WHAT IS A VISUAL ASSESSMENT/INSPECTION?

An ActSafe Consultant’s job is to visually inspect and assess the condition of the building/facility and advise on anything dangerous; anything that could cause problems in the future and report on aspects of the building that will need future and potentially costly maintenance (the roof or mechanical system for example).

A GOOD BUILDING ASSESSMENT SHOULD CONSIST OF THE FOLLOWING:

• Provide a visual inspection of the building’s interior, this should include but not limited to:
  • electrical & lighting
  • heating
  • air conditioning
  • ventilation
  • plumbing
  • insulation (if visible)
  • flooring
  • foundation (as required)
  • ceiling and walls
  • windows and doors
  • fire protection, emergency lighting etc.

• Provide a visual inspection of the building's exterior, this should include but not limited to:
  • roof (visual from ground level or other)
  • flashings (visual from ground level or other)
  • chimney (visual from ground level or other)
  • gutters (visual from ground level or other)
  • downspouts (visual from ground level)
  • wall surfaces
  • windows and doors
  • the foundation and the grading around it (as required)
  • walking surfaces, guards, handrails etc.

The above forms part of your External Consultant Inspection Declaration. You're not just occupying the unit, you have an interest in the entire property including safety for occupants, staff and residents alike.

All items subject to access granted.

Since a Building Consultant cannot damage the building, the assessment/inspection is visual. Where possible the assessor/inspector may use devices such as moisture meters, spot thermometers and thermal imaging cameras to help them with their work. Unless arranged otherwise, assessment/inspection does not include appraisals, exact quotes for repairs, but does address compliance with regulatory requirements.

An External Consultant Inspection Declaration is not intended to provide warranties or guarantees.

A typical building assessment will vary in the length of time it takes to complete, depending on size and even age of the building/facility. Most assessors will provide a written home inspection report, and do a walkthrough with you.

Reputable Building Consultants generally belong to a provincial or regional industry association. ASTTBC which stands for Applied Science Technologists & Technicians of British Columbia is one such association. Its members must abide by a standard of practice and code of ethics as well as undertake ongoing education to help ensure the competency and professionalism of its home assessor/inspectors.  As of September 1, 2016 all "Home Inspectors" must follow the guide lines laid out by Consumer Protection BC.

https://asttbc.org/practice/ethics/

ActSafe Consulting Services Inc. specialize in Inspection/Assessments for Safety and Accreditation purposes including items outlined above.

CHOOSING A BUILDING CONSULTANT/INSPECTOR:

• Your building professional should work for you alone and not have any ties to contractors or incentives from any other parties.
• Your building professional should have been in business long enough to gain experience and ideally have worked in one or more of the building disciplines. 
• Ask for several references for their work. If possible, call the references to find out if they were happy with their services.
• Check with their professional association such as ASTTBC and other community work associations to see if they are in good standing.
• Check their website for information and testimonials.
• Hire a specialized contractor to conduct work outside the scope of the visual inspection.  i.e.. a drain tile expert is more knowledgeable and experienced to determine the condition of your drain tiles and potential expenses than a Consultant/Assessor.  The expert does the service more frequently than a Consultant/Assessor.

In the end, nothing will guarantee that you will have ‘clear coast’ when it comes to your building assessment.

If you follow the above guidelines, however, you will go a long way toward ensuring that your choice of building professional will be a good one and that they will deliver the information you require.

THE BUILDING CONSULTANT WALK-THROUGH:

Most building assessment professionals will require you to allow at least a half hour to an hour for the walk-through. At that time, the inspector should highlight the home’s features, identify any items which need to be addressed and answer any questions you may have regarding the home. Because of our Engineering and Project Management background, ActSafe Consulting Services Inc. is able to offer practical advice regarding repairs and maintenance.

As mentioned above, most building assessment professionals will offer some kind of written or electronic home inspection report.  Our report is electronic format so you can easily forward it as an attachment to colleagues and external agencies without the worry of emailing large files. We also offer a free service for access to our server with individual password protection.

There are numerous inspection companies in the Lower Mainland. ActSafe Consulting Services Inc. takes pride in providing a thorough and comprehensive assessment with the most advanced inspection report available on the market.