Guidance for Key Stage Inspections

During the coronavirus outbreak, the following guidance for key stage inspections will prove invaluable. These elements will need to be photographed at each of the key stages. Surveys at other times should at least include any of these elements visible at the time.

Foundations

1. The site and surrounding area. Features such as rivers, cliffs, pylons, buildings not in keeping with general area, eg a supermarket or school adjacent to residential. Should include all trees, shrubs and vegetation within 20m of any part of the unit, including on neighbouring property. Should include an indication of species and height.
2. All trenches excavated, no loose or water. Any changes in soil colour, material and description of texture, eg hard, soft, sand, clay. Steps, day joints, roots, heave precautions, features, eg wells and compensating measures, changes to design, unusual design, eg gabions, tyres etc.
3. Any steelwork, showing cover, laps, links, chairs.
4. Piling – layout, caps, cages, inc links and chairs, cover, formwork.
5. Any uncovered drainage, inside or outside the unit.

 

Damp-proof membrane

1. Membrane laid over the whole floor area before being covered by concrete or insulation.
2. All service penetrations complete, sealed and ready for pouring concrete.
3. All laps, taped, including with the damp-proof membrane (dpc).
4. Any uncovered drainage, inside or outside the unit.

 

Cavities / structural elements

1. General elevations.
2. Where partial fill cavity insulation is used : clean cavities, wall-ties and drips at appropriate centres and distances from reveals, clipped insulation,
3. Lintels, including insulation, beams, steels, joists, bearings to all of these and noggins, bracing, struts. Insulation thickness and brand. Reveals and if possible show ties. Trays and stop-ends, weep holes and vertical dpcs and movement joints.
4. Rafters including trusses, bracing, restraint straps, flat roof joists and decking, hips, valleys and ridges.
5. Roof coverings.
6. Any uncovered drainage, inside or outside the unit.

 

Completions

1. General – all roofs, elevations and openings, all walls where they meet the ground, loft spaces showing insulation and roof structure and strapping and all openings (windows and doors) from the inside. Stairs and all sanitary appliances and extract fans including kitchens.
2. Roof-coverings including mechanical fixings of ridges and verges and cross-ventilation. All flat roofs and balconies, above ground terraces etc, upstands, fall. Flashings, valleys, gutters and downpipes. Chimneys and flues as far as possible, terminal locations and protection. Roof structure if accessible including insulation and ventilation.
3. Drainage system including lifting covers, checking for debris and back falls, benching, channels etc. The system should be run and checked it clears, photos required of chambers before test, during test and after test. ​ Any waste water (foul or storm) treatment plant or holding tanks, including outfall. Gutters and downpipes.
4. Services penetrating external walls. All openings in external walls including entrances/ exits / dpc level / finished ground level, ramps, steps and any other structures potentially compromising dpc.
5. Boilers, stoves, flue terminals, heat pumps, solar panel and photo-voltaic arrays, mechanical ventilation and heat recovery systems and wet rooms.

If you have a question relating to our guidance for key stage inspections, please contact us.