Building age and school leak investigations

Look beyond the original construction date

A school can contain blocks from different periods and services replaced at different times. Extensions, refurbishments and changes of use can alter routes without changing the date attributed to the main building. Use drawings and maintenance records as starting evidence, then check their relevance to the current layout.

Check materials and asbestos information

HSE advises that buildings built or refurbished before 2000 may contain asbestos. The school’s asbestos information needs to cover the areas and materials the work could affect; an old building date is not a substitute for a survey or register.

Avoid selecting a detection method from age alone. Pipe material, depth, pressure, access and background noise affect the investigation. Acoustic, thermal and tracer-gas methods each have limitations, and a combination may be appropriate after the site has been assessed.

Prepare information for the investigator

• Provide block plans, known alterations and available service drawings.
• Identify known meters, valves, heating circuits and previous repairs.
• Supply relevant asbestos information and any restrictions on opening floors, walls or ceilings.
• Confirm who can authorise work where ownership, leases or facilities contracts divide responsibility.

Where records are missing or uncertain, state that explicitly. It is more useful than presenting an assumed route as confirmed.