Browse Forums Building Standards; Getting It Right! Re: Pre-slab inspection 2Sep 03, 2014 9:04 am What was checked on mine was that the right reinforcement as per engineers plan was put down, both in the piers and the slab area itself. They will also take photos for later reference if need be. Owner Building at Jimboomba Woods in Logan City Qld. Blog : http://bandlnewhomebuild.blogspot.com H1 thread : viewtopic.php?f=38&t=68283 . Re: Pre-slab inspection 4Sep 03, 2014 2:04 pm Liliana Who takes photos for later reference? Your private certified, at least here it is. Quote: Is reinforcement the same as the "steel"? What is inspected at the slab stage then? Yes, steel reinforcement. There's several different sizes/values. I can only guess that it would be that the slab has been poured to the correct levels. I'm sure BE will be able to give you more details. Owner Building at Jimboomba Woods in Logan City Qld. Blog : http://bandlnewhomebuild.blogspot.com H1 thread : viewtopic.php?f=38&t=68283 . Re: Pre-slab inspection 6Sep 04, 2014 2:05 pm Thanks for the replies Beetaloo and bpratt. Is it possible that the surveyor could have checked at pre-slab that pipes entering the slab had flexible connectors? This doesn't seem right to me particularly since the pre-slab inspection took place three days before a problem with the site levels was discovered which I'm presuming would have had some flow-on effect on the height of the pipes. Re: Pre-slab inspection 8Sep 05, 2014 8:13 am Hi insider, Yes, I've seen on one of BE's posts that he checks piers at pre-slab but does the surveyor? I've found the following sample report on a pre-slab inspection from a building inspection company: http://newhomeinspections.com.au/files/ ... e_pour.pdf It seems to confirm what has already been said above about the steel being inspected, although I am dubious that many building surveyors would go into this level of detail. There is no mention of plumbing however and my feeling is that surveyors don't check plumbing, certainly not for details like flexible joints. Re: Pre-slab inspection 9Sep 05, 2014 10:51 am Liliana Hi insider, Yes, I've seen on one of BE's posts that he checks piers at pre-slab but does the surveyor? I've found the following sample report on a pre-slab inspection from a building inspection company: http://newhomeinspections.com.au/files/ ... e_pour.pdf It seems to confirm what has already been said above about the steel being inspected, although I am dubious that many building surveyors would go into this level of detail. There is no mention of plumbing however and my feeling is that surveyors don't check plumbing, certainly not for details like flexible joints. Mandatory pre slab inspections only deal with structural performance of the building, so inspector will check depth of excavation, fitness of ground and reinforcing (and perhaps termite protection partA). Building inspector will not check slab dimensions, whether the slab is out of square, too long or too short, right level or of your sewer toilet pipe will come up through middle of your bedroom or kitchen. Given large incidence of drainage failure and slab heave it is obvious they also have not inspected surface drainage and levels. About eight years years ago I raised the issue of flexible pipe connections on "H" class slabs with building commission and they did not want to know about it saying it's a plumbing issue.(It is not, it is for the benefit of protection of foundation against pipe cracking due to seasonal soil movement). Given that plumbing is self certified for compliance it means no one inspects and checks plumbers work. I wasn't getting anywhere so I gave up in disgust. That answers Liliana's question whether anyone inspected pipes for flexible joints. What it probably means that there are thousands of homes on reactive soils that if they have not failed already are at risk of doing so because flexible pipe joints are not installed. We offer pre slab inspections but that is not measurement or audit of builder's work. What it is is experienced eye going over the work in the hope of spotting defects, things that may have been missed, misaligned or just badly done and putting builder on notice that someone is looking after you. Over the years I have found many defects, some serious and all were important. What you need to understand is that even with stage inspections during construction it will minimise your risk but not eliminate it because there are blind spots even between stage inspections. For example I have never seen flexible pipe joints put in because sub floor plumbing is already done by pre slab stage inspection, similarly rarely do I see piers because they are already covered with builder's plastic at pre slab stage. Foremost Building Expert in Australia,assisting with building problems/disputes, building stage inspections,pre-contract review advice for peace of mind 200 blogs http://www.buildingexpert.net.au/blog Re: Pre-slab inspection 10Sep 05, 2014 11:20 am Hi BE, Thanks for that pretty comprehensive reply! Hopefully it will give people some idea of just how many details can go amiss between surveyors and builders and why it is imperative to have as many reliable eyes on your build as possible, even prior to the pre-slab stage. Re: Pre-slab inspection 11Sep 05, 2014 11:37 am building-expert What it probably means that there are thousands of homes on reactive soils that if they have not failed already are at risk of doing so because flexible pipe joints are not installed. Absolutely! Self regulation is a god send for the unethical and/or the uninformed. Given that only 12,000 copies of the BCA are sold every year and the obscenely high cost of maintaining up to date AS, what % of tradies and others remain au fait with the regular regulatory changes? 