The profession of building surveyors has been changing with the changes in laws governing construction. More and more building are built every year. The demand for qualified building surveyors is growing steadily each year. A building surveyor plays a vital role in making sure that the buildings constructed are inhabitable and durable. Nowadays, a building surveyor is hired at the design stage of a building and retained until the final inspection is done.
The Roles of Surveyors
Assessing and Inspecting Construction Sites
Surveyors are obligated to assess buildings and building sites to ensure they are safe. The assessment begins with checking the construction plans before applying for a permit. The surveyor may have a checklist to see if the construction plans are sound. The surveyors check whether the construction site is safe, whether the construction is conducted in the right manner and is the workers have their safety gear.
Checking Regulatory Compliance
A surveyor is required to enforce all the compliance requirements from local authorities, Association of Australian Standards, the National Construction Code, the state and territory legislation. The standards, guidelines, policies and legislations are put in place to ensure to that buildings are constructed in the right manner. Surveyors do regular inspections to check for compliance at each and every stage of the construction.
Consulting
A surveyor is expected to offer useful advice on challenges that may arise during the construction of the building. The main way of correcting a construction mistake is by tearing the section down to build it in a structurally sound manner. This is quite expensive hence building surveyors provide hands on consulting services. It is better to consult when a contractor hits a snug than to fail an inspection.
Education And Expert Witness Services
Building surveyors have vast experience in the construction industry. This makes them good teachers since they are aware of the challenges that contractors face during construction. They also act as witnesses during the final inspection of the building. They assist in answering the questions asked during the inspection. Their professional opinion is trusted and has a positive effect on the inspection process.
With so many buildings being constructed, it is important for the government, local authorities and regulatory bodies to check how safe the buildings are. There are policies that are to in place to prevent contractors from constructing substandard structures. Surveyors keep a keen eye on the construction process and enforce the regulations laid out for constructions.