PROPERTY MANAGEMENT
What you need to know about building condition assessments
By Rorisang Macheng
What is a building condition assessment and when do you need it ? Building condition assessment ( BCA ), also known as a facility condition assessment ( FCA ) is a formal inspection , review and report on the state of a commercial building structure and its systems entailing detailed information . In simple terms , a BCA is a building ‘ health check ’.
Building condition assessment process The building condition assessment process includes three main components : 1 . Walkthrough / site visit Identifies needed maintenance items , physical deficiencies and long-term maintenance requirements . Involves the visual examination of several building elements , systems and components .
2 . Interviews Interviews of key site personnel can provide crucial information regarding the age and condition of significant building and property components such as roofs , paint , mechanical plants , etc .
3 . Document review An examination of documents helps identify the age of the building , site improvements , repairs or upgrades to the physical deficiencies and any efforts to investigate or remediate the deficiencies .
Importance of a building condition assessment
• Ensures the building is safe to occupy .
• Monitoring the asset condition and using prediction / forecast of deterioration for future performance .
• A building condition assessment can be useful when planning to renovate the building to help determine the total renovation cost .
• To help reveal defects , hazards and failures of the building which helps to prioritise maintenance works .
Systems and components included in a building condition assessment A building condition assessment starts with a detailed inspection of :
• Structural components including walls , floors , windows and doors .
• Systems including plumbing , HVAC and electrical .
• Interior components including finishes and fixtures .
• Exterior components including finishes and fixtures .
Based on the inspection , the building condition assessment report shall entail :
• A brief description of each building component .
• Identification of any issues or deficiencies in a component .
• A breakdown of the expected cost to rectify those issues and defects .
A building condition assessment is needed when :
• Creating safety and maintenance programs for your type of property .
• Forecasting and budgeting maintenance expenses .
• Determining whether to renovate , sell or demolish a facility .
• Allocating resourcing across a large portfolio of properties .
ISSUE 55 - SEPTEMBER 2023 7