Can you tell me...

A. A lift of suitable size for wheelchair users has to be provided when the net floor area of a two-storey commercial building exceeds 280 square metres; a commercial building with three or more storeys must install a lift for people with disabilities if its net floor area exceeds 200 square metres.

You calculate the net area of a storey by adding together the area of all parts that use the same entrance from a street or an indoor mall. Subtract from this total any vertical circulation area, sanitary accommodation and building maintenance areas.

Where there are small areas of a building with a unique facility such as a training room, staff rest room, or small library gallery, it is recommended that you install a wheelchair lift at least.

For further details, visit Approved Documents at the UK government website: www.safety.dtlr.gov.uk/bregs/building.htm.

Q. Can you tell me about expansion joints in a wall? Are they necessary?

A. Movement joints are essential to prevent a wall cracking when it expands or contracts. They should be regularly spaced, depending on the masonry: every 12 metres for clay bricks, nine metres for calcium silicate, and six metres for dense concrete blocks. For more information, take a look at the BRE's Good Repair Guide 28: Repairing brick and block freestanding walls, and BSI Codes: BS 6093 (Code of Practice for design of joints and jointing in the building construction) and BS 8000 (Workmanship on building sites, Part 16: Code of Practice for sealing joints in the buildings using sealants).

Where a commercial building has a unique facility such as a staff rest room, you should install at least a wheelchair lift

Q. I need some information about underpinning. Where can I find it?

A. There's plenty in libraries and high-street bookshops about the method requirements, procedures and so on for strengthening by underpinning. The British Standards Institution publishes BS 8004 (Code of Practice for Foundations), which gives detailed guidance on underpinning.

To contact the BSI, phone 01442 230442, fax 01442 231442 or email Info@bsi-global.com.

Q. We are engaged on a project under JCT 98 Private with quantities, and the contract completion date has passed. We have been given an extension of time and are entitled to some more. The problem is that the architect is unnecessarily delaying the decision on the further extension of time. What should we do?

A. First of all, I have to say it is very difficult to provide advice on any contractual issue without going through the contract documents and supporting information and documentation.

That said, you could take the following actions (at your own risk and cost):

• Inform the architect there is enough information to decide on the extension of time due, if this is indeed the case
  
• Ask the architect to state whether you are in principle entitled to extensions of time even if a decision has not yet been reached on the actual extension
  
• Advise the employer that you consider the architect to be failing to properly grant extensions of time