Month: March 2016

My kit

Over the last 36 years that I have been surveying timber framed buildings and timber structures I have accumulated a large number of trusty specialist testing and surveying tools .
I have also collected a set tools for making necessary access ( drills and board lifting equipment,  ) within the constraints of any pre-described listing restrictions 

Remote self powered lighting and photographic/ video recording equipment is also on occasion an essential documenting tool, particularly when inspecting voids and  concealed places.

To minimise damage, an endoscope can be introduced into a carefully cut access hole to assess rot damage beneath flooring or behind panels 

 

 

The need to travel extensively has meant prioritising my kit to being job specific, selecting from my available inventory of equipment what l consider essential to carry out an appropriate, self supporting survey in the specified building whilst conforming to the best health and safety standards.

At every stage of a survey, health and safety are my priority, .
Before attending site
I will always have tried to read available reports and investigations by surveyors and engineers already obtained about the site as these are a vital source of health and safety information.

 

 Day glow and hard hat 

Telescopic ladder

For low level access and investigation  work only 

 

 

Head lamp and Eye protection ESSENTIAL 

Special hazards may require special personal protective equipment (P.P.E.) in addition to the standard P.P.E. Equipment.

BE AWARE THAT CHEMICAL / ANIMAL CONTAMINATION may make the site unsafe until specialist  DECONTAMINATION has taken place. A CLEAN AIR CERTIFICATE SHOULD BE AVAILABLE from the general contractor following the cleaning / decontamination process

As far as practicable I would make a risk assessment before site attendance or devise a health and safety plan in partnership with my health and safety consultant Mike kelly of Sirius safety (see below) to deal with the identified hazards.

 

Other persistent hazards may require that there are two people at all times on site during the survey.

I would also consider it essential to check for hazardous materials and unsafe  structure information and notices related to the site.
In a later blog I will be showing you how dangerous an old house can ( see posting ” the one that got away “)
If you are undertaking this type of work serious injury and death awaits the casual or the unprepared. Care  and extreme caution should be exercised at all times.

Finally , to inspect exposed internal / external  roof frame members or high level structures I would insist the main contractor provide an on a certified scaffold tower and a labourer responsible for the towers safe movement.

if I attended a construction site  and it appeared poorly run or a dangerous place to conduct a survey  I would not work there.

If I saw any illegal or dangerous practices  I would report this to the health and safety executive . This is a legal  requirements and the moral responsibility to my fellow workers

I have a great relationship with a company called Serius Safety who help me with all my health and safety information  risk assessment/ method statements ( RA/MS ) .

mike.kelly@seriussafety.co.uk.

Personal Protection Equipment in my surveying back pack

Hard hat ( in test )

Kevlar gloves

Safety glasses (x2)

Day glow fleece ,waist coat or jacket ( weather dependant)

Heavy work trousers (carhartt) and jacket ( carhartt) to protect against sharp edges

Heavy boots ( must be nail proof)

Head lamps (minimum x2 ) must have flashing function for emergency location

Mobile phone

Glow sticks ( x3)

Bottle of water ( 0.5ltr available at all times in back pack for eye irrigation )

pressure bandage

I would not carry out an isolated survey without all of the above as a MINIMUM.

I would also have prearranged phone calls to my office to keep them informed of my progress. If I fail to call, they call me. If they can’t get a response for an hour my colleagues would attend site before informing the emergency services .

This is interesting….

I have just returned from assessing a piece of furniture for  evidence of fresh woodworm infestation ( in this case common furniture beetle or possibly death watch beetle).

An occasional and very interesting part of my work.

I would normally receive a phone call from a very worried storage facility manager when an item of stored furniture has either started clicking ( a good indicator of beetle activity) or turned to dust and collapsed ( a sign of very heavy and aggressive attack by beetle or decay). 

I have also inspected when
Valuable pieces of furniture with holes consistent with beetle emergence are being purchased to check that no active beetle infestation is being introduced in to a home.

Recently I acted for a householders forum  when new kitchen doors and frames had begun to exhibit signs of fresh beetle activity ( fresh holes and dust with beetle emergence.)

With regard to the first item,  I can’t recommend much for collapsed furniture except burn it safely outside and clean the entire area for beetle and eggs.

Common furniture beetle can attack items of  furniture only if a suitable site ( a minute cracking or crevice) at an appropriate moisture content can be identified by the flying beetle, normally however it would have been present and concealed during the production stage of the furniture and emerging post production.
If ANY  SIGNS of infestation are present I would also strongly recommend caution. Activity levels can only be assessed by an EXPERIENCED PROFESSIONAL
Suspect items should always be checked and a written report should be produced by a specialist confirming findings. If any doubt exists, do not purchase the furniture.
Avoid buying furniture abroad and shipping home unless the supply chain is transparent.

I have seen very old furniture, particularly pianos collapse into piles of dust with active grubs causing a great deal of disturbance and distress.

With respect to the kitchen doors and frames. the kitchen company that sold them to my clients were completely liable. After a very short meeting on site they agreed to remove every trace of the kitchens to replace them.

The furniture that I looked at today?

The woodworm holes were fake. A decorative finish, the holes had been made from the outside with a punch. No treatment needed there!