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Perhaps one of the least attractive aspects of making a structural survey is the roof space inspection which can be a cold, dark, and dirty activity in which the surveyor may encounter a number of dangers and surprises. One danger to guard against is professional negligence and it is imperative that the inspection is not reduced to a quick look round from the trap door access or becomes an excuse to use one's inexperienced office assistant to do the dirty work.

Management education is a vital component in the training process for all building professionals and increasing emphasis is being placed on inculcating an effective management ability in addition to specialist technical skills. Outlines the philosophy employed in the design and development of two MSc courses for project and property managers in the School of Building & Estate Management, Faculty of Architecture & Building, National University of Singapore. Makes an evaluation of the experience gained through five years of operation and proposes the nature of future changes. The need for Singapore to enhance the quality of its human resources as a marketable commodity both regionally and internationally is perceived as an important requirement for maintaining future business success and continued economic growth and survival. Management needs are ever‐changing and diverse and a recognition of the skills and expertise required in the market is considered to be of paramount importance in the design of future curriculum development.

The construction management literature discusses the benefits which companies derive from having their operations certified to the ISO 9000 series of quality management systems (QMS). In Singapore, quality has been a topical issue in the construction industry for the past decade. ISO 9000 certification, which has been a major part of the construction quality development programme, is now mandatory for large construction contracting and consultancy organizations wishing to register to undertake public‐sector projects. This paper reports on a study on the role which ISO 9000 implementation plays in the quality development of Singapore's construction industry by ascertaining the perceptions, objectives, motivations and experiences (including benefits and problems) relating to quality in general, and to ISO 9000 certification and implementation in particular. A questionnaire‐based survey of large construction companies was conducted. It was found that construction firms benefit from QMS certification, and face no significant problems with it. Recommendations are made for enhancing the benefits of ISO 9000 and ensuring that it has a positive long‐term impact on the development of Singapore's construction industry.