Inspection
Facade Inspection
An inspection of a building's exterior face, often from rope access or a swing stage, used to document condition and identify safety hazards.
What is a Facade Inspection?
A facade inspection is a close-up visual inspection of a building's exterior, often performed by rope-access technicians on high-rise buildings. It is used to identify deterioration, safety hazards, and code violations.
Common Methods
- **Rope access** (industrial climbing)
- **Swing stage / suspended scaffold**
- **Cherry picker / boