Building Envelope Inspection

BEVA Methodology (Should I use drones or binoculars?)

XtremeAxis uses rope access for BEVA and building inspections.  This allows us to physically inspect every square foot of the building envelope, regardless of its height or unusual architectural details.  By comparison, while the use of drones is of value at times, they simply cannot provide the ‘hands on’ feel required to accurately assess site conditions (It would be like buying a used car from a picture, instead of an actual test drive).  Others may do a small sampling or ‘snapshot’ of some areas and deem it representative of the entire building, but this is inherently random and therefore not accurate.  There is simply no substitute for having our technicians get up close and personal with the building and its many components. 

Ask the important question before selecting a BEVA inspection company: Do you inspect 100% of the exterior with a qualified rope access technician? If the answer is “no”… keep looking. Drones and binoculars do not remove hazards when found.

BEVA Background

Starting in 2017, the City of Calgary began a phased-in roll out of Building Maintenance Bylaw #33M2016 Building Maintenance Bylaw which obligates the owner of any building higher than five stories to have an exterior visual assessment done once every five years. The Bylaw specifies that the owner has a duty to maintain “the building envelope in good repair and free from any hazardous condition”, and then goes on to define ‘good repair’ as being free from:

• significant damage
• detaching or delaminating surfaces
• broken, missing, or fallen parts
• rot or other significant deterioration
• openings that are not secured against infiltration of:
  • air
  • precipitation; or
  • both (i) and (ii)

While the Alberta Building Code states that a building owner may not allow an unsafe condition to be maintained, there is no clear requirement to maintain buildings. This Bylaw requires that when the owner becomes aware of a hazardous condition, they must immediately take steps to remedy and mitigate the situation.