Every owner or occupier of a building is responsible to carry out Structural Audit by competent Structural Engineer when age of building is more than 30 years.
Structural Engineer should certify that building is fit for human habitation.
Structural Stability certificate shall be submitted within one year from period of expiry of 30 years
Such Stability certificate should be submitted after every 10 years from 30 years age of building If Structural Engineer recommends any Corrective repairs should be carried out by owner or occupier
If owner or occupier fails to carry out corrective repairs for securing structural stability, within a period of 6 months from the date of report of Structural Engineer, shall be punished with fine
Commissioner may carry out such corrective measures and the expenses incurred should be paid by owner or occupier within 30 days as arrears of property tax.
*ITEMS TO BE CONSIDERED FOR STRUCTURAL AUDIT*
Preliminary Considerations Initial Inspection Items to specifically ask of building owner or occupier Description of building Reinforced concrete items Structural steel items Cast iron members External elevations Roof external Sheet roofing Internal conditions Under floor void Roof space Wood work Rainwater pipes and gutters Surrounds Drainage Services Conclusions
PRELIMINARY CONSIDERATIONS
Check the brief and the clients requirement Address of property ( Ordinance Survey reference ) Name of client & address Name of other professional advisers Date of inspection & weather condition at the time of inspection Condition of building, existing reports and relevant documents Executed plans, structural design, estimates and tender including modifications Restricted liability Building life assumed by designer Soil parameter and bearing capacity of soil Contour map & plinth levels of building
INITIAL INSPECTION
Walk round property, both internally and externally, to get feel of building and site Stand back & have a good look at the building for alignment, especially roofs, window frames, doors etc Any restriction on inspection Overloading or under loading of building internally and externally Any abnormal exposure problems likely – roof cladding etc Problems due to orientation Subsoil examination top soil possible indication Nearby similar buildings for any obvious common faults Safety considerations Any hidden areas Stability of building in general
ITEMS SPECIFICALLY ASK TO BUILDING OWNERS
Building Life Knowledge of any alterations carried out, i.e. roof space conversion, wall removal Knowledge of any past major remedial work Removal of trees or large shrubs recently Problems of heat loss, drains, services, access Sewers / drains connection to main Tenure of the property Inspection by Fire officer Problems with health and safety regulations
DESCRIPTION OF BUILDING
Type of building i.e. shed, multistory, detached, semi detached or terraced Loft or basement and number of stories Approximate age of building General description of materials of construction. Roof type, external wall, external rendering or weather boarding etc Try & establish the principal structural arrangement i.e. concrete frame, load bearing brickwork etc Stability or progressive collapse Details of any extensions or additions with statuary approvals Ask and record replies Check the building is close to any tree, sloping ground, streams or underground culverts Building recently decorated i.e. cladding for hide anything
REINFORCED CONCRETE ITEMS
Sign of concrete spalling off, Reinforcement corrosion, Cover adequacy, carbonation Abnormal differential sagging / cracking of concrete Hairline cracks – Thermal, corrosion, shrinkage Getting moisture in the crack Damp or humid atmosphere General conditions of sealants between principal members Crack at beam and column connection Crack in slabs at column heads particularly top surfaces Spalling of edges of corbels, nibs etc Crack pattern and structural movement if any RCC – sulphate attack / cover to steel Corrosive environmental conditions Problems of calcium chloride Appreciable remedial work required – what & when
STRUCTURAL STEEL ITEMS
Protection from corrosion Checking at base of stanchions and end of built – in members Deflection or twisting of members Checking bearing positions for corrosion and seating Adequate lateral stability of member Stability of steel frame and checking of bracing & buttressing Checking of bolt connection – single – tight – missing – gaps in connection, tearing or straining Modification of ties or struts, lateral loads on struts Cannabalision of steelwork Contribution of cladding to stability Buckling of structural plate work Overall pattern of distortion Abnormal loads hung from roof members Signs of extensive defects in welded joints Any appreciable remedial work requirement, what & when Effective Fire protection
CAST IRON MEMBERS
Evidence of any eccentric loading Damage due to vehicle impact Loads hanging from cast iron beams Eccentricity of hollow cores in columns Welding attempts Column verticality Using of hollow cast iron columns as rainwater pipes General state of dilapidation Any appreciable remedial work requirement, what & when
EXTERNAL ELEVATIONS
