ABSTRACT
The RICS guidance note, 4th edition (RICS, 2010) clearly states that, in normal circumstances, the surveyor is not expected to undertake a detailed assessment of the building services within the scope of a TDD or commercial building survey. In almost all situations this is performed by a mechanical and electrical (M&E) services engineer as this is a highly specialised area of operation. The appointment of the M&E consultant to perform the audit and report of the building services should be done in accordance with the relevant RICS guidance note. Accordingly, the contract instruction should make sufficient provision for professional indemnity insurance (PII) to cover the work of the M&E consultant and, where necessary, the providers of the surveyor’s PII should be notified of this.
