Institute of Specialist Surveyors and Engineers
Essex House
High Street
Chipping Ongar
Essex
CM5 9EB
T: 0800 915 6363
F: 0870 755 5432
About ISSE
A rationalised approach to dealing with problems of timber infestation and moisture penetration of masonry began to be seen after World War 2. In the UK, the repair and treatment of dampness and timber decay in buildings became known as remedial treatments.
A specialised, contractor-based sector of the property care industry developed a market for specialist treatments against timber infestation (woodworm and rot) and various forms of damp problems in buildings and specialist remedial treatments surveyor became a job description.
In 1980’s a group of experienced building preservation surveyors determined to establish and promote a professional ethos for the occupation formed an institute originally named the Institute of Remedial Treatment Surveyors. The institute began to receive requests for membership from other specialists and in2005 the institute was renamed THE INSTITUTE OF SPECIALISTS SURVEYORS & ENGINEERS (ISSE) so as to be able to accommodate these additional disciplines.
Advancing Technology
In a culture believing almost unquestioningly in the supremacy of new technology, the industry relied heavily on the development and use of chemical treatments to control the causes of dampness and decay deteriation in buildings.
In the last quarter of the twentieth century, there was a realisation that the legacy of pesticides, chemical waste and the perhaps unknown hazards of chemical synergy in the environment could be a burden for the future.
Holistic approaches to dampness and timber decay in buildings are now preferred with an emphasis on accurate diagnosis of defects and targeted treatments, not necessarily chemical, aimed at specific decay organisms.
The desire for professionalism, training and examination of competence has been driven and funded from within the industry as the ISSE is constituted as a non-profit making body, funded by its members it is entirely independent and thus encourages adherence to ethical practice.
Greater skill and understanding are expected from those who inspect, diagnose and specify the treatment of damp and decay in buildings. Members must adhere to the ISSE code of Professional Conduct & Ethics.
As multidisciplinary approaches are neccersary when dealing with building defects. The ISSE encourages membership from a wide range of occupations.
Education, training and a concern to provide access to current and impartial information formed an important part of our foundation and will remain just as important during our future development.
Website access to technical information, training and education programs on the ISSE website are currently under redevelopment.