3in1 Supadiverta. Rainwater Harvesting Best Practice using syphonic drainage. Cleaner Neater Smarter Cheaper Supa Gutter Pumper. A low cost syphonic eaves gutter overflow solution. Re: Pre-slab inspection 12Sep 05, 2014 11:56 am Liliana Hi BE, Thanks for that pretty comprehensive reply! Hopefully it will give people some idea of just how many details can go amiss between surveyors and builders and why it is imperative to have as many reliable eyes on your build as possible, even prior to the pre-slab stage. I always try to engage with my clients and make them my man (or woman) on the ground as spotters to see things I can't in between inspections. It is not just about inspection, payment and adios, it's about being there "in the cloud" to give advice and comfort. It works very well and only very occasionally we get caught up in a blind spot. Then builder has to fi it anyway. Foremost Building Expert in Australia,assisting with building problems/disputes, building stage inspections,pre-contract review advice for peace of mind 200 blogs http://www.buildingexpert.net.au/blog Re: Pre-slab inspection 13Sep 05, 2014 6:37 pm BE wrote "What you need to understand is that even with stage inspections during construction it will minimise your risk but not eliminate it because there are blind spots even between stage inspections. For example I have never seen flexible pipe joints put in because sub floor plumbing is already done by pre slab stage inspection, similarly rarely do I see piers because they are already covered with builder's plastic at pre slab stage." A separate inspection of piers can be done before they are poured and the slab is started this is done by building inspectors and usually by the engineering or soil testing company will also do it to confirm the founding material of the piers. All plumbing was inspected and tested after installation years back but someone thought it would be a ok to not worry about that and we are seeing the consequences.I have heard of one big builder who is now doing this plumbing inspection after installation which is good to hear. Re: Pre-slab inspection 14Sep 05, 2014 6:39 pm insider All plumbing was inspected and tested after installation years back but someone thought it would be a ok to not worry about that and we are seeing the consequences. Yes, like letting someone mark their own exams! You'd have a 100 percent pass rate. Re: Pre-slab inspection 16Sep 05, 2014 7:11 pm insider The builder is using a independent plumber who specialise in leak detection and are the same plumbers used on cracked house investigations. It's not enough! Yes they may be able to pick up plumbing leaks but would they pick up if plumber has failed to use flexible pipe joints for sewer and storm water? Given the seasonal movement of soil around slab how many times have I seen downpipes that jumped out of their drain sockets and were discharging under a slab? More times than I care to remember. And that 's just what you see on the surface what about underground pipes? Foremost Building Expert in Australia,assisting with building problems/disputes, building stage inspections,pre-contract review advice for peace of mind 200 blogs http://www.buildingexpert.net.au/blog Re: Pre-slab inspection 17Sep 05, 2014 7:29 pm Yes flexible joints must be used in highly reactive sites no question about that but I was just pointing out that at least a few of the builders are starting to see the benefit of checking their sub contractors before slab heave has occurred.Mined you It only has taken probably the biggest building disaster in the states history for them to see it. Re: Pre-slab inspection 18Sep 08, 2014 9:54 am building-expert About eight years years ago I raised the issue of flexible pipe connections on "H" class slabs with building commission and they did not want to know about it saying it's a plumbing issue.(It is not, it is for the benefit of protection of foundation against pipe cracking due to seasonal soil movement). Given that plumbing is self certified for compliance it means no one inspects and checks plumbers work. I wasn't getting anywhere so I gave up in disgust. This is a typical example of the "gravy train" mentality mixed with an "Im ok f%^k you" attitude endemic in bureaucracy. A regulatory body is set up and it benefits from employing people to "keep us safe", but as far as taking ownership of problems and improving things for their client's outcome, ie the public, there's practically zero interest by them to have things improved. Its this mentality that underscores most of the public service. They all scream "best practice" in all their mission statements, but do little when push comes to shove. building-expert What it probably means that there are thousands of homes on reactive soils that if they have not failed already are at risk of doing so because flexible pipe joints are not installed. Can you give some typical instances of where these flexible joins would occur? At what soil class would you expect to see them being used? Re: Pre-slab inspection 19Sep 11, 2014 12:02 am [/quote] Can you give some typical instances of where these flexible joins would occur? At what soil class would you expect to see them being used?[/quote] You can check out a site called storm plastics.It will show you good examples of when and where to use then. Re: Pre-slab inspection 20Sep 13, 2014 12:31 am Hi Liliana, You ask some good questions. At a Pre-pour Slab Inspection the Building Inspector (hired by the Building Surveyor at least in Victoria) should check sufficient detail - size of reinforcement, cover of reinforcement, depth of beams, continuity of underlay (complete taping) at the very least. Several times I have arrived after the building inspector has called in and approved the pre-pour stage to find hammocked underlay reducing the effective beam depths, multiple reo holes in the underlay, incomplete taping, less than the required bar chairs to name the most common faults MISSED. So good luck. The Building Surveyor can do these inspections also. What the Building Surveyor should do prior to the permit being issued is check the structural design against the soil report. And if there are recommendations he can insist that these become mandatory. Onm many occasions that has not occurred it seems. 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