Crack pattern. Old age or recentness of crack Misalignment of window sills, bbm or masonry bedding Crack type – settlement / heave, thermal, shrinkage, excessive loading, rusting steelwork built-in Plumbness of wall internally & externally. Check bulginess Movement of external wall Rusted brick ties or no ties Differential movement, major remedial work required, Verticality of corners, lateral restraint of wall Lintel sag crack Pointing condition Condition and stability of projecting balconies Comment on general standard of workmanship Any appreciable remedial work requirement, what & when Filling of cavity or other wall insulation Properness of DPC, Detoriation of materials below DPC, i.e. absorption type
ROOF EXTERNAL
Undertaking of inspection, safety considerations Roof covering of convential materials Breaking, shaled or missing of roof tiles Roof spread at eaves pushing out brickwork Roof sagging due to purlin deflection Adequate Ventilation & sagging of roof Adequate slope of roof to suit construction Any appreciable remedial work requirement, what & when Sunlight deterioration, Solar protection, paint, clipping etc
SHEET ROOFING
Brittleness, Safe access, Cracks – damageness – Repairs of sheets Roof angle and sealing requirement Sagging or twisting of purlin Sagging of insulation boarding Rusting fixing bolts / caps – check tightness Overlaps & fixing of sheets Buckling, rusting & distortion of sheets Any appreciable remedial work requirement, what & when Adequacy of guters & downpipes – Overflows Surface durability – Paint, plastic covering, galvanizing, bitumastic etc Exposure problem Insulation adequacy Type of asbestos in sheeting
INTERNAL CONDITION
Logical Inspection, safety access Marking of crack pattern particularly ceiling crack Outside bulges & cracks – checking from inside Internal cracking & dampness of wall Sulphate attack – settlement Edges of skirting’s – bumps or hollow Load spanning direction Unevenness of walls Examination of door – window frames Damp area checking – kitchen, bath, canteen, basement Checking of false and suspended ceilings Any appreciable remedial work requirement, what & when
UNDERFLOOR VOIDS
Watching of personal safety in confined areas – height restriction, lack of breathable air Comment on general standard and condition of void Checking of supports of joists / spans Depth of foundation below void level Detoraition of RCC work Oversite concrete Wet or damp areas on void surfaces & its reasons Requirement of pointing or rebuilding of brickwork Any appreciable remedial work requirement, what & when Soil gases General state, support and tidiness of wiring and other services items
ROOF SPACE
External evidence suggesting possible internal problems Safe Access to all areas Excessiveness of loadings Checking of Verticality of trussed rafters Rusting & spalling of members Checking joints, bracing etc of roof trusses Deformation or undersized of purlins / rafters Soundness of rafter & purlin connection Soundness of brickwork below truss Any appreciable remedial work requirement, what & when Suitable and adequate insulation Evidence of access for birds / animals General standard and condition of areas – ventilation
WOOD WORK
Comment on the general standard of external timber Checking – Out of plumbness & square of floor & windows Checking of joints Consideration of Replacement of timber in future Any appreciable remedial work requirement, what & when Checking of Painting of woodwork Repairs if required
RAINWATER PIPES AND GUTTERS
Material type Condition of material Indication of leaks, blockages & overflowing etc Staining of cladding Clearness of gullies, Backfill on gutters Corrosion protection of gutters & pipes Checking of internal surfaces of gutters Checking of gaps between edge of roof & gutters Local damage to walls Any appreciable remedial work requirement, what & when
SURROUNDS
Checking of roadways, parking areas, paths, drives etc Localized settlement Any trees or shrubs likely to cause problems Checking of condition of detached sheds, garages etc Any appreciable remedial work requirement, what & when Condition and ownership of boundary walls, fences etc Checking of street lighting, drainage Any rights of way apparent
DRAINAGE
Checking the attachment of drainage to main system or septic tank Manholes – condition, depth, flow, clearness Any trees or large bushes nearby & checking of rot damages Known problem listing Health risk Any appreciable remedial work requirement, what & when
SERVICES
Checking of General standard of fixtures & fittings Services – gas, electricity, water, telephone, security system etc Last Services of installation Operativeness of system Evidence of repairs Checking of insulation Age & condition of wiring & fitting of electric services Location of master valves / switches Any appreciable remedial work requirement, what & when
CONCLUSIONS
Explanation to client regarding unableness of inspection Informing to client regarding specialist if required Possibility of problems arising in the near future Structural alteration if required Original purpose of building and any loading implications General impression of degree of maintenance Urgent work required from safety point Enquiry from local authority with future planning Final look on observations
