Why Inspect Building Facades?
It has been estimated that loose masonry falls off a building somewhere in the United States about every three weeks. This is caused by years of freezing, thawing, expansion and contraction or by atmospheric pollution as well as rain deteriorating the facade. In the last few years, 49 masonry building collapses have killed 30, injured 81 pedestrians, and damaged adjacent buildings Improper design and/or construction that permit water and air intrusion, failure to conduct timely inspections, and failure to perform scheduled maintenance can result in facades that pose a hazard to pedestrians. Facades that fail and cause injury pose a potential loss to owners and insurance companies.
