Facade Maintenance
As defined and perfectly well explained by BRE.co.uk
1. Planned Inspection and Maintenance
2. Durability Period of Components
3. Inspection Frequency
Since 1994 all new and refurbished buildings are required to have a maintenance manual. You must check that it has been kept up to date and any necessary maintenance work carried out. Good practice suggests that all buildings should have a maintenance manual. If there is no maintenance manual, have one written, based on the findings of the condition survey. This is the only way of ensuring that an appropriate maintenance schedule is put in place.
All façades require a degree of maintenance if they are to fulfil their intended working life. Early detection of defects can mitigate expensive repairs or replacement later. The degree of inspection and maintenance required will depend on the façade type and its intended design life.
Safe access to the façade and possible disruption to the occupiers must be considered when devising the inspection and maintenance schedule. It is unlikely that all the façade components will age at the same rate. The planned inspection and maintenance schedule should reflect this. Other than a requirement for regular cleaning, larger components in façades tend to be maintenance free. The joints between panels require particular attention as a failure of sealants or gaskets will lead to water penetration which may cause corrosion of fixings and damage to the building fabric.
The durability period of façade components can be divided into four categories.
● Short – components where maintenance is acceptable at short intervals, typically two to five years, for either protective or decorative purposes.
● Medium – components where the first maintenance is envisaged to be at about five to ten years.
● Long – components where the first maintenance is envisaged to be at about ten to twenty years.
● Very long – components that will not be maintained during the design life of the building.
The frequency of inspection can be divided into three categories.
● Routine – continuous regular observations that should be undertaken by the user as part of the occupancy of the building. Feedback resulting from this type of observation should be encouraged.
● General – visual inspections of main elements, made under the supervision of a suitably qualified person at times specified in the maintenance manual.
● Detailed – a full inspection of the façade by a suitably qualified person at times specified in the maintenance manual, but probably not exceeding a five year period.
1. Planned Inspection and Maintenance
2. Durability Period of Components
3. Inspection Frequency
Since 1994 all new and refurbished buildings are required to have a maintenance manual. You must check that it has been kept up to date and any necessary maintenance work carried out. Good practice suggests that all buildings should have a maintenance manual. If there is no maintenance manual, have one written, based on the findings of the condition survey. This is the only way of ensuring that an appropriate maintenance schedule is put in place.
All façades require a degree of maintenance if they are to fulfil their intended working life. Early detection of defects can mitigate expensive repairs or replacement later. The degree of inspection and maintenance required will depend on the façade type and its intended design life.
Safe access to the façade and possible disruption to the occupiers must be considered when devising the inspection and maintenance schedule. It is unlikely that all the façade components will age at the same rate. The planned inspection and maintenance schedule should reflect this. Other than a requirement for regular cleaning, larger components in façades tend to be maintenance free. The joints between panels require particular attention as a failure of sealants or gaskets will lead to water penetration which may cause corrosion of fixings and damage to the building fabric.
The durability period of façade components can be divided into four categories.
● Short – components where maintenance is acceptable at short intervals, typically two to five years, for either protective or decorative purposes.
● Medium – components where the first maintenance is envisaged to be at about five to ten years.
● Long – components where the first maintenance is envisaged to be at about ten to twenty years.
● Very long – components that will not be maintained during the design life of the building.
The frequency of inspection can be divided into three categories.
● Routine – continuous regular observations that should be undertaken by the user as part of the occupancy of the building. Feedback resulting from this type of observation should be encouraged.
● General – visual inspections of main elements, made under the supervision of a suitably qualified person at times specified in the maintenance manual.
● Detailed – a full inspection of the façade by a suitably qualified person at times specified in the maintenance manual, but probably not exceeding a five year period.