bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Ready‐to‐use mortars
Authors: Beningfield Neil
Published: February 2008

Introduction This paper, which considers the composition, specification and use of ready‐to‐use mortars, is concerned only with those delivered in bulk in the wet state and entirely ready‐to‐use, as opposed to dried material, generally supplied in bags. The latter, of course, requires the addition of water and subsequent mixing prior to use so that it might be said that the terminology ‘ready‐mixed’ is a misnomer when used in that context.
Decommissioning, dismantling, removal and recycling
Authors: Campbell P.
Published: February 2008

Introduction The demolition industry has traditionally been regarded as the poor relation of the construction industry, characterised by the brute force of the demolition ball — a wholly unrealistic view in the latter part of the 20th century.
Deleterious materials: The surveyor's responsibility – 2
Authors: March C.G. , Curwell S.R.
Published: February 2008

Our previous paper on this subject in Structural Survey (Vol 3 No 1) outlined the problems facing the surveyor in this difficult area. Clients may often expect (sometimes implicitly) surveyors to identify hazardous materials as part of their normal survey procedure and subsequently to assist in the assessment of any hazard to the occupiers, with the selection of alternative materials, and advise upon the pros and cons of remedial or replacement work. While the paper identified the locations where hazardous materials may be expected in domestic buildings, many questions on the other issues remain unanswered.
Valuations for mortgage purposes — The background for a valuation survey
Authors: Moreton P.
Published: February 2008

The following article, which will be of considerable interest to surveyors who carry out building society valuations, refers to the suggested procedure in respect of the inspection of roof spaces. Experience gained from Henry Stewart Training Courses shows that there is no more contentious area of discussion than how far the building society surveyor and valuer is expected to carry out his investigation in this regard. On the one hand, there is the duty of care, but against this the surveyor or valuer works for a fixed fee which does not allow for added time at the property. The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors has a committee working on aspects of this field at the present time; and readers are cordially invited to present their views to Structural Survey.
Procedures under the new system of building control
Authors: Pitt P.H.
Published: February 2008

The Building Act 1984 and the Regulations made under it have made many changes in the organisation of building control, in addition to the changes in the technical requirements for building work.
The design of housing for the elderly
Authors: Malyan John
Published: February 2008

In the last few years, changing social patterns have brought about an increased demand for small dwelling units. A survey prepared in 1983 by the Department of the Environment showed that over 50 per cent of all households consisted of only one or two people, yet only 10 per cent of our national housing stock is in this size range. This trend towards smaller households is part of the general change in the pattern of family living.
Recycling – The reuse of demolition debris
Authors: Lindsell Peter , Mulheron Mike
Published: February 2008

Introduction In a recent paper in this journal, Campbell outlined some of the techniques and problems associated with the demolition of existing structures and touched upon the possibility of recycling the debris from this process. This reflects the growing awareness among the general public, local authorities and central Government that the recycling of waste materials, from all sources, is both necessary and desirable. Indeed, according to a recently published report from the Trade and Industry Committee of the House of Commons: ‘The benefits of recycling are obvious: rarely do environ‐mental and economic factors so unambiguously support the same goal’.
Approved documents
Authors: Pitt P.H.
Published: February 2008

The new system of building control which came into effect a few months ago brought many changes: some basic legal changes:
Weaponry in structural surveys – 2 Common building defects and their diagnosis
Authors: Urbanowicz Christopher
Published: February 2008

This paper reviews the most common building defects and techniques for their diagnosis. Problem areas are listed by their location within a structure and the information is presented in tabular form for easy reference. The first paper in this series — ‘Effective diagnosis of material problems and defects in building and construction’ — was published in Structural Survey Volume 4 Number 1. Part 3 will be an appraisal of better known in situ testing and NDT techniques featuring specific items of equipment.
The cast‐iron buildings of New York City
Authors: Catt Richard
Published: February 2008

The oldest parts of downtown Manhattan were built by the new immigrants who settled into separate districts to retain their language and customs safely.
The roof of the Great Hall at Alexandra Palace 1863–1986
Authors: Smith Peter
Published: February 2008

The origins of the roof of the Great Hall at Alexandra Palace go back to Owen Jones' project for a ‘Palace of the People’ to be built at Muswell Hill, published in the Illustrated London News in 1860, as North London's answer to the Crystal Palace which had newly moved to Sydenham. This was not built, but in response to public request, when the Great Exhibition of 1862 was dismantled, a large section including one of the lateral domes was erected at Muswell Hill to form the first Alexandra Palace. This was done under the direction of the architects, Meeson & Johnson, who produced the water colour painting now held at the Palace illustrating the project viewed from the north (Photo A). The building consisted of a long nave running east‐west with three transepts, the largest in the centre being on the site of the present Great Hall with the crossing crowned by the mammoth dome raised higher than it had been at South Kensington by the introduction of an upper clerestorey level (Figure 1). The diameter of the dome was approximately 160 ft —larger than either the Pantheon (143 ft) or St Peter's (138 ft) in Rome.
Design of new buildings for earthquake resistance
Authors: Booth Edmund
Published: February 2008

