Code of Practice




	Code of Practice Appraisal The appraisal of a subject property shall comprise an inspection, a report, a specification and final checking. The inspection shall be in compliance with the requirements of BRE Digest 401: Replacing Wall Ties by an approved surveyor equipped with suitable tools and given proper access to assess the conditions or likely condition of existing wall ties. A report shall be prepared for the benefit of the client describing the findings of the inspection. A specification shall then be prepared stating the method of treatment for each individual or part elevation. Checking of the treated property, specification and jib record sheet shall be carried out by a competent person in order to ensure compliance with the Code of Practice. Treatment Treatment of the subject property may include installation of remedial wall ties, removal of existing ties, lateral restraint of elevations, rebuilding of brickwork and repairs to external finishes. A job record sheet shall be maintained by the operatives on a daily basis for retention by the installer. Approved Installers An approved installer shall include any person, professionally qualified or not, who can satisfy the BWTSRA of their competence end experience. They should be registered to ISO 9002 or be working towards it. Operatives working for the installer must have been suitably trained, and be properly supervised. Suitable Tools Suitable tools for inspection shall include: Metal detector, endoscope, spirit level, two-pound hammer, ladder, torch, battery-operated power drill and repair materials. Suitable tools for installation shall include: Drills (110V), chisels, metal detector, pull-out meter, setting tool/torque wrench, repair materials and access equipment. Access Proper access for inspection should include access to all parts of the building both internally and externally but may not necessarily include the ability to physically examine wall ties due to the unacceptability of disturbance of existing finishes. Specification A specification shall clearly state for the benefit of all parties precisely what treatment if any is to be applied to each elevation. Different forms of treatment may be specified for different parts of a subject property. Areas requiring different forms of treatment shall be clearly defined, such as: "Front elevation upper storey: demolish and rebuild the outer leaf. Front elevation lower storey: locate, remove and renew existing ties." A specification shall be completed for each property inspected. Job Record Sheet A job record sheet shall be provided at the commencement of each contract by the installer for use by his operative and shall include all work required by the specification, set out on an elevation-by-elevation basis. The job record sheet shall be signed by the operatives on a daily basis as each operation in completed and verified. The sheet shall be kept on site for inspection at any time by the senior staff or surveyor responsible for the work. Completed job record sheets shall be kept for a period of 25 years at the installers' head office. Remedial Ties All remedial ties shall be obtained from a source approved by the BWTSRA. Suppliers should be registered to ISO 9001, or be working towards it. A range of ties is available and the choice of suitable tie from this range will be the responsibility of the installer. Pull out tests shall be carried out on site to prove the suitability of the tie system adopted. Remedial wall ties shall be tested in compliance with the specification of BRE Digest 401, January 1995, Replacing Wall Ties. Treatment of Existing Ties Existing wall ties should either be completely removed, cropped or bent back as appropriate or be encapsulated in a proprietary isolation sleeve. Rebuilding of Brickwork The rebuilding of brickwork shall be carried out in accordance with BS 5628 utilising new stainless steel ties. The installer shall follow all necessary health and safety procedures The Guarantee If a guarantee is issued subsequent to the works it should be in an approved form. The guarantee should be for the benefit of the homeowner and any future owners, and will indemnify them against any defects due to defective cavity wall ties that appear over the following 25-year period. The installing company shall offer the client the benefit of guarantee protection. The cost of such protection if required shall be borne by the client.