The ‘Agreed Methodology’ is an initiative from RICS, Historic England and PCA that seeks to reform the inspection and reporting of moisture related issues in traditional buildings and to raise professional standards and consumer confidence.
“RICS have been working with Historic England and the Property Care Association to create a methodology centered around investigating moisture related issues in buildings. The aim of this initiative is to draw wider awareness to the issues that can occur in traditional buildings if the correct damp inspection principles are not followed, and to raise the bar in the investigation and reporting of moisture related problems in our built environment. RICS supports this initiative and will be consulting with its members and wider industry on a draft methodology that has been produced following a series of discussions between the organisations”.
The following methodology outlines the principles that surveyors should adopt to deliver best practice in investigating moisture related issues in traditional buildings. It goes on to list out specific items that the surveyor should have knowledge of and consider at each stage of the diagnostic investigation and repair process. The document is intended to be a framework for moisture investigations in buildings of all types and ages. It is important to note that the term traditional refers to buildings with solid walls built from permeable materials such as brick, stone, earth, timber, and lime-based mortars, plasters and renders. Traditional construction absorbs moisture but readily allows it to evaporate when conditions become drier. This is in contrast to modern construction which relies on impermeable barriers to prevent moisture entering the fabric.
To read the full methodology, click the following link – RICS-Historic-England-and-PCA-Joint-Methodology.pdf (property-care.org)