Introduction The 1985 earthquake in Mexico City served as a sobering reminder of the destructive effects that earthquakes can have on well‐constructed and engineered buildings. The collapse of some 120 tall buildings in steel and reinforced concrete, many designed to a modern earthquake building code, and serious damage in several hundred more, might suggest that modern methods are powerless to prevent catastrophe in an extreme event. Less informed observers even concluded (erroneously) from the generally good performance of 18th and 19th century masonry buildings in the earthquake that we have somehow lost the art of earthquake resistant design which our fore‐fathers knew. The reasons for the selectiveness of attack and the poor performance of modern construction in the Mexico earthquake have been widely discussed (for example, Booth et al.1) and are reasonably well understood.
Georgian roofs
Authors: Hollis Malcolm
Published: February 2008

It becomes easier to examine the roofs of Georgian houses if we have a knowledge of the method of construction that was used when the property was erected. The roof is only a part of the house, so it is important to consider the main variations in the construction and design of the Georgian terrace.
‘Mortgage Valuations’
Authors: Melville FRICS Ian
Published: February 2008

In 1986 The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors and the Incorporated Society of Valuers and Auctioneers jointly published Guidance Notes for valuers on the inspection of residential prop‐erty for mortgage purposes. Aimed at those members who carried out valuations on behalf of buildings societies, banks and other lenders, the Guidance Notes were issued as a result of what the Institution and the Society called ‘The unabated discussion on the extent of a Valuer's Duty… and the differences of opinion expressed.’
If you can't see it, it probably isn't rising damp
Authors: Rickards M.
Published: February 2008

There is a tendency in both structural and building society surveys for the services of a damp specialist to be recommended, even when only minimal readings are obtained on one of the needle‐type moisture meters commonly in use.
Information transfer for engineering maintenance
Authors: Owen Robin A.C.
Published: February 2008

Introduction The design and construction of a major building project by consultants and contractors requires the input of many detailed technical skills. At the time of handover of a completed project, the client must be able to provide or procure a continuing input of all the skills needed to manage and maintain the building and its engineering and other technical facilities.
Pre‐fabricated reinforced concrete houses – recent developments
Authors: Pitt P.H.
Published: February 2008

In my last paper on the subject of PRC houses for Structural Survey (3/3 246), I described the provisions of the Housing Defects Act 1984 and the way in which it was expected to work. Under that Act, the Secretary of State named 28 types of PRC houses to which repairs could be carried out with the benefit of grants payable by the Government.
Concurrent liability in tort and contract
Authors: Ross M.G.
Published: February 2008

One of the most important questions involving professional liability is the extent to which a contractual client alleging lack of care and skill is able to sue in the tort of negligence besides any action for breach of the contract itself. In recent years this notion of concurrent liability seems to have gained almost universal acceptance among the English judiciary. However, as the following discussion will show, there is increasing evidence of dissatisfaction with the imposition of such a dual burden. This paper considers the policy arguments for and against concurrent liability, explains the significance of the issue in relation to limitation periods, measure of damages and contributory liability, and assesses the impact of the most recent cases upon the professional's position.
Noise pollution in buildings
Authors: Allaway P.H.
Published: February 2008

Noise as a pollutant The usual concept of a pollutant is that of the presence of a physical contaminant which has some unwished‐for effect on its immediate surroundings. The pollutant may be in water, air or other media; it may be dust, grit or, perhaps, some undesired chemical causing some degradation of its surroundings.
Building control with NHBC
Authors: Mills G.C.
Published: February 2008

Introduction New Building Regulations came into force in November 1985 and NHBC Building Control Services Ltd was granted Approved Inspector status by the Secretary of State for the Environment.
Riverside properties
Authors: Stammers A.J.
Published: February 2008

Introduction The description ‘riverside property’ is commonly used if any part of the boundary is formed by a waterway, be it a grand sweep of the tidal Thames or a trickling narrow stream.
Watchdog, soothsayer or bloodhound?
Authors: Ross M.G.
Published: February 2008

