Assesssment Information
This assessment is graded, worth 20% of the unit, and has a pass mark of 50%. Submit electronically via the OLS to www.oten.edu.au/ols in PDF (.pdf) or Word (.doc or .docx).
Background
Condition assessments are technical inspections by competent assessors to evaluate the physical state of buildings or other structures including paving. They are used by building owners to objectively develop appropriate strategies and actions for maintenance refurbishment or replacement. They are used by builders to avoid exposure to risks associated with their works, which may include hazardous materials (asbestos), statutory non compliances including essential services, vibration or structural inadequacy and impacts. Condition assessment reports will generally include:
- A Physical inspection of a building and its services, and perhaps comparison to the owners required standard.
- Actions needed to overcome immediate risk aspects
- If required identification of maintenance works to bring the building or structure up to the required standard, which may include corrective
maintenance, preventative maintenance, and necessary replacements and upgrades, and items requiring further investigative work either by the assessor or by further expert engineering investigations
- If required a ranking of maintenance works in order of priority
- If required cost estimation for the works proposed
When undertaking a condition assessment the assessor may need to complete the following:
- Visual inspection and assessment of visible building elements
- Review of on-site building asset management plans
- Gathering information from maintenance records
- Collection of visual / digital images
- Physical measurements of building or site and sketch plan preparation
- Remote CCTV or other inspections of underground services
- Non-destructive sampling and testing
- Infrared scanning for thermal stress of electrical services or termite activity
- Load measurements for electrical or other services
- Internal air quality measurements
- Sound level or vibration measurements
- Survey location data
Defects include the effect of physical deterioration, and may have led to the partial or complete failure of the building element in performing its designated function, and the defect cause should be identified where possible in the report. Potential failures should be similarly identified.
Review Existing Onsite Building or Structures
Carry out a condition report on a building of your choice. The building may be residential, commercial, industrial or other type and must be 30 plus years old. There is no set template to follow, however both written and photographic aspects, together with listing of necessary essential and maintenance items with costing, should be included.
Students wanting higher marks should include a site/building sketch plan to scale.
There is no set length.
Example condition/dilapidation reports can be found on the internet.
