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550 Barry’s Advanced Construction of Buildings
and an accurate record built up through constant cross-checking of information. A good
starting point is with the original date of the building, if this can be established quickly,
e.g. from a date stone in the fabric or through local records. Since the late 19th century,
architects and builders have been required to submit copies of their plans and proposed
construction details to the local authority building control department for approval. This
body of information can provide an important source of material, the date of design, construction
details, survey drawings, etc. Unlike planning records, permission to access the
drawings will be required for security purposes. Information sources may comprise some
or all of the following:
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Maps and plans
Title deeds
Newspapers and journals
Town planning records
Building control records
Records held by local builders and consultants
Local knowledge
Specialist publications and books
Whether this exercise is conducted before, after or concurrently with an assessment of the
building’s condition will depend upon circumstances relating to a particular building. The
important point is that it must be done before any objectives, design work or building work
is carried out.
Analysis of condition
On site investigation and analysis should not be carried out until at least some of the
information required has been found; this knowledge helps to focus the attention of the
site survey and also aids the understanding of health and safety considerations. Designers
need to be rigorous and systematic in their observation and recording of what they find.
Photographs, video and thermal imaging can supplement this exercise. Photograph 11.2
provides an example of modest ‘opening up’ of an existing house to try and establish what
was behind an existing wall.
The most common methods of data collection are:
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Measured survey. A detailed measured survey of a building and its immediate environs
will enable accurate plans, elevations and sections to be drawn. Undertaking this exercise
also allows those conducting the survey to experience the building at close quarters
and hence get a good feel for its character. The survey drawings may differ from historical
data because of inaccuracies in original drawings, variations from the drawings
during construction and/or because of unrecorded changes made to the building
post-construction.
Condition survey. Analysis of a building’s physical condition is known as a condition
survey. Condition reports serve two purposes. They should provide an accurate and
comprehensive description of the condition of the building fabric, structure and services.
The report should act as an information source on which decisions can be made.