Forum: Train managing agents in building inspections to flag defects which may endanger people
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We read with concern about a metal structure that was part of a building’s facade falling off ( 27m metal structure falls from Inspace building in Bartley, narrowly missing man
The building, a strata-titled industrial building, was completed in 2022.
It would have been inspected by qualified persons (QPs) at the time of completion for project handover. There are currently two mandatory inspections that QPs conduct for buildings in service use – the periodic structural inspection or PSI for the structure, and the periodic facade inspection or PFI for the facade.
The first PSI is conducted five years after the building has received its occupation permit for non-residential buildings (10 years for residential buildings), thereafter at five-yearly intervals. The first PFI is conducted 20 years after the building has been occupied and thereafter at seven-year intervals.
Between the mandatory inspections mentioned, the building operation and maintenance are overseen by managing agents (MAs) hired by the management corporation strata title (MCST).
The MCST Association of Singapore, the formal entity representing MCSTs in Singapore, advocates that MAs who are on the ground daily for bigger projects be professionally trained in building inspections to flag defects which may endanger users and residents.
The current MA accreditation programme, which aims to upgrade the skills and service delivery of MAs, should include this skill of identifying defects which will be crucial to prevent the failure of building elements in existing strata properties.
Overall, the built environment industry will benefit from such value-added services by MAs which will lead to a safer and sustainable living and work environment for all.
Dennis Tan
President
MCST Association of Singapore
