Building surveys are a crucial part of the management and maintenance of schools and academies. They help you develop an in-depth understanding of the condition and performance of your estate so you can identify the changes you can make, prioritise maintenance issues and rank deficiencies. 

Building surveys can also be vital in securing funding. They provide documentary evidence to support Condition Improvement Fund (CIF) bids and applications for other grants such as Urgent Capital Support (UCS) and the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme (PSDS). 

Several types of building surveys are commonly used in the education sector, including school building condition surveys, energy efficiency surveys and fire risk assessments. Here we discuss what those surveys involve and how they benefit education estates. 

Common building surveys for schools, colleges and academies      

Building surveys can help educational establishments in a number of different ways, from providing a safe and secure learning environment to planning for maintenance and renovations and enhancing energy efficiency. 

School building condition survey

A school building condition survey is a visual inspection of your premises’ material state. A surveyor will inspect every part of your buildings, from the roofs, walls and windows to the building fabric and the heating, ventilation and water systems. They then provide you with a report that provides a comprehensive overview of your buildings’ condition. 

A school building condition survey includes:

• Descriptions and photographs of any defects or potential problems
• Identification and prioritisation of the risks
• Recommendations for remedial works and replacements 
• Estimated costs for the works
• Information about the benefits of the works, such as reduced repair costs and energy savings

Schools can use the condition survey to create an education estate maintenance plan, rectify compliance breaches, prioritise remedial works and apply for funding. 

Energy efficiency surveys

Energy efficiency surveys evaluate your schools’ energy usage and identify improvements you can make to boost the efficiency of your buildings. 

The first step is an audit of your school’s energy consumption, including usage benchmarking, to identify poor practices and areas where energy is wasted. The next step is to compile a report that includes recommendations for energy-saving measures you can implement, the usage and budgetary savings you’ll make and the full costs of the improvements. 

The report will also identify the various funding methods available to help you pay for the work. In this case, that’s likely to be the Low Carbon Skills Fund (LCSF) and the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme (PSDS).

Fire risk assessments

Fire risk assessments are another commonly performed school building survey. All educational establishments in the UK must perform a fire risk assessment at least once a year to ensure the safety of their students, staff and visitors. A fire risk assessment identifies the risks across your estate and details the measures you can implement to reduce them.

A fire risk assessment will cover:

• Your fire detection and warning systems  
• Evacuation procedures, routes and signage
• Fire assembly points and their location
• The presence and operation of fire detection and fighting equipment
• The presence and operation of fire exits and whether there are obstructions
• Confirming appropriate staff members have fire safety training
• The appropriateness of the building’s construction, layout and use

The fire risk assessment culminates in a written report detailing the survey’s findings, recommendations for improvement and suitable timeframes. 

RAAC surveys

Reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) surveys have become all too common in schools and academies. These surveys enable schools to determine whether RAAC, a bubbly form of concrete that poses serious risks to the safety of school users, is present in the walls, floors or roofs. 

A surveyor will conduct an inspection to identify the presence of RAAC. They will provide a technical report of their findings, recommendations for the next steps and a detailed plan for the remedial works. A RAAC survey provides vital evidence when applying for CIF funding.

Valuation surveys

Valuation surveys do not contribute to the upkeep of your facility but they do have an equally important role in the management of school estates. Valuation surveys can be used for a variety of purposes, from the sale and acquisition of assets, such as school buildings or land, to funding applications and reinstatement valuations for insurance purposes. 

It’s beneficial to engage specialist valuation surveyors in this sector, as there’s a lot more to consider when producing an accurate valuation than the bricks and mortar alone. They’ll give you all the information you need to make informed decisions. 

How can we help?

We provide a full range of building surveys for the education sector. Whatever the requirements of your school or academy, our RICS-registered surveyors have the expertise to help. Find out more about our building surveying services and get in touch to discuss your requirements with our team.