What Is Building Facade Inspection?
Building facade inspection is the systematic examination of a building's external cladding, windows, curtain walls, and structural attachments to detect defects before they become safety hazards. In Singapore, the Building and Construction Authority (BCA) mandates periodic facade inspections for buildings older than 20 years under the Building Maintenance and Strata Management Act.
Traditional methods rely on gondolas, scaffolding, or rope access — all expensive, slow, and disruptive. Drone-based facade inspection eliminates these constraints. Our CAAS-approved UAVs capture high-resolution imagery of every facade panel, identify cracks as small as 0.3mm, and generate georeferenced defect maps that BCA-qualified Professional Engineers can use for compliance reporting.
For CBD high-rises, HDB blocks in mature estates like Toa Payoh and Ang Mo Kio, and commercial buildings along Orchard Road and Shenton Way, drone inspection reduces assessment time from weeks to hours while improving defect detection accuracy by up to 40% compared to visual-only methods.
How Drone Facade Inspection Works
Our drone facade inspection follows a structured methodology developed over hundreds of Singapore building assessments.
Pre-Flight Planning
We review building drawings, identify flight zones, and obtain CAAS permits where required. For buildings near Paya Lebar Air Base or Changi Airport, we coordinate airspace clearance in advance.
Systematic Facade Scanning
Our pilots fly pre-programmed grid patterns at consistent distances from each facade elevation. Every panel is captured with overlapping high-resolution images — typically 20MP or higher — ensuring no area is missed.
Thermal and Visual Analysis
Thermal imaging detects moisture ingress, delamination, and hidden defects behind cladding that visual inspection alone would miss. We overlay thermal data with visual imagery for precise defect mapping.
BCA-Ready Report Delivery
We deliver a comprehensive inspection report with annotated images, defect severity classification, and recommendations. Reports are formatted for submission to BCA-appointed Professional Engineers.
Why Choose Drone Facade Inspection Over Traditional Methods?
70% Cost Reduction
No scaffolding rental, no gondola setup, no rope access teams. Drone inspection typically costs 70% less than traditional methods for the same building.
Zero Tenant Disruption
No scaffold structures blocking windows or common areas. Inspections are completed without residents or tenants noticing any impact.
Faster Completion
A 30-storey building that takes 2 weeks with gondola access can be inspected in a single day with drones, weather permitting.
Superior Defect Detection
High-resolution cameras and thermal sensors detect hairline cracks, spalling, tile delamination, and moisture ingress that human eyes miss from a gondola.
Building Facade Inspection Pricing
Pricing depends on building height, number of facade elevations, and reporting requirements. Here are typical ranges for Singapore buildings.
| Building Type | Height | Typical Cost |
|---|---|---|
| HDB Block (single block) | 10-25 storeys | $1,200 — $2,500 |
| Commercial Office Tower | 20-50 storeys | $3,000 — $6,000 |
| CBD High-Rise | 40+ storeys | $5,000 — $10,000 |
| Industrial Building | 5-15 storeys | $1,500 — $3,000 |
All prices include: CAAS flight coordination, high-resolution visual and thermal capture, georeferenced defect map, and a detailed inspection report ready for PE review.
Frequently Asked Questions
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