Building Assessment Report for Cpc50210 Diploma of Building and Construction (Building)

This report provides a visual inspection of a factory building located in Hendon, Northwest of Adelaide. The report includes assessment of the building's structure, plumbing structure, air conditioning system, heating system, electrical system, exterior and interior components, ventilation system, and fire protection system. Recommendations, maintenance costs, and priorities are also provided.

Running head: ASSESSMENT 4 1
Cpc50210 Diploma of Building and Construction (Building)
Riad AL-ALAMI
Institution
13th January 2018

ASSESSMENT 4 2
As per the requirements, a visual inspection was conducted on a factory building located
Northwest of Adelaide in Hendon.
The building assessed at Hendon, Northwest of Adelaide.
The inspection of the building was restricted to identifying the current state of the readily
observable components of the building namely: its structure, plumbing structure, air conditioning
system, hating system, electrical system, exterior and interior components, ventilation system as
well as fire protection system.
The assessment was conducted in compliance with the ASTM standard E2018-99 for property
Conditions Assessment.

ASSESSMENT 4 3
The report summarily details preliminary estimation of costs, recommendation in addition to
priorities for; correcting any major deficiencies, upgrading worn out components of the structure
and carrying out more detailed investigation in future.1
Building description
This building was originally an ammunition factory and during part of its time served Philips
Electrical Industries until 1947 when it was released to a new owner. It was later renamed
Hendon industrial park and used for some years by SA Film Cooperation. The building sits on an
area of 560m2.
a) Structure
i. Description
The building is of slab grade construction.
1 ASTM E2018-99. (2014, September 15). (Retrieved January 14, 2019);available from
https://www.astm.org/DATABASE.CART/HISTORICAL/E2018-99.htm
16 m
35 m
Main area and
mechanical
subdivision
Storage
subdivision
Offices
Loading
dock
Car
park

ASSESSMENT 4 4
The masonry foundations support masonry brick and block exterior walls
The open-web steel joists supporting the steel roof deck in place.

ASSESSMENT 4 5
A number of minor settlement cracks were observed in a number of points in the
foundation walls. The cracks show water stains indicating water entry.

ASSESSMENT 4 6
The chimney is damaged hence resulting to water leakage causing damage on the
adjacent brick masonry.2
ii. Observation and discussion
There were no major structural defects noted except for the minor cracks in the
foundation walls and the chimney cap damage.
iii. Recommendations, maintenance Costs and priorities
Urgency Costs in Australian dollar
$
Sealing of minor cracks
in the foundation walls
Immediate $1000
Replacing the chimney
cap with proper cap
extending some meters
beyond the brick to
protect the brick from
water damage
Immediate $400
b) Electrical
i. Description
The building electrical service is overhead.
2 Property Condition Assessment - Bock & Clark. (n.d.). (Retrieved January 14, 2019),
available from https://www.bockandclark.com/Data/Sites/23/Assets/pdfs/bc-property-condition-
assessment-sample-report.pdf

ASSESSMENT 4 7
The structure is fitted out with 208v/120v 3 phase 4 wire electrical service.
The electrical wiring visibly consisted of copper

ASSESSMENT 4 8
A back-up generator powered by natural gas was observed outside the building in a fenced area.
208Y/120V transformer supplying uniform power to a panel box designated B connecting to the
office. The transformer provides suitable power for an isolated ground for computers.

ASSESSMENT 4 9
ii. Observation and discussion
Given the present usage, the electrical service seems adequate. No glitches were
supposed with the service capacity.
The ground electrode conductors are cut at the exterior as shown below, this could be a
consequence of vandalism to steal copper.
This requires immediate repair as it presents a potentially dangerous situation.
iii. Recommendations, maintenance Costs and priorities
urgency Costs in Australian Dollar $
Grounding electrode
conductor repair
Immediate 650
Bollard installation around
the transformer to shield it
from impact
Immediate 1700

ASSESSMENT 4 10
c) Heating system
i. Description
The heating system is powered by gas consisting of 8 units mounted on the roof. These
units have varied capacities ranging from 185000 btu/h output capacity to 60000 btu/h.
Gas powered unit heaters seen at the warehouse subdivision.
Electric heater mounted on the wall at the water service housing subdivision.
ii. Observation and discussion
No analytical calculations on heat loss were done but there seem to be no
suspicion on the heating capacity of the building.
The heat exchangers were not easy to get to for visual examination.