Increasing evidence exists to suggest that the courts are refusing to widen the negligence liability of surveyors any further. In part, as I explained in the previous issue of this journal, — in ‘Fraud and the surveyor’ — any such stance would mirror the apparently rediscovered value of contractual terms in limiting separate tortious liability. But an equally important factor is the greater discernment by the courts of the different functions which may be performed under the general umbrella of ‘surveying’. While nobody would suggest that the courts have ever believed that all surveyors spent their entire lives in gum‐boots wielding theodolites, cases from Yianni v Edwin Evans & Sons (1982) 1/1 SS 72 onwards have sometimes fuelled the belief that insufficient account has been taken of the different backgrounds of individual surveyors, the expertise demanded of various specialisms and the misperceptions of clients or consumers. The three recent cases discussed in this paper indicate judicial awareness that surveying tasks have legitimate boundaries.
Local authority building control
Authors: Clarkson Trevor
Published: February 2008

Traditional role of local authorities With the passing of the Building Act 1984, the Building Regulations reached a crossroads in the long history of building ordinance in this country. From its humble beginning, following the Great Fire of London, and more universally after the passing of the Public Health Act 1875, a monopoly in the enforcement of the building control legislation was enjoyed by local government.
In‐situ timber engineering
Authors: Rickards M.
Published: February 2008

During the last decade, numerous elements have combined to produce a new branch of the building industry which has come to be known as ‘in situ timber engineering’.
Professional indemnity insurance — some background and points to watch
Authors: Insurance Services RICS
Published: February 2008

This paper is contributed by RICS Insurance Services Ltd, the insurance brokers operating the official professional indemnity insurance scheme for the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors. The Chairman of the Company, representing the RICS on the board, is a Past‐President of the Institution. The company handles insurance only for chartered surveyors and firms in which at least one of the principals is a chartered surveyor. The company was invited to prepare this paper following the publication in autumn 1986 of ‘Caveat Surveyor’ (Surveyors Publications), a booklet in which the stories of a selection of claims under the RICS scheme are told and attention is drawn to lessons to be learned from them. It was reviewed in Structural Survey Volume 5 No. 4 (p. 306).
Principles and practice of dilapidations – 1
Authors: Melville Ian
Published: February 2008

This is the first of two papers on the Principles and Practice of Dilapidations by Ian Melville, Chairman of the Editorial Board of Structural Survey. It consists of an introduction and the information that the dilapidations surveyor must obtain before he even starts the work of preparing his schedule. The second paper will deal with express covenants to repair, statutory requirements and interim and terminal schedules of dilapidation.
Economic impact of existing and prospective weight restrictions on older bridges in England and Wales
Authors: Street Andrew
Published: February 2008

It is estimated that there are some 49,000 bridges throughout Great Britain which were not built to comply with national loading standards, introduced in 1922, or were built before the standards were introduced. Some of these bridges were assessed for their load‐carrying capacity in the early 1970s in a programme called ‘Operation Bridgeguard’. The Department of Transport is once more assessing older bridges in a three part programme to:
Vandals and thieves
Authors: Ross M.G.
Published: February 2008

In general terms, the law of negligence is more concerned with positive acts than omissions. Failure to help your neighbour in distress is usually no tort, even though it might not earn any moral approval. The rising incidence of vandalism and theft has led to a spate of cases in which the courts have been required to consider this general principle. In a typical situation, property owned by D may be empty or lacking in security measures. X, as an independent third party, then uses D's property to secure unlawful access to the property of P, the Plaintiff.
The purchase of leasehold flats
Authors: Poole Anthony L.
Published: February 2008

The ownership of flats is a post‐war phenomenon — up to the 1950s the normal practice was to take a lease of, say, seven years at a rack rent and, at the end, depending on circumstances, either to negotiate a new lease or, more likely, stay on as a protected tenant under the Rent Acts.
New materials – Innovations are not a main cause of building failure
Authors: Atkinson George
Published: February 2008

Innovation is often wrongly blamed for building failures. It takes one of two forms:
The LDSA and the benefits to builders and developers
Authors: Wilson Rodney
Published: February 2008

The District Surveyors Association was founded in 1845 as a natural progression consequent upon the birth of building control in Inner London, which had followed the Great Fire of London. In those early years, District Surveyors were mainly architects. There were over a hundred, each having responsibility for a small area of London. As buildings became larger, more complex and constructed with a higher degree of precision, the work of District Surveyors gradually shifted towards structural engineering.
The effect of environmental conditions on the performance of steel in buildings
Authors: Hudson R.M.
Published: February 2008

Introduction From the range of engineering materials, steel finds wide application in the building construction industry. The majority of steel used is for structural purposes but thinner gauge coil and sheet products in the form of coated mild steel or stainless steel are increasingly used for cladding and roofing.
Surveying and reporting on lift installations
Authors: Honey G.D.
Published: February 2008

Introduction Surveys of lift installations are required for many reasons. In some cases, the frequency of breakdowns and stoppages becomes so great that the occupants of the building require the cause to be established by an independent surveyor, who is unconnected with the lift company responsible for maintenance, or with the landlord. There is also the situation where, while there have been numerous breakdowns, the lift service is maintained overall, but with a consequently high maintenance premium, involving a steady stream of bills for repairs and replacement parts. In such cases, it is important to establish that the contractor's claims are justified and that he is not increasing his profits by preying on laymen's limited knowledge.
The legal effects of water extraction
Authors: Ross M.G.
Published: February 2008

