- Before pouring the concrete foundations at the excavation stage.
- Before covering up concrete foundations.
- Before covering up damp proof courses.
- Before covering up hardcore laid floors.
- Before covering up new drains.
- At least five days after covering up new drains and roof timbers.
- At least five days before occupying the building/or when work is finished.
The work also involves:
- Liaising and communicating with other statutory undertakings, e.g. highways.
- Calculating out the fee to be charged to the client.
- Answering enquiries from clients on the progress of the work.
- Providing a completion certificate when the building work is satisfactorily completed.
- Enforcement activities where non-compliance has occurred.
The building surveyor may be helped out during different stages of the construction such as:
The Architect: is principally the designer of the building but historically he has taken responsibility for supervision of the contract (selecting the contractor, arranging payments etc.) if a building surveyor is evolved the architect role may be secondary. In a renovation or refurbishment job the architect and surveyor would work closely together at the initial survey of the building.
Clerk of works is the architect’s rep on site; his primary job is to check workmanship and the quality of materials used on the job. His background is usually from trade.
Quantity surveyors (QS): normally produce the bill of quantities. In other countries outside the UK there is no alternative profession such as QS. Some of the work carried out by the QS may be done by computers especially measurement. The QS would help the building surveyor to cost the various options for altering buildings.
Engineers: would be involved in the design of the civil engineering structures and large building could help the building surveyor with structural problems in the building, in terms of costing solutions etc.
Main & subcontractor: the advantage of this is the client’s rep is dealing with one organisation for specialist parts of the contract like mechanical engineering (lifts, air-conditioning) a nominated subcontractor should be appointed by the client but in law the main contractor.
Ordinary sub-contractors are those who are employees by the main contractor and there is a contract to carry out a selection of the work in modern contracting the tendency is to sub-contract a large part of the work.
Local authorities: The building regulations are administrated through local authorities. Inspections will be carried out by building control by inspectors monitoring construction.
Health and safety exceptive: they are responsible for implementing health and safety regulations. The building surveyed might be involved with liaising with health and safety exceptive to ensure that health and safety regulations are achieved on site.
Qualifications: the qualifications required if you wish to be a building surveyor are:
- GCSE’S
- National diplomas/certificates in construction
- AVCE
- HND
- HNC
- Degree in building surveying and membership of the royal instituted of charted surveyors. Etc.
Prepare a typical job description for a building surveyor.
Duties and responsibilities for a building surveyor:
- To examine deposited plans for compliance with the requirements of the building regulations and allied legislation and to approve, return for amendment or refuse such applications as necessary within statutory time limits.
- To undertake the inspection of building work in progress on new properties and alterations and extensions to existing properties to ensure compliance with the building regulations and associated legislation, within the stated service performance criteria and the framework of the council’s policies and procedures.
- To keep comprehensive and up to date records.
- Resolve queries on the building regulations and allied legislation presented by staff or other persons. Ensuring uniformity of approach and consistency or interpretation amongst staff.
- To assist with the responsibilities for licensing, demolitions, dangerous and dilapidated structures.
- To undertake any designated duties under the county/district emergency plans.
- To investigate contraventions, seek appropriate solutions and initiate enforcement action in accordance with the adopted enforcement policies including court appearances where required.
- To liaise with the council’s consultants, the fire authority, outside agencies and other departments of the council on relevant building control matters.
- To liaise with the council’s building control service to builders, property owners and public at large.
- To check applications which have been submitted and approved for a period of six months to determine whether work has been commenced without formal notification being given and report to the building control manager in order that appropriate action can be taken.
- To liaise with the general public on matters relating to the preparation and submission of applications also giving advice on methods of construction and matters appertaining to the building regulations.
