walls of new building above 18m.
What is the New Fire Safety Act 2021?
- The Fire Safety Act was intoduced in 2020 as an update of the Fire Safety Order 2005.
- It holds legal obligations of organisations deemed to be responsible persons.
- It forces responsible persons to take precautions, identify and remedy any dangerous cladding on residential multi story buildings.
SUSTAINABILITY
What is COP26 (Conference of the parties)?
- It is the most recent UN Climate Change Conference]
- It established actions after the failure to raise previous funding targets.
What was agreed at COP26?
- reduce the use of coal (responsible to 40% of CO2 emissions
- Aid developing countries in move to cleaner energies.
How does COP26 relate to the Paris Agreement?
- At the COP21 meeting in Paris in 2015. The Paris agreement was formed.
- They agreed to pursue efforts to prevent temps rising more than 1.5C above pre industrial levels.
What are the impending changes to minimum energy efficiency standards (MEES)?
The government have recently proposed changes to the EPC requirements for commercial and buy to let properties.
- EPC rating of C by 2027
- EPC rating of B by 2030
What is the Bichard Review?
An independent review of the RICS purpose, governance, strategy following the publication of the Levitt review in 2021