‘Although in one sense water is water and always has the same properties it does not always have the same effect. Floodwater can properly be described as a common enemy, but water as such is not an enemy of man or beast or land. Indeed, in most circumstances, water can be described as a common friend.’
Building requirements for physically disabled people
Authors: Bush L.N.
Published: February 2008

Property market forces rarely dictate attention to the more complex and specialist needs of minority groups, like the disabled, unless such a consideration is specifically included in the brief. Overcoming that selfishness and to integrate disabled people into the built environment of our community, is a struggle which has been receiving increasing attention for the last two decades. On 14th December, 1987, an approved document giving guidance on the provision of facilities for disabled people wishing to use certain buildings accompanied an updated mandatory requirement, which became Part M of Schedule 1 of the Building Regulations. This means that all local authorities, many of whom had dragged their feet in the matter up to then, have some real, if arbitrary, standards which they are expected to enforce on many developers. That probably marks the end of the beginning of a process which started, very tentatively, with the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1970.
Update on architectural fabrics
Authors: Liddell W.I.
Published: February 2008

Introduction Over the last ten years there has been a rapid increase in the architectural use of fabrics. They are mainly used to provide lightweight, large‐span, translucent roofs which are economical and visually exciting. The structures range in scale from pavilions and canopies in the park through to covered retail malls and stadium roofs of 10 acres. The expertise in the design and execution of these structures originally lay with a small number of specialist engineers and fabricators. This expertise has now broadened and, with increasing use of computers for processing the complex geometry and with improvements in the fabrics themselves, it is likely that they will continue to proliferate.
Proposed Building Regulations for the Conservation of Fuel and Power
Authors: Baldwin Roger
Published: February 2008

The Department of the Environment Stage II proposals for revision of Building Regulations pursue the aim outlined in the Government White Paper ‘Lifting the Burden’; that the Regulations should be reduced to the minimum required to secure their essential function; in this case to set basic standards of cost‐effective energy efficiency, coupled with a need for simplification and greater flexibility. The present paper briefly describes the Stage II proposals and their technical background developed by the Building Research Establishment.
Corrosion in car‐parking structures
Authors: Hill James
Published: February 2008

Synopsis The use of exposed concrete in car‐parking structures is universal. Even in steel‐framed structures, over 90 per cent of the construction material is concrete and the only variation is whether it is precast, prestressed, or ordinary reinforced concrete. Having inspected more than 50 parking structures over the past 17 years, the author has seen many buildings where defects have repeated themselves time and again and where problems which appeared to be of minor import to the original designers and builders eventually developed into major defects.
EEC law and the surveyor
Authors: Ross M.G.
Published: February 2008

The recent revisions of the EEC Treaty brought about by the implementation of the Single European Act in July 1987 make it timely to consider the position of the surveyor in the context of EEC law. It may be tempting to cast aside such provisions as somehow secondary or peripheral, but this would be an unfortunate mistake. This article explores the relevance of EEC law to the surveyor at three levels:
Conservation in Venice
Authors: Anstey John
Published: February 2008

The problems of conservation have affected Venice for far longer than most cities and have been dealt with in a variety of ways. The major task, that of saving Venice as a whole from the depredations of the acqua alta (the tidal waters which inundate the low lying parts of the city with increasing frequency), is not one on which I am qualified to write, but I am certainly in favour of it. The problem of industrial effluent from Mestre, air‐borne and water‐borne, seems to be decreasing, and the problem of pollution by tourism is one for which I have some suggested help, which may appear in book form in the not too distant future.
Insurance against latent defects: some major international developments
Authors: Atkinson G.
Published: February 2008

Introduction The Single Market Programme, to which the UK Government is committed through the Single European Act, aims to establish a true ‘common’ market for products and services within the European Community by 31st December, 1992. For construction it embraces the opening up of public contracts — extended to include local authorities and state industries and the removal of technical barriers to trade in building products and the supply of professional services.
Thermal up‐grading, condensation and mould growth at a ‘no fines’ estate
Authors: Hanway Brian
Published: February 2008

During September 1986, several local authorities in the Merseyside area were contacted and asked if it would be possible to carry out a survey and investigation of council dwellings which had suffered from condensation and mould growth, and which had also had remedial measures carried out. An invitation was received from West Lancashire District Council to carry out a survey at the Tanhouse 4 site in Skelmersdale. Several owner‐occupied ex‐council dwellings on the same estate were also to take part.
Unvented domestic hot water storage systems
Authors: Thomas Alan G.
Published: February 2008

