Searching for a contractor or a licence number: consult the Licence holders' repertory.
Searching for a contractor or a licence number: consult the Licence holders' repertory.
According to our language policy, only certain contents may be translated. Visit the French version to obtain all the information.
Crumbling concrete cladding and collapsing or cracking façades represent risks for the safety of the public. These risks can be reduced—or even eliminated—with the thorough and consistent preventive maintenance by the owners. This is particularly true of façades of high buildings which are exposed to adverse weather.
This is why the façades of all buildings of 5 storeys and more coming under the Building Chapter of the Safety Code must be subject to verification and maintenance. It is mandatory that they be maintained so as to be free from any defect which could jeopardize safety or contribute to the development of dangerous conditions.
The Explanatory Guide to Façade Maintenance Requirements [Fr] – PDF (2,8 MB) is an explanatory guide for the owners of the buildings concerned with the aim of facilitating understanding of façade maintenance obligations. In particular, it indicates the information a register and a verification report must contain.
An English version of this guide is available. To obtain an electronic copy, send an email request to the RBQ.
For the lifetime of the building, the following information or documents must be consigned in a register, kept on the premises:
The owner must obtain from an architect or an engineer a verification report certifying that the façades of the owner’s building do not show signs of any dangerous condition. An examination of each façade of the building must be carried out no earlier than 6 months before the date of production of the verification report, which must contain:
When the presence of a dangerous condition is noted by the professional, he must advise immediately both the owner and the RBQ about it and make recommendations in this regard. As for the owner, he must:
The owner of a building must obtain a verification report at the latest on the day of the 10th anniversary of its construction.
Thereafter, the owner shall obtain a verification report of the façades every 5 years.
Some signs of the deterioration of façades may be detected by the building owner. Such signs should alert him that a more thorough, in-depth inspection is called for.
Here are a few examples of these:
Furthermore, any equipment which is installed on a façade must be securely attached to it.