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This Section considers the appropriate skills and qualifications needed for an individual to deal with complicated flood damage situations. For reinstatement projects following flooding involving complex building types, it's recommended that within the team there is a 'technically competent person ' who will act for all interested parties in an impartial technical capacity to promote the satisfactory and appropriate repair of the damage to the building to restore it to its pre-flooding state. Currently there are no specific qualifications to reflect technical competence for the full breadth of this topic. However in most cases, those most likely to have the most knowledge and understanding will be (in no specific order): + building surveyors - probably, although not necessarily, members of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) + members of the Damage Management Association (or similar in US) + members of theLoss Adjusters orgs. (US and UK). There may also be other experts with suitable qualifications and experience, such as Chartered Builders, Chartered Engineers and other professions. + = + = A technically competent person will possess: + a detailed knowledge of design and construction methods, techniques and detailing appropriate to the property in question + knowledge and experience of the effects of water on building structures and components + an understanding of contemporary methods of drying flooded buildings and reinstatement methods. + = + = To discharge their responsibilities properly in the case of a claim, the technically competent person may need to seek specialist advice and guidance from others. The following duties are expected: + completing a risk assessment + initial inspection, reviewing and recording of the pre-flooding condition of an affected building, and the damage caused + specifying and scoping the initial strip-out and flood mitigation + evaluating drying requirements and other appropriate methods + recording moisture readings (plot and plan survey) + management of drying monitoring and issuing a 'certificate of dryness’ + specifying and scoping repairs + compiling a budget for repair costs + administering Statutory Approvals + ensuring that CDM procedures are adhered to - knowledge of the practical application of CDM is essential + managing party wall issues + inspecting the quality of works for compliance with the repair specification + certifying satisfactory completion of repairs and that the building is restored to pre-flooding condition + preparing a brief summary of the event for possible inclusion in the Complex building types Complex building types specifically requiring the involvement of a technically competent person are defined as follows: + historic and listed buildings + buildings within a conservation area + timber framed buildings + buildings with concealed insulation + buildings of non-standard construction + buildings with basements or cellars + buildings with structural problems + buildings with complex mechanical and electrical services installations + buildings which have been previously flooded + buildings adapted for the disabled + buildings where the method of construction is uncertain + buildings that may contain hazardous materials + buildings where restoration time or mitigation may be affected by adjacent or attached properties + buildings where drying programs already implemented have not provided adequate results + buildings with water main risers, or interstitial cavities, which may be seen as conduits to other properties. |
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