Introduction Changes to the UK's Model Water Byelaws will permit, subject to their adoption by the regional Water Authorities, the use of hot water storage systems of more than 50 litres capacity which are connected directly to the mains water supply (storage systems of less than 50 litres are exempt from the Building Regulations), removing the need for a cold water storage cistern. Systems of this type have been in widespread use throughout the world for many years but have not been allowed in the UK. The new Building Regulations for England and Wales, published in November 1985, include safety requirements for these unvented systems. The Approved Documents supporting the Building Regulations state that such systems should be covered by an Agrment Certificate and should be fitted only by BBA Approved Installers, as defined in the Certificate. Similar requirements are likely to be introduced in due course into the Building Regulations for Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Economic loss: Closing Pandora's Box?
Authors: Ross M.G.
Published: February 2008

Five years ago, Junior Books v Veitchi [1983] 1 AC 520; 2/1 SS 58 was feared by professionals to be the opening salvo by the courts in an attack which would expand the scope of tort rights at the expense of the sanctity of contractual arrangements. Since then, however, most courts have found ways of ignoring, side‐stepping or rewriting that infamous House of Lords judgment. Recent decisions by the Court of Appeal provide strong evidence that the most far‐reaching implications of Junior Books have been resisted. Indeed, it will be seen that the relationship of tort and contract may be even less favourable to Plaintiffs today than it was in the period immediately prior to that landmark.
The design and bracing of trussed rafters – the 1988 Amendment to BS 5268: Part 3
Authors: Page A.V.
Published: February 2008

During the early 'sixties trussed rafters were introduced from North America, where they had been widely and successfully used in conjunction with plywood sarking. The omission of such sarking in Britain left trussed rafter roofs without adequate bracing, and by the late 'sixties some problems were beginning to arise. Sometimes the trussed rafters viewed on plan gradually adopted an ‘S’ shape, so that while the roof at the ridge and eaves remained in position, the rest of the roof moved longitudinally in opposite directions on either side of the ridge. In other cases where the strength of the gable walls was inadequate, the ridge line itself moved, with corresponding movement of the walls.
The characteristics of vernacular buildings in East Yorkshire
Authors: Lindley Nigel C.
Published: February 2008

If one accepts that the development of a regional building type is a function of geology and knowhow then R. M. Brunskill's definition of the ‘vernacular’ as ‘the products of local craftsmen meeting simple functional requirements according to traditional plans and procedures and with the aid of local building materials and construction methods’ may be especially thought to apply to the evolution of the domestic scale buildings in East Yorkshire. The East Riding of Yorkshire (or North Humberside as it ought to be called today) illustrates how a relatively remote region, sparse in naturally occurring constructional material, has made use of geology and knowhow to create a unique style of vernacular building, and has done this by making extensive use of one particular material: brick.
Property surveys in Israel
Authors: Mindel Ivor
Published: February 2008

Introduction The concept of a property survey as understood in the UK has only recently emerged in the Israeli market. This was brought home to me on one of my earliest surveys, when I was commissioned by a prospective foreign purchaser to inspect a vacant two‐bedroomed apartment in Tel Aviv. I had arranged to meet the seller/owner and after a few pleasantries I made my customary familiarisation tour of the premises. Stepping out into the common hall to locate the meter cupboard, I heard the front door shut behind me and turned to find the owner locking up. When asked what she was doing, she replied, ‘But you have finished, haven't you?’
Mundic – its effect on 2,000 houses in Cornwall
Authors: Catt Richard
Published: February 2008

Many surveyors seem to have become cynical about the regular claims that more and more building materials, systems and conditions are now to be treated as dangerous or deleterious. For instance, this April an important conference on hazardous building materials had to be cancelled because of lack of response.
Buildmark – NHBC's improved ten‐year scheme
Authors: Wyles Rhona
Published: February 2008

On 1st April, 1988, the National House‐building Council (NHBC) introduced its new improved ten‐year scheme, the ‘Build‐mark’, which gives ten years protection for new homes. The scheme has been simplified in both language and presentation to make it more understandable for the home buyer and builder. A new procedure has been introduced to reduce the paper‐work for builders, purchasers and their respective solicitors or licensed conveyancers. Finally, the cover has been improved.
Prestressed brickwork
Authors: Curtin W.G.
Published: February 2008

Brickwork has been around for some 4,000 years and its durability, strength and other good qualities are well known. It is a useful structural material — but limited to applications where there is relatively high compressive vertical loading and relatively low horizontal loading. (A brick wall can carry a high vertical load but it can be pushed over relatively easily.) This is because brickwork, like concrete, is weak in tension. Its tensile strength in bending is less than five per cent of its compressive strength. Again, like concrete, it can either be reinforced with steel to carry the tensile stress or prestressed to eliminate the tension.
Rewriting defective premises law
Authors: Ross M.G.
Published: February 2008

