Are your building facades safe?
Are your building facades safe?
Publish on: 2016-09-05
Category: Inspection and maintenance
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS REGARDING FACADE MAINTENANCE
The regulation aiming to improve building safety has been adopted. It entered into force on March 18, 2013. The new requirements are outlined in the Building chapter of the Safety Code (BCSC).
The BCSC includes provisions regarding the inspection and maintenance of facades on buildings with five storeys or more. Articles 371 to 384 of Section VI – Provisions regarding the maintenance of facades and parking lots apply to the maintenance of facades.
Contrary to the Construction Code drafted for the use of construction professionals, the Safety Code targets building owners, managers and users. The official publication of the Safety Code can be consulted at the following address:
Obligations
The owner of a building with five storeys or more must, among other things:
- ensure that the building facades are free of any defects that can compromise its safety;
- have a preventive maintenance program to ensure the building facades are in proper condition;
- hire a qualified inspector to apply this regulation;
- provide the qualified inspector with all the documents needed for the inspection;
- keep all inspection and evaluation reports.
Facades – Maintenance and inspection
The facades of buildings with five storeys or more must be inspected periodically. Every five years, an inspection report prepared by an engineer or architect indicating that the building facades are free of any dangerous condition will be required. A dangerous condition is defined as any condition a building is in when a component from one of its facades can imminently fall off or collapse and risk injuring people.
The building owner must obtain an inspection report no later than the day of the 10th anniversary of the date on which it was built; however, if the building is more than 10 years old on March 18, 2013, the inspection report must be obtained according to the following schedule.
| If on March 18, 2013 the building is: | a report must be produced by: |
| more than 45 years old (before March 1968) | March 18, 2015 |
| more than 25 years old, but less than 45 years old (1968-1988) | March 18, 2016 |
| more than 15 years old, but less than 25 years old (1988-1998) | March 18, 2017 |
| more than 10 years old, but less than 15 years old (1998-2003) | March 18, 2018 |
The owner must then obtain an inspection report of the facades every five years.
For more information regarding the inspection and maintenance of building facades, the Régie du bâtiment du Québec site can be consulted at the following page:
Our services
With the experience it has gained, Di Paolo Group is suited to inspect building facades. Our experienced engineering department can undertake inspection mandates to conduct inspections and draft inspection reports in compliance with the new Safety Code.
Di Paolo Group can provide the following services:
- Examinations and surveys,
- Detailed inspections,
- Drafting of inspection reports in compliance with the provisions regarding Section VI of the Safety Code (L.R.Q. B-1.1, r.3),
- Preparation of plans and specifications to specify the remedial work,
- Work to secure components,
- Supervision of the latter.
