Inspection Flashcards
(15 cards)
What equipment would you take with you during a survey?
This would depend on the nature of the inspection:-
o Pen and paper or tablet to take notes with.
o Camera/Phone.
o Disto or tape measure.
o PPE when required
What do you need to consider before going to site to carry
out an inspection?
- I would firstly consider whether I am competent to undertake the inspection depending on the scope of service being provided.
- I would confirm the date / time / access has been arranged.
- A risk assessment and method statement should also be carried out to determine what risks are involved.
- I would ensure I know the kind of survey that is being provided and review all relevant existing building information available.
How do you undertake an inspection?
- I would normally walk around the building externally a couple of times to get my bearings and get an initial understanding of:-
o An indication of the building’s age.
o Its form of Construction.
o Any additions or abnormal factors.
o Cross reference with boundary plans. - I would then start the inspection externally and inspect each elevation in turn looking at the roof, elevations, windows, doors, drainage and rainwater goods.
- Then I would move inside and move up through each of the floors.
What kinds of risks do you consider?
- Lone working.
- Asbestos.
- Hazards associated with derelict & empty properties.
- Confined spaces.
- Travelling to and from site.
How does a disto work?
A disto emits a laser beam and measures the time taken for it to reflect which is then converted into a distance.
How can you check its accuracy?
This can be checked by using a known measured distance or cross referencing with a measuring tape.
When does a disto becomes less accurate?
- It become less accurate as the distance increases.
- It is also very difficult to use outside over long distances due to issues with identifying the laser.
What precautions would you take if you were inspecting a
flat roof with a stepped ladder on your own?
- I would prepare risk and method statements before undertaking the survey.
- I would consider the height of the roof if it was more than a single storey and look to arrange alternative access.
- The type of ladder being used should also be considered to ensure it is capable of being placed against the wall at an angle of 70 degrees and allows the surveyor to be able to inspect the roof without standing on the last four rungs of the ladder.
- Consideration would also be given to the condition of the roof in terms of whether it is fragile or suitable to be walked on.
What would you look for when inspecting a slated pitched
roof covering and what would you look for within the roof
space?
o The age of the property and roof.
o Whether the ridge is straight.
o Identify and consider any deflections or distortions.
o Identify any slipped or missing slates.
o Determine if previous repairs have been undertaken and consider specifically if repairs are numerous and to what standard they have been carried out.
o Identify if the leadwork to valley gutters, chimneys and other penetrations is in good condition.
o Identify if the chimneys are in good condition or whether they are leaning or require repointing.
What advice would you give if slates were to be replace by concrete
tiles?
- Firstly concrete tiles are heavier than slates and may therefore impose a significant additional load that the roof structure, structure and foundations of the building have not been designed to take.
- It would therefore require a structural engineer to confirm if this could accept this additional weight as it could lead to deflections in the roof, roof spread or settlement.
How would you ascertain the condition of electrical installations
without employing a specialist?
- I would consider the age of the equipment and whether any service history or electrical inspections are accessible.
- I would also look at whether the installation is in good working order at the time of inspection, its general condition and speak to the owner, occupier or maintenance team to see if they can provide any input.
What is included in the contents of the RICS Surveying Safely Professional Standard?
- Professional Responsibilities for RICS members and Corporate Responsibilities for firms
- Assessing Hazards and Risks
- Occupational Hygiene and Health
- Visiting Sites or Premises
- Fire Safety
- Residential Property Surveying
- General Procurement and management of contractors
- Appendix: example audit template
What is the Safe Person concept within RICS Surveying Safely Professional Standard?
RICS considers the concept of a ‘safe person’ to mean that each individual assumes individual behavioural responsibility for their own, their colleagues’ and others’ health and safety while
at work.
This is split between Organisational responsibilities: training, providing information on risks, providing equipment, clear instructions, supervision, PPE.
And Individual responsibilities: being competent to perform the work, adapting to changing circumstances, being vigilant and aware, team work.
What inspection techniques are you aware?
o Exposed timbers should be examined where possible.
o The surface of floors that are not covered with fixed floor coverings should also be inspected.
o Where access is available, the surveyor should inspect the subfloor area.
o In all cases, the surveyor should judge whether it is practicable, permitted and safe to carry out the inspection.
o If it is not possible then this should be clearly reported.
o The surveyor is responsible for carefully and thoroughly inspecting the property and recording the construction and defects that are evident. It is therefore recommended that the surveyor accepts responsibility, within the limits of the agreed instructions, to see as much of the property as is physically accessible.
o The inspection should be carried out without the risk of causing injury to the surveyor or damage to the property.
o It is advised that hot water installations, boilers, control equipment, space heating and other service installations are inspected visually
What equipment are you aware of that may support an inspection?
▪ Recording instruments, e.g. personal recorder, paper, pens or pencils.
▪ Tape measures and a measuring rod.
▪ Hard hat and protective footwear.
▪ Spirit level.
▪ Torches.
▪ camera with flash.
▪ First-aid kit.
▪ Personal identification.