The House of Lords has just taken a bulldozer to defective premises law in the shape of D. & F. Estates v Church Commissioners [1988] 3 WLR 368, which will be published in the next issue of the Journal. The facts were reported fully in Structural Survey 6/3 when the Court of Appeal considered the case, but relate mainly to defective plastering carried out by subcontractors. The owners and occupiers of the premises unsuccessfully sued the main contractors for failing to supervise the subcontractors. This point was fairly narrow, but the House of Lords took the opportunity to declare its new views on building law generally. Textbook writers and practitioners, who have become accustomed to working with Anns v London Borough of Merlon [1978] AC 728 and its successors, will need to take considerable notice of the resulting picture.
Acid deposition and stone
Authors: Butlin R.N.
Published: February 2008

Stone has been used as a structural material in the United Kingdom since mediaeval times, both in the form of dimension stone in the great cathedrals and, more recently, in the form of cladding for modern office buildings. There is a range of indigenous building stone used in Britain ranging from granites, lime‐stones, sandstones and magnesian lime‐stones, to dolomitic sandstones, slates and others. Marbles are used extensively, but are mainly imported. The mediaeval cathedrals were in the main built from stone available from nearby quarries, eg Lincoln stone, Doulting stone (Wells Cathedral), but some of those quarries are almost worked out and alternative currently available sources of stone which is aesthetically and physically compatible with existing stone are constantly being sought.
Insurance implications of storm damage
Authors: Heath M.C.
Published: February 2008

On the morning of Friday, 16th October, 1987, the country awoke to the news that the South East corner of England had been swept by the most severe winds on record. The majority of the people in the affected areas were already only too aware of the news and a great many were still wondering what had hit them. Unfortunately, for many this was only the beginning of the nightmare. The storm affected everybody in that South East corner to some degree and for a lot of people it led to the submission of their first insurance claim. For the insuring public this was the testing time for their insurance companies and I would suggest that the industry, as a whole, came out of the disaster very well, financial implications excepted, of course. It is doubtful whether or not the full cost of the storm for the insurance companies will ever be known, bearing in mind the diverse nature of claims and the industry itself. The claim figures may amount to £850m but this is felt to be an understatement. However, even now claims relating, or allegedly relating, to the storm are still being received by insurers.
The Birmingham TERN Project Non‐traditional housing – Defects and repair
Authors: Chandler Ian E.
Published: February 2008

The aim of the project entitled Training for the Evaluation and Repair of Non‐Traditional Buildings is to bring together current research, knowledge, practice and development in a range of units, comprising videos and handbooks on a wide spectrum of subjects. These relate to the effective diagnosis, evaluation and repair of defects to non‐traditional buildings, primarily housing. The definition of non‐traditional for this project is any structure not built in load‐bearing masonry walls. It includes concrete‐, timber‐ and steel‐frame; pre‐cast concrete columns, beam panels; large panel construction in concrete; in situ concrete framed multi‐storey blocks using a variety of cladding panels. It covers low‐, medium‐ and high‐rise. It embraces a large number of structures, for example Birmingham City Housing Department term all their housing over six storeys (426 blocks) as non‐traditional as it was not the normal method for housing people in the UK prior to the development of the 1960s. The material, six videos and 22 handbooks, is produced in an open learning style for in‐house or at home study and is intended for use by anyone involved, whether they are clients/owners, professional advisers, or builders. It is intended to bridge gaps in knowledge and stimulate thought and practice procedures in specifying and executing appropriate remedial works.
How we built
Authors: Earl John
Published: February 2008

I am concerned in this paper with old buildings, not necessarily (despite what you know about me) protected historic buildings.
Problems of contribution
Authors: Ross M.G.
Published: February 2008

Litigation arising from building disputes is notorious for the number of different parties involved and the complex interaction of claims based on tort and contract. In the light of recent development, it is worth considering the way in which the courts deal with the sharing out of blame and liability, both between Defendants and also as between Defendants and Plaintiff(s). Three issues can be problematic: (a) the relationship between contribution among Defendants and any contributory negligence by a Plaintiff; (b) the effect of limitation periods on contribution; and (c) the principles, if any, used by the courts to decide what is a just and fair’ contribution between Defendants.
Lead sheet in perspective
Authors: Coote F.C.
Published: February 2008

Introduction Lead sheet has made a comeback during the last few years. Over 90,000 tonnes of lead sheet was used for roofing, cladding and flashing applications during 1987 — the highest quantity ever known to be used in a year in the UK. Flashings and weatherings account for over 75 per cent of the tonnage, the balance being used for re‐roofing old or historic buildings and roofing and cladding for new buildings.
The push button surveyor – Instruments used to detect problem areas within buildings
Authors: Hollis Malcolm
Published: February 2008

