C O NTENTS
RI CS BU ILDING S URV EYI NG JOUR NAL
contents
Front cover: © iStock
4 Cracking the door
CON TAC TS Editor: Barney Hatt T +44 (0)20 7695 1628 E bhatt@rics.org
It can be problematic to ensure fire safety when it comes to dealing with flat entrance doors. Gary Strong offers advice on the regulatory regime
The Building Surveying Journal is the journal of the Building Surveying Professional Group
8 Categorically clearer
BU I L DI N G S URVE YING JOU R NAL
Advisory group: Gary Blackman (Lambert Smith Hampton), Alan Cripps (RICS), Brad Hook (Hook and Sons), Andrew Little (Baily Garner), Mat Lown (Tuffin Ferraby Taylor), Patricia Newman (Patricia Newman Practice), Jay Ridings (Tuffin Ferraby Taylor), Trevor Rushton (Watts Group), Chris Skinner (Savills), Terry Walker
Sara Wilkinson outlines the key questions surveyors need to ask themselves and their clients to ensure buildings are protected
26 Repair or improvement?
Questions about fire detection and alarms for buildings persist despite BSI’s revised standard for systems. Simon Sandland-Taylor offers some clarification
Occupiers frequently misunderstand the full extent of their liabilities and obligations under a repairing lease – which can be a costly oversight, as Rob Burke explains
10 Trial by fire
28 Good news for duty holders
The Building Surveying Journal is available on annual subscription. All enquiries from non-RICS members for institutional or company subscriptions should be directed to:
Diego Alves looks at the performance of modern facade systems during fires
Proquest – Online Institutional Access E sales@proquest.co.uk T +44 (0)1223 215512 for online subscriptions or
12 In good care
To take out a personal subscription, members and non-members should contact licensing manager Louise Weale E lweale@rics.org
24 Tough questions
Ewan Craig, a speaker at RICS’ annual It’s Your APC conference, looks at the optional competency of Maintenance management
Mike Appleby reviews a Supreme Court decision on health and safety enforcement notices
29 Update BUILDIN G CO N SERVATION J O URN A L
13 Insolvency solutions
BU I L DI N G C O N S E RVAT ION JOU R NAL Editor: Toni Gill T +44 (0)20 7222 7000 E tgill@rics.org The Building Conservation Journal is the journal of the Building Conservation Forum Advisory group: Alan Cripps (RICS), John Edwards (Edwards Hart Consultants), Alan Forster (Heriot-Watt University), Frank Keohane (Paul Arnold Architects), John Klahn (RICS) Published by: Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, Parliament Square, London SW1P 3AD T +44 (0)24 7686 8555 W www.rics.org ISSN 1750-1032 (Print) ISSN 1759-3387 (Online) Editorial and production manager: Toni Gill Sub-editor: Matthew Griffiths Designer: Glen Wilkins Advertising: Chris Cairns T +44(0)20 7871 0927 E chrisc@wearesunday.com Design by: Redactive Media Group Printed by: Page Bros While every reasonable effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of all content in the journal, RICS will have no responsibility for any errors or omissions in the content. The views expressed in the journal are not necessarily those of RICS. RICS cannot accept any liability for any loss or damage suffered by any person as a result of the content and the opinions expressed in the journal, or by any person acting or refraining to act as a result of the material included in the journal. All rights in the journal, including full copyright or publishing right, content and design, are owned by RICS, except where otherwise described. Any dispute arising out of the journal is subject to the law and jurisdiction of England and Wales. Crown copyright material is reproduced under the Open Government Licence v1.0 for public sector information: www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence
Following the collapse of Carillion, Daniel Hutchings helps identify the early warning signs of contractor insolvency and advises how to respond
16 Counter strike
Preventing electrical surges is crucial given the number of appliances used in most buildings today. Gary Parker summarises the relevant guidance
18 The clerk’s tale
Whatever their actual job title, clerks of works perform a vital role in construction projects writes Rachel Morris
20 Destination: dilapidations
Travel had already taken Craig MacDonald around the world before he took the opportunity to survey dilapidated hospitals in Papua New Guinea – which proved a memorable experience
22 Follow the crowd
Dr Chris Cocking argues that panic is a poor model for behaviour in emergencies and there should be more emphasis on trust and resilience
31 Sustaining our story
What can the profession do to ensure it inspires pride in another 150 years, asks Alison Richmond?
32 Baked goods
Terracotta has been widely used as a building material, so Clara Willett considers its history and how to maintain it
35 Materials information sheet
Phil Banfill looks at the strengths and weaknesses of concrete
36 Ancient and modern
Heritage buildings can now be scanned swiftly with mobile mapping technology, as Jamie Quartermaine found in Israel
38 Heritage update
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