Building facade inspections

Building facade inspections

Since March 18, 2013, following the adoption of the Regulation to improve building safety (Bill 122) and the Buildings chapter of the Safety Code, owners of 5-storey and higher buildings have the obligation to present a detailed report to the Régie du bâtiment du Québec RBQ every 5 years which is issued and signed by an engineer or an architect, indicating that the facade does not represent a safety hazard. Our methodology follows the ASTM E2270-05 “Standard Practice for Periodic Inspection of Building Facades for Unsafe Conditions”: review of construction plans and/or on-site surveys, visual examination of the facade or further investigations.

If the building is over 10 years old on March 18, 2013, the report has to be issued according to the following schedule:

  • Over 45 years: deadline – March 17, 2015
  • 25 to 45 years: deadline – March 17, 2016
  • 15 to 25 years: deadline – March 17, 2017
  • 10 to 15 years: deadline – March 17, 2018

Buildings constructed between 2004 and today – a report must be produced before the 10th anniversary of the building construction date.

Our procedure includes:

  • Preliminary meeting with the building owner/manager
  • Free estimate
  • Survey, issuance of existing plan, construction document analysis (if available), on-site inspection using the necessary high-tech equipment, photos
  • Complete report to the building owner/manager, and:
    • If the building is deemed safe, we will issue a compliance certificate signed by an engineer and send it to the RBQ with a copy to the building owner/manager and proof of transmission;
    • If the building is deemed unsafe, we apply the Dangerous Conditions Reporting Procedure requested by the RBQ.
    • Courtesy reminder 6 months prior to next mandatory inspection
Get more information

Also find us on the network of Outremont's home inspectors