Surveying buildings is an art. Verifying the cause of the failure is a science. The surveyor's work involves a combination of both the art and the science. The art of the inspection evolves over many years of examining buildings and identifying failures. The appearance of each failure is committed to memory, often subconsciously, and is recalled when similar problems are encountered at a later date. This process is evolved over the working life of the surveyor, and there are few short cuts to this ‘hands‐on’ experience. For generations surveyors were unable to escape from the mystique of the elder brethren of the profession. Fortunately many of the elders passed on their knowledge to young surveyors who had no alternative but to learn their trade within the profession.
Wiring strategies: part 2
Authors: Dukes Bernard
Published: February 2008

Last month's survey of the types of cableway system available made mention of British Telecom's interest in the matter. Only time will reveal any changes which privatisation will make, but clearly BT will remain effectively a monopoly: a consideration of its existing attitudes is, therefore, relevant to your plans for any new installation.
Teleconferencing
Authors: Kleeman Walt
Published: February 2008

Since 1972, when AT & T introduced its Picturephone system, it has been technically possible for people to communicate with each other at distant locations with sound and movement shown on a video screen. Now, however, video teleconferencing has become so widespread that Holiday Inns has started a joint venture with Comsat General to offer videoteleconferencing by satellite in its 1500 US facilities. While many corporations are using video teleconferencing, some are starting their own networks—Atlantic Richfield is planning its own $15 million satellite complex and Federal Express has awarded a contract for a $16 million private satellite network. Another indication of the widespread use of videoteleconferencing came in a reader poll taken by Frequent Flyer magazine, published by the Official Airline Guides in April, 1982. One question read, ‘Have you ever participated in a meeting via teleconference?’ 39·3 per cent of 6200 returned questionnaires said yes; this is almost two out of every five and these are frequent flyers. AT & T offers the service in 11 public rooms across the country and has started a New York‐London service: so have several other companies—the costs for this service have come down from around $2400 an hour to about $625 an hour.
City of London draft local plan
Authors: Harris Robert
Published: February 2008

The City of London's draft local plan, published in late 1984, sets out the corporation's planning strategy for the next 10–15 years for the City's environment and its working, living and recreational life. It has far‐reaching implications for offices.
Asbestos in buildings: part 2
Authors: Streeter John
Published: February 2008

Last month we dealt with the problem of identifying the nature and extent of the asbestos used in your buildings. This month we offer more detailed advice on dealing with that problem.
Office system furniture — a survey
Authors: Cooper Rodney
Published: February 2008

It may be hard to believe that system furniture has only been in existence for twenty years, but no real analysis of office work was carried out until Herman Miller formed its Research Corporation in 1960 under the direction of Robert Propst, leading to the launch of Action Office 1 in 1964. It was claimed to have a ‘forgiving’ nature because of the ease of revision allowed by breaking the workstation down into small components but it was not a commercial success — cost was one major drawback. Further design work gave rise to Action Office 2, still the brand leader in the UK and the progenitor of numerous copies.
Fire safety: reconciling hardware and people
Authors: Tong David , Todd Colin
Published: February 2008

One of the facilities manager's continuing problems is meeting his responsibilities with respect to fire safety. In this field he is working with difficult legal requirements, fragmented among many local statutes, ad hoc standards and recommendations. To meet these requirements he must call upon his full range of skills. He must be able to balance a concern for hardware and technology with a need to ensure that building occupants are trained and that an effective fire plan is in existence.
Cable management approaches
Authors: Stansall Paul , Bedford Michael
Published: February 2008

In the face of proliferating information technology, facilities managers are increasingly being confronted with symptoms of ‘cable‐stress’, ranging from congested risers and ad hoc cable trays to hazardous, trailing leads around workplaces. At the same time, manufacturers of partitions, floor and ceiling elements and office furniture are making claims for cable management which are often hard to evaluate until the systems have been installed, by which time the money has been spent. Problems of cable management must be treated in a systematic and interrelated way if expensive errors are to be avoided.
Health and safety in the office: 1
Authors: Ellis Peter , Tong David
Published: February 2008

Without doubt office work is becoming more hazardous. Much health and safety literature deals with risks that are always with us — like falling off ladders, tripping over cables, toppling file cabinets and blocked fire exits. But there is increasing worldwide concern now over the health hazards of toxic materials in the office, viral and bacterial infection from air conditioning systems, radiation hazards from VDUs, and the danger of strain injuries from repetitive use of badly designed equipment.
Legionnaires' disease
Authors: Berry John
Published: February 2008

