BCA Facade Inspection Requirements Explained
The Building and Construction Authority of Singapore enforces facade inspection requirements under the Building Control (Periodic Inspection of Buildings and Building Facades) Regulations. These regulations apply to all buildings that have obtained their Temporary Occupation Permit (TOP) for 20 years or more. The goal is to prevent facade element failures that could endanger public safety.
Under BCA guidelines, building owners must engage a competent person — a Registered Inspector, Professional Engineer, or Specialist Professional Engineer — to conduct visual inspections of all external facade elements. These elements include curtain walls, cladding panels, sun shading devices, signage, external finishes, and any facade attachments.
Drone technology supports the competent person by providing detailed visual and thermal data for every facade surface. This data enables more accurate defect identification than traditional ground-level observation or gondola-based visual inspection alone.
What Our BCA Facade Inspection Covers
- External Wall Finishes — tile, plaster, render, paint condition assessment across all elevations using high-resolution drone imagery.
- Curtain Wall Systems — glass panel integrity, sealant condition, framing corrosion, gasket deterioration detected through close-range drone photography.
- Cladding Panels — aluminium composite panels (ACP), stone cladding, terracotta tiles assessed for delamination, bowing, and fastener failure.
- External Attachments — sun shading devices, signage brackets, flag poles, antenna mounts inspected for corrosion and structural soundness.
- Water Ingress Indicators — thermal imaging identifies moisture paths behind facade elements that visual inspection cannot detect.
BCA Facade Inspection Pricing
| Service | Price Range | Deliverable |
|---|---|---|
| Drone Data Capture Only | $1,500 — $4,000 | High-res imagery, thermal scans, orthomosaic |
| Full Report (PE-ready) | $2,500 — $6,000 | Defect map, severity classification, repair recs |
| Multi-Block Estate | $5,000 — $15,000 | Portfolio coverage with volume discounts |
We work directly with your appointed Professional Engineer to ensure the data format and report structure meets their submission requirements to BCA.
Why MCSTs and Building Owners Choose Drone-Based BCA Inspection
Regulatory Compliance
Reports structured to BCA requirements with defect classification, georeferenced locations, and remedial recommendations ready for PE assessment.
Cost-Effective
Save 60-75% compared to scaffold or gondola-based inspections. No equipment rental, no road closure permits, no prolonged site access requirements.
Complete Coverage
Drones inspect every square metre of facade surface including hard-to-reach areas above setbacks, behind architectural features, and at building corners.
Digital Record
All inspection data is archived digitally with GPS coordinates. This creates a baseline for future inspections, making it easy to track defect progression over time.
Frequently Asked Questions
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