Periodic Facade Inspection (PFI)

Periodic Façade Inspection (PFI)

Trusted drone service provider and one stop solution network

PERIODIC FAÇADE INSPECTION (PFI)

With 90 cases of falling façades within 3 years, Periodic Façade Inspection (PFI) became a requirement by law. This regime will apply to all buildings (excluding private landed houses and temporary buildings) that are at least 13m in height, more than 20 years of age at 7 yearly intervals. At Operva AI, our façade team comprises of qualified Unmanned Aircraft Pilots, Rope Access Technicians, Certified Thermographers and Professional Engineers. We provide a one-stop solution for a complete façade inspection.

You are in good hands

One-stop Operation

We provide end-to-end solutions, all in one stop! We are a team of Drone Pilots, Rope Access Technicians, Certified Thermographers, Work-at-Height Managers, Competent Persons & Façade Inspectors.

Specialised Expertise

Our team includes BCA-Approved Competent Persons and Façade Inspectors who are qualified with deep domain expertise to conduct high quality inspections for your assets and projects.

Cutting Edge Technology

We are well- appointed with the latest equipment and technology such as thermal imaging, rope access and drones to provide you with safe, cost effective and efficient inspections.

How it works

Receive a Notice from BCA

You will be informed by BCA that your property is due for a Periodic Facade Inspection.

Engage a Consultant

You engage Operva AI as a drone inspection consultant. We work with Competent Persons (CP) who will be appointed for your project.

GET A PFI QUOTE

Search As-Built Facade Plans

Do you have As-Built Facade Plans for your property? If you would like us to search plans on your behalf, please let us know.

Purchase As-Built Facade Plans

We will inform you when BCA allows the CP to purchase the plans on your behalf.

Arrange an inspection with us

Once we have received all the necessary information, we will arrange a date and time to conduct the Periodic Facade Inspection for your property

Submit a Report to BCA

The CP will submit a report and notify you on the approval status from BCA.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the purpose of inspecting the facade of buildings periodically?

As buildings age, their façades experience wear and tear. To improve public safety, a façade inspection regime will detect deteriorating façade materials and its connections early, and allow the Owner to carry out repairs before it fails.

What do I need to do when I receive the Periodic Facade Inspection (PFI) Notice?

BCA will serve Owners with a Notice of Inspection when the building is due for Periodic Facade Inspection (PFI).

You can play your part by:

Appointing a Competent Person promptly. The Competent Person can be either a Professional Engineer (PE) or Registered Architect (RA);

Providing access to perimeter of the building to be inspected by your Competent Person;

Providing the necessary access system such as suspended working platform/gondola, mobile elevating work platform or scaffold or a combination of these to carry out the close-range facade inspection;

Providing a set of approved plans and façade drawings;

Providing information on the maintenance and history of the building, particularly if façade repair work histories had been carried out and its locations, i.e. water ingress, etc.;
Providing previous periodic inspection reports (if available) for reference;

Carrying out rectification works and/or monitoring of defects highlighted by your Competent Person promptly;

Maintaining your building façade in good condition at all times.

How often do I need to carry out Periodic Façade Inspection (PFI) of my building?

PFI regime will apply to all buildings over 13 metres in height and more than 20 years old on 2H2021 at 7-yearly intervals.

Nevertheless, this does not mean that you should inspect your building only when required to do so. As and when defects or deterioration are detected, you should engage a Competent Person to investigate, propose remedial measures and certify the completion of the rectification work.

Are As-Built Façade Plans and Façade drawings needed?

Yes. They are needed by us to assess the original design before we can properly plan our inspection.

Can Operva AI purchase a set of my building’s building plans on my behalf for the purpose of Periodic Façade Inspection (PFI)?

Yes, Operva AI works closely with Competent Person (CP), who can make an application on your behalf。

As we would need to attach the Documentary Proof of Ownership of property (latest property tax bill, Title Deed or Notice of Transfer) when making the application, please provide us with the documents via email hello@operva.ai.

What does the Periodic Façade Inspection (PFI) process involve?

Under BCA Regulations, PFI may differ slightly from building to building, and would likely involve the following:

Visual inspection of the condition of the entire (100%) building façade elements from ground level or other available vantage points and openings, which may be done using naked eye or tools like binoculars, camera, infra-red scanning technology or drone technology; Operva AI also provides proprietary drone software Airpland to manage the flights, images, 3D model and AI.

Detect dilapidation and displacement of façade elements;

Minimum of 10% close-range inspection to be carried out for each building face (elevation);

Inspection may include localised removal of façade elements or panels for inspections and material testing to ascertain the deterioration level and/or integrity of the façade elements, if required;

Determination of whether defects or deterioration in façade elements or panels are of any concern;

Recommendation of remedial measures to be carried out

For a building with widespread defects observed, the Competent Person may recommend a full facade investigation of localised areas or the whole building for BCA’s consideration and approval prior to the investigation.

What does a full façade investigation of Periodic Façade Inspection (PFI) involve?

For a building with widespread defects observed, the Competent Person may recommend a full facade investigation of localised areas or the whole building for BCA’s consideration and approval prior to the investigation.

Full investigation generally involves:

Additional locations for the additional close-range inspections;

Any on-site and/or laboratory tests will be carried out to verify the façade condition, strength of the façade materials and extent of the defects, if deemed necessary;

Exposing concealed façade elements (e.g. brackets for curtain wall system), or the removing façade panels to assess the condition of the panels, will be based on Competent Person’s professional judgement.

Recommending any repairs to be carried out in order to restore the integrity of the building façades.

Where the repair involves any structural elements or works, the structural plan approval and permit to commence works are to be obtained prior to commencing the repairs, if applicable. A Professional Engineer (PE), if the Competent Person is not a PE, shall be engaged for this purpose.

How long will the Periodic Façade Inspection take?

Depends. There are many factors that will affect the inspection eg.

extent of defects observed

weather;

mode of accessing the façade;

surface area of façade; and

height of building.

What arrangement should be made before the Periodic Façade Inspection?

Please inform your tenants about the dates of Periodic Façade Inspection.
Please notify us if you have any outdoor assess to your façade.

If only some part of my building façade had been refurbished recently, do I need to carry out Periodic Facade Inspection (PFI)?

Yes, if only some parts of the façade are refurbished, the building is still required to carry out PFI according to the building age.

What happens after Competent Person submits the inspection report?

BCA will vet through the report and may seek clarification from the Competent Person with regards to the contents of the report.

The Competent Person is required to respond to clarifications and, where the situation warrants, BCA may also conduct a joint site inspection of the building with the Professional Engineer and/or require the Competent Person to conduct a presentation to BCA.
Upon the acceptance of the report, BCA will write to the Owner to follow up with the recommendations of the Competent Person on the defects detected.

You should carry out the remedial works promptly to prevent further deterioration of the building and thereafter submit the Competent Person’s certification on the completion of the remedial works, where applicable.

Read full BCA guideline on their website here.

GET A PFI QUOTE

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Periodic Façade Inspection (PFI)

PERIODIC FAÇADE INSPECTION (PFI)

You are in good hands

One-stop Operation

Specialised Expertise

Cutting Edge Technology

How it works

Receive a Notice from BCA

Engage a Consultant

Search As-Built Facade Plans

Purchase As-Built Facade Plans

Arrange an inspection with us

Submit a Report to BCA

Frequently Asked Questions

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