The blaze of publicity surrounding the recent outbreaks of legionnaires' disease has tended to confuse the central issue — just what is the risk of catching the disease from any of the services within a building? The answer must be that, on current evidence, there is a very slim risk indeed. Although bacteria responsible for the disease are known to colonise in water‐using apparatus operating at a temperature between 20°C and 45°C — an environment provided in cooling towers, humidifiers, cooling coils, hot and cold water systems and drains — and although all buildings will contain at least one of these services, the number of recorded outbreaks only amounts to a handful worldwide. It does seem unlikely that a well‐maintained building, housing normally healthy people, will constitute a risk — which may well explain why most outbreaks are connected with hospitals.
Service charges in commercial leases
Authors: Abraham David J.
Published: February 2008

Despite the fact that almost everyone connected with the management or administration of a building will understand the meaning of the term, there is no statutory definition of the service charge in relation to commercial leases — and this state of affairs is a reliable guide to the complexity of the subject. The closest that statute comes to providing a comprehensive definition of the term is in Schedule 19 to the Housing Act 1980 which applies only to flats. Paragraph 1 of Schedule 19 states:
Standards for office automation systems
Authors: Collins Hugh
Published: February 2008

Standards for the electrical and physical safety of all office equipment, communicating or stand‐alone, have existed for many years, and are conformed to by responsible manufacturers. Our concern here, however, is with those standards whose aim is to provide the basis for effective electronic communication between office equipment systems — advanced PABXs, local area networks (LANs), public voice, data and integrated services digital networks (ISDN), personal computers, mini and mainframe computers, computer networks and facsimile transmitters.
Health and safety in the office: 3
Authors: Ellis Peter
Published: February 2008

Radiation from VDUs ▪ The problem VDUs emit low levels of radiation, and there was a scare in North America recently that this had been the cause of higher than usual incidences of miscarriages and birth defects among VDU operators. Some organisations took this sufficiently seriously as to make all female operators of child‐bearing age wear protective aprons. But our own Health and Safety Executive has concluded recently that there is no significant risk. A major research project has been launched in the US, however, so obviously the worry still persists. Television sets carry the same risk but only if you sit within four or five feet of them. The radiation is ineffective beyond this distance.
Controlling solar glare
Authors: Jestico Tom
Published: February 2008

A satisfactory working environment is primarily a delicate balance of ergonomics, acoustics, interior and industrial design, maintenance, and illumination. The most frequently complained about source of irritation, stress, headaches and eye strain is quoted as being the quality of natural and artificial lighting; it seems that we will withstand deficiencies in all other factors that make up the physical environment without complaint but are far less tolerant of poor lighting quality and, in particular, glare. The eye can adjust to a wide range of lighting levels without causing discomfort. We can quickly adjust to variations in lighting level and, indeed, find some contrast in lighting stimulating. Glare, however, cannot be accommodated without strain.
Premises of excellence
Authors: Wilson Sheena
Published: February 2008

A recent study sponsored by Herman Miller looked at the way in which 22 large corporations plan and manage their office space. One finding stood out — the need for a clear identification of the facilities manager's role.
Office of the year award: 1985
Authors: Cooper Rodney
Published: February 2008

This year there were 36 entries in the office of the year award's three categories. The assessor's main objective is to judge the quality and productivity of the office work place in the context of the building as a whole. For this latest award — the eighth — particular attention was paid to energy conservation, the incorporation of information technology and the value for money received.
Office accommodation in the Civil Service
Authors: Garden Martin
Published: February 2008

To the general public, the Civil Service is often perceived as an organisational entity: in reality, it embraces a complex network of organisations (the various departments) whose common goal is to further government policies, but whose nature, size and activities mirror the variety and scope of the policy arena itself. The Gowrie Report to the Prime Minister — a review of office accommodation management — synthesised the findings from reviews of eight of these departments. Its terms of reference were clear — ‘to examine provision of office and administrative accommodation and whether it meets current and foreseen needs; to examine departmental arrangements for managing and budgeting for accommodation; to consider the value for money of these arrangements; and to make recommendations’.
The IAM Facilities Management Group (FMG)
Authors: Bell Jane
Published: February 2008

This month Facilities looks at the second of the recently‐formed facilities management groups, which, while broadly similar to the first in its objectives, has a very different flavour and structure. The Institute of Administrative Management (IAM) is the umbrella organisation for a number of specific administrative disciplines, including office automation, telecommunications and office design. For a number of years the IAM has run the Office of the Year Award scheme which has helped focus attention on facilities management issues — in particular the importance of high‐quality design and good planning for new and existing buildings. About a year ago the institute's council members decided to take the next logical step and broaden the scope of the office design section to embrace the wide range of facilities management responsibilities. The Facilities Management Group (FMG) obviously has a key strengthening role to play within the institute because it strongly reflects the interests of the other specialist sections and offers a unique way of drawing together a diverse membership.