Mandatory inspection – Safety standards for façades and multi-level parkings – BILL 122

MANDATORY PERIODIC INSPECTION OF FAÇADES  AND MULTI-LEVEL PARKINGS

The new Chapter VIII, Building, of the Régie du bâtiment du Québec (RBQ) Safety Code came into effect on March 18, 2013.  It requires complete and periodic mandatory inspection of high-rise buildings façades and multi-level parkings by professional members of the Ordre des Ingénieurs du Québec (OIQ) in order to protect the public against accidents caused by loose components that could detach from building façades or by collapse of concrete structural elements.

Owners must therefore have their buildings façades and multi-level parkings inspected on a regular basis and proceed to urgent or permanent repair work in order to ensure safety of occupants and of the general public.

In addition, owners must keep a maintenance record of the building and attest of the safety of building components.

Façades

The owner or the association of co-owners of a residential or commercial building of five (5) storeys and more will be required to keep on premises all building façades audit reports required to be issued every five (5) years starting from the 10th anniversary of the building construction.  Such audits imply verification of exterior sidings, balconies, balustrades and other components of façades by a thorough visual and tactile inspection and partial dismantling or exploratory cuts, as required.

Multi-level parkings

Structural concrete slabs and other components of multi-level parking structures will also have to be thoroughly verified by an engineer every five (5) years.  The first inspection must be performed between 12 and 18 months after the parking lot construction.  Reports issued further to these inspections are also to be kept on premises, according to the Régie’s requirements.

For several years now, our firm has been providing in Québec professional services required by this new regulation, namely:

  • Thorough visual inspection of all components of building façades with a crane, man lift, aerial platform or other lifting equipment
  • Partial dismantling of certain sidings in order to verify the condition of components behind
  • Exploratory cuts in masonry cladding
  • Assistance and guidance in the implementation of emergency measures in the event of detection of hazardous conditions
  • Issuance of a report

As strong demand is expected and in order to meet deadlines prescribed by the Building Code, we invite you to have this inspection performed as soon as possible.

For  further information on bill 122 and the RBQ Safety Code, here are few relevant links :