UK&I Reinforced concrete transfer slabs: Design issues, building owner and surveyor considerations

Overview

Reinforced concrete transfer slabs are frequently concealed within buildings, yet recent warnings from the Building Safety Regulator and the Institution of Structural Engineers have highlighted them as a potential risk factor in partial structural collapse. As a result, building surveyors and other responsible professionals must rapidly adapt their understanding to provide confident, compliant and proportionate advice to clients. 

This webinar provides members with a practical overview of identifying concrete transfer slabs during inspections and understanding the key structural risks associated with their design over the past 20 years, including deterioration and punching shear. The session will also examine how these risks and uncertainties should be reflected in valuation advice, and lender considerations. Attendees will leave with a stronger ability to recognise potential signs of structural distress and to understand when escalation to a qualified specialist structural engineer for detailed investigation is essential. 

Learning outcomes

• ​​Identify concrete transfer slabs successfully during an inspection and/or from drawings, and understand how their presence impacts surveys​
• Outline the main risks and defects associated with transfer slabs, including how loads are transferred and the types of structural issues that may arise​
• ​​Learn how to report clear findings to clients, including how to identify when referral to a specialist structural engineer is appropriate
• ​Assess how the presence of concrete transfer slabs may affect property valuation, and lending considerations, taking account of associated risks and the need for further specialist advice​

Speakers

• Gary Strong FRICS, Global Building Standards Director, RICS
• Patrick Hayes MEng CEng F.I.StructE, Technical Director, The Institution of Structural Engineers
• Trevor Rushton FRICS, Group Chairman, Watts
• Nick Knight MRICS, COO and Managing Director, UK Lines of Business, CBRE Ltd