Scribd
Upload
22 views

Condition Survey of A Place (Building, Site, Etc.)

The document outlines the key aspects and objectives of conducting a building condition survey: 1. A condition survey assesses the general state of a building/site through examination of all elements to understand its overall state, identify deterioration mechanisms, systematically record its current state before changes, and monitor status over time. 2. The survey involves visual inspection and identification of physical characteristics and decay signs, understanding decay processes, rates, threats and resistance levels. 3. Depending on needs, the survey can be reconnaissance for high-level assessment, or detailed with additional interviews, reports review, material testing, and specialist involvement.

Uploaded by

Cornelius Boateng
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
22 views

Condition Survey of A Place (Building, Site, Etc.)

The document outlines the key aspects and objectives of conducting a building condition survey: 1. A condition survey assesses the general state of a building/site through examination of all elements to understand its overall state, identify deterioration mechanisms, systematically record its current state before changes, and monitor status over time. 2. The survey involves visual inspection and identification of physical characteristics and decay signs, understanding decay processes, rates, threats and resistance levels. 3. Depending on needs, the survey can be reconnaissance for high-level assessment, or detailed with additional interviews, reports review, material testing, and specialist involvement.

Uploaded by

Cornelius Boateng
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 11

07/09/2021

CONDITION SURVEY OF A PLACE


(Building, Site, etc.)

 A building condition Survey is the means by


which the general state of conservation of a
place (site/building) is assessed
……to provide information in respect of its
physical conditions on the date of
inspection
 Assessment of general state of conservation
ensures
1. an understanding of the place as a whole
through a careful and thorough
examination of every element that
constitutes it

1
07/09/2021

2. the identification of the primary decay or


deterioration mechanisms active at a place
3. a systematic examination and recording of
the state of a place before any changes are
effected

4. the recording of the current status of a


place for general monitoring

5. the formulation of policies and strategies


for the physical protection and
conservation of a place

1. An understanding of the place as a whole


through a careful and thorough
examination of every element that
constitutes it

i. this involves an examination and analysis of


elements which are common to most places
……and may include the materials,
component parts and methods of
construction employed in the making of
the place

2
07/09/2021

2. Identification of the primary decay or


deterioration mechanisms active at a place
involves
i. a visual observation and verification of the
visible physical characteristics of the place

ii. identification and location of the signs of


decay

iii. an understanding of the processes and


circumstances under which the property
has decayed

iv. determination of the speed/rate of the


decay process
vi. determination of the level of the threat
and the capacity of property to resist it
vii. determination of whether the decay

……is about to occur


……has occurred and is now stabilized

……could occur in the future

3
07/09/2021

3. A systematic examination and recording of


the state of a place before any changes are
effected
i. this involves locating and recording any
suspected decay or damage in a sequential
manner through
……a visual overview (reconnaissance survey
of the place)
……an examination of all surfaces (external
and internal) and various degrees of sub-
surface testing

……an observation of every visible detail of


design and construction
……a record of current conditions/problems
of past repairs and treatments
……recommendations for current and future
action
4. The recording of the current status of the
place for general monitoring
i. the condition or performance of the place is
observed, recorded and measured regularly
to identify variations from the original state

4
07/09/2021

ii. identification of variations from the


original state is documented so that
……potential problems can be identified in a
timely manner and corrective action
taken when necessary to control or
eliminate them
5. Formulation of policies and strategies for
the physical protection and conservation of
the place
i. a policy appropriate for the place is
determined by an understanding of its
cultural significance

ii. strategies must be evolved through the


development of an action plan
……that is identifying how the strategies will
be achieved?, by whom?, with what
resources (financial, human, technical)?,
when the strategy will be implemented
and the duration?, the budget?
 Depending upon the level of information
required a condition survey can be
classified as reconnaissance or detailed
survey

5
07/09/2021

 In a reconnaissance survey, visual inspection


of the place and its system(s) is conducted to
assess its condition
……through a critical examination of the
visible physical characteristics and
identification of the primary decay
mechanisms active at the place
 This involves a determination of the
nature, possible cause(s) and sources of
decay (masonry materials, elements
and/or components that constitute the
place)

 The visible physical characteristics of a


place constitutes the Symptoms while the
probable causes of such characteristics
constitutes the Diagnosis
 A systematic approach for a reconnaissance
survey involves

i. looking at the building from top to bottom


and at close range (arms-length)
ii. going into and through the various spaces
that make up the place

6
07/09/2021

 Roughly sketched site plan, floor plans,


elevations, etc. with notations, may be used
to indicate all evidence of damaged
materials
 Photographs and video are useful in a
reconnaissance condition survey to illustrate
deficiencies that may be found during the
on-site inspection
 Based on the reconnaissance survey
i. establish the symptoms (cracks, flaking of
plaster/render, spalling of concrete, etc.)

ii. establish the first diagnosis (what could


be the possible causes ? describe the
decay processes ?
***If there are, in respect of the cause(s),
nature and sources of decay
……undertake an in-depth investigation
……investigate what cannot be seen (do some
digging)
……carry out some tests on material
components
……contact other professionals

7
07/09/2021

 A detailed condition survey may be


undertaken to gather and document
additional detail and may involve
……interview (on-site and off-site) of
caretakers, professionals, etc.
……examination of reports, construction
drawings, specifications, data on
physical environment (soils, rainfall,
wind etc.), history of the place, data on
past and recent conservation works, data
on maintenance practices, data on uses
of the place, old photographs, etc.

Physical Survey

8
07/09/2021

9
07/09/2021

 After documentation of existing conditions,


data collected is analyzed and, findings and
recommendations summarized in a report
 A comprehensive Condition Survey Report
should be prepared using much visual
material as possible and should include the
following
……observations / findings
……limits of investigation (e.g. accessibility
to some parts, information, etc.)
……priority issues to be addressed

……the need for further observation,


monitoring and research
 A condition report should state the purpose
and scope of the survey to enable identified
stakeholders have a clear understanding of
the requested services
 In any condition survey, remember that
……agents of destruction are numerous and
never develop in isolation and, that
decay processes are very complex
……it is important to consider a combination
of several inter-related decay factors

10
07/09/2021

THANK YOU

11

You might also like