ASSESSMENT 4 11
Observing the individual units during heating was impractical hence further
deductions could not be made.
The metal vents provided in the warehouse appears to be in agreeable condition.
The gas lines however are corroded hence need to be repainted.
iii. Recommendation, maintenance costs and repairs
urgency Cost in Australian Dollar
$
Repainting of gas lines moderate $1800
d) Air conditioning
i. Description
The building is conditioned by 6 cooling units. Three of these units serve the main
area of the building while of the three remaining units, one is used in the offices
while another two in material storage unit. The cooling units in the main area are
60 tons each while the other cooling units mounted on roof top being 15 tons
each. The air is circulated over same air handling apparatus for the heating
scheme.
ii. Observation and discussion
The cooling capacity seemed satisfactory though no numerical derivations or
calculations was conducted.
Careful observation on the compressor windows revels presence of ice on them as
shown above. This is characteristic of low refrigerant.

ASSESSMENT 4 12
On the capillary tubes of the RTU-1, ice was seen as shown above. The site glass
showed some bubbles developing. This also indicates low refrigerant.
The electricity have been turned off on the materials storage unit. For this reason
the a/c was not operational.
Satisfactory air circulation was delivered in most of the subdivisions.
iii. Recommendations, priorities and costs.
Urgency/ priority Costs in Australian
dollar $
Servicing of the rooftop
units serving the
material storage area
Immediate $2000- $3500
e) Plumbing
i. Description

ASSESSMENT 4 13
Supply
Three inch diameter water supply polythene lines supply into the building.
Between the main area and the material storage subdivision is located a
vestibule in which the main shut off valve is installed.
Each of three subdivisions are served by individual water meter.
All the resource plumbing inspected on site is copper.
Waste
The waste plumbing and piping system is under slab hence not noticeable for
scrutiny.
Water heating

ASSESSMENT 4 14
There is a water heater fired by a 100 gallon gas. Two Thermistor heat recovery units are
located at the mechanical area of the main area subdivision of the building. Thermistor heat
recovery units are used to convalesce heat from the cooling scheme to heat water.
ii. Observation and discussion.
During the assessment, there were no major inadequacies observed in the
plumbing system.
The water heater was corroded at some points as shown above.
iii. Recommendations, urgency and costs
Recommendation Urgency Costs in Australian
Dollar $
Replacement of the
existing water heater
11 months $ 2500
f) Interior
i. Description

ASSESSMENT 4 15
Main area for industrial operations and mechanics.
Material storage subdivision

ASSESSMENT 4 16
Office ceiling condition
The ceiling mainly comprises of drop ceiling panels.
He wall finishes comprises of dry wall while the floor is covered by resilient tile.
ii. Observation and discussion
Generally, the interior finishes is satisfactory.
The drop ceiling panels showed some stains, a possible indication of leakage from
the roof.
iii. Recommendation, urgency and costs
Recommendation Urgency Costs in Australian
dollar $
Damaged ceiling tiles to
be replaced.
6 months $1500-$2500
g) Fire protection
i. Description

ASSESSMENT 4 17
The building is equipped with a wet sprinkler system as shown above.
ii. Observation and discussion
Capital Fire Protection current inspection tags were observed on site.
No security protocols and/ or systems and alarms were seen.
iii. Recommendation, cots and urgency
Recommendation Urgency costs
Sprinkler inspection to be
kept current
1 year minimal

ASSESSMENT 4 18
Bibliography
ASTM E2018-99. (2014, September 15). Retrieved January 14, 2019, available
from https://www.astm.org/DATABASE.CART/HISTORICAL/E2018-
99.htm
Property Condition Assessment - Bock & Clark. (n.d.). Retrieved January 14,
2019, available from
https://www.bockandclark.com/Data/Sites/23/Assets/pdfs/bc-property-
condition-assessment-sample-report.pdf