Facade Inspection and Rectification: What Is the Difference?
Facade inspection and facade rectification are closely related, but they are not the same thing.
Understanding the difference is useful for Building Owners and Facility Managers when planning inspection, repair and access works.
What Is Facade Inspection?
Facade inspection is the process of examining the condition of the building facade and identifying defects or areas that may require further attention.
The objective is to understand what is present, where it is located and whether further assessment or rectification is required.
Inspection may include visual observations, close-range access, photographs, defect marking and other forms of documentation.
Where the work forms part of a formal Periodic Facade Inspection (PFI), the professional inspection and assessment must be carried out under the applicable requirements and the appointed Competent Person remains responsible for that professional role.
What Is Facade Rectification?
Rectification refers to the physical repair works carried out after defects or repair areas have been identified.
Depending on the condition and agreed scope, rectification may include crack repair, replacement of failed sealant, waterproofing works, concrete repair, painting or coating works, replacement or securing of facade components, and other specified repair works.
Where Does Rope Access Fit In?
Rope access is an access method. It allows trained technicians to reach high-rise and difficult-access facade areas without necessarily using extensive scaffolding.
The same rope-access team may support close-range inspection access and photographic documentation, and later return to carry out specified rectification works.
However, providing access does not replace professional assessment, and carrying out the repair does not make the contractor the Competent Person.
Keep the Roles Clear
For a well-managed facade project, the inspection role, professional assessment, access method and physical repair scope should be clearly defined.
This helps Building Owners, Facility Managers, consultants and contractors understand who is responsible for each part of the work.
Facade Inspection 和 Rectification 有什么分别？
Facade inspection 和 facade rectification 关系非常密切，但是两者并不是同一件事。
Building Owner 和 Facility Manager 在安排检查、维修以及 access works 时，清楚了解两者的区别非常重要。
什么是 Facade Inspection？
Facade inspection 是检查建筑外墙实际状况，找出缺陷以及可能需要进一步处理的位置。
检查的目的，是了解有什么问题、问题在哪里，以及是否需要进一步专业评估或者进行 rectification。
检查工作可以包括 visual observation、close-range access、照片记录、缺陷位置标记以及其他 documentation。
如果有关工作属于正式的 Periodic Facade Inspection（PFI），专业检查和评估必须按照适用规定进行，而受委任的 Competent Person 仍然负责有关专业职责。
什么是 Facade Rectification？
Rectification 是在缺陷或者需要维修的位置已经确定以后，实际进行的维修施工。
根据实际状况和议定的工作范围，可以包括 crack repair、更换失效 sealant、waterproofing、concrete repair、painting 或 coating、固定或更换 facade components，以及其他指定的维修工作。
Rope Access 在里面扮演什么角色？
Rope access 是一种 access method，让受过训练的技术人员可以到达高层以及 difficult-access facade areas，而不一定需要搭设大面积 scaffold。
同一支 rope-access team 可以先协助 close-range inspection 和照片记录，之后再回来完成已经指定的 rectification works。
但是，提供 access 并不等于专业评估；负责实际维修，也不会因此令 contractor 变成 Competent Person。
把各自的责任分清楚
一个管理良好的 facade project，应该清楚区分 inspection、professional assessment、access method 以及实际 repair scope。
这样 Building Owner、Facility Manager、consultant 和 contractor 才能清楚知道每一个部分由谁负责。
Need Support With Difficult-Access Facade Areas?
Spyder System provides specialist rope-access support for facade inspection and rectification projects, including close-range access, defect documentation, specified repair works and before-and-after photographic records.
Contact us to discuss your building or facade requirements.
Published by Spyder System