Inspection COPY Flashcards
(35 cards)
What are the purposes of inspection? What do you look for during each?
1) Valuation
- Factors impacting value = location, tenure, aspect, form of construction, defects, condition, lease terms
2) Property management
- Lease compliance, statutory compliance, requirement for repairs, tenant matches lease
If unoccupied -> need for repair, risk of vandalism, landscaping
3) Agency
- Current condition, repair, maintenance issues, presentation, marketability
Which foundations are used for Residential dwellings?
Trench/strip footings (houses)
Piled (developments)
What are the 4 types of foundation
Trench
Slap
Pile
Pad
How can you identify a cavity wall? What is it? Why is it used?
two brick walls tied together with insulation in between, no ‘headers’
Can reduce damp,
Has bricks with holes in to vent
What are the white marks on brickwork called? What causes them?
Efflorescence, caused by natural salts in brick
What are the types of defect?
Inherent defect = one there since construction (not deterioration or damage)
Latent defect = fault that could not have reasonably been found on inspection
What do you do if you find a defect on site?
1) Take photos
2) Try to establish cause
3) Inform client of your findings
4) Recommend specialist advice from a building surveyor (or structural engineer if movement)
What are the most common defects?
Movement
Water/damp
Deterioration of building materials
What is snagging? Why is it done?
Final checks of a property
Ensure contractual compliance
H&S of occupier
Get contractor to remedy then and there
What are the three types of damp?
Rising
Penetrative
Condensation
What causes rising damp? How can you identify it?
Causes: ‘free’ water in soil, broken pipes, underground watercourse
Usually stops 1.5m up walls and doesn’t cause mould
What causes penetrative damp, how can you identify it?
Caused by rain, plumbing leaks, other above ground sources
Common issue is plumbing (e.g. long term leaking of cistern overflows)
Identified by wet brickwork, large internal water damage
What causes condensation? When does it normally occur?
Surface temperature is below the dew point
Lack of heating often connect to poor insulation, poor ventilation, lifestyle (drying laundry over radiators, cooking)
September - May is ‘condensation season’
What are the types of condensation? How can you identify them?
1) Surface (most common) -> moistens corners where mould can grow
2) Interstitial condensation -> within walls/floors
3) Reverse condensation -> outside, wet wall exposed to sun drives water vapour into the brick
4) Radiation condensation -> rapid cooling of atmosphere at night = condensation inside roof sheeting
What else do you need to be aware of if you notice damp?
There can be a link between damp sources e.g. penetrative damp soaks thermal insulation, reduces heat retention making condensation more likely
What are the types of rot? How can you identify them? How are they different?
Wet rot -> fungal decay of timber in moist conditions.
Timber is soft/spongy, damp/musty smell, paint stained. Localised
Dry rot -> More serious but less common, fungus that dries out timber.
Has yellow colour, wood crumbles with cracks along it -> can spread rapidly away from the source
What happens if a site has contamination? What is the investigation process?
1) Review of site history, desktop study and site inspection
2) Detailed investigation to identify nature and extent of contamination – intrusive testing (boreholes)
3) Remediation report – sets out options and requirements, how to monitor
What are the types of asbestos and when did they become illegal?
Where is it commonly found?
White (1999) Chrysotile
Blue (1985) Crocidolite
Brown (1985) Amosite
- Roof sheets
- Wall cladding
- Lagging on boiler/pipework/boiler flue
- Spray coating to ceilings
- Inside partition walls
- any panelling
What are the types of Asbestos Survey?
1) Management Survey
Locate and assess ACMs and advise on their management during occupation
No samples taken
2) Demolition/refurbishment survey
Samples taken and tested to confirm ACMs / location
Recommendations are made regarding their management
What is the RICS publication for asbestos?
Covered within RICS Guidance Note Surveying Safely 2018 but there is also:
RICS Guidance Note Asbestos and its implications for surveyors and their clients 2011
Asbestos statutory legislation is?
Legislation: The control of asbestos regulations 2012
- Non-compliance is a criminal offence
- Work with ACMs needs a licenced contractor -> inform HSE of non-licenced work
What is an asbestos register?
A collection of documents that outlines if there is asbestos, what surveys have been undertaken, has it been identified, and if so what procedures for management have been put in place
How do you know if there is asbestos in a building?
Check a copy of the asbestos register
What do you do if you find asbestos on site?
Take photos and detailed notes
Inform tenant, owner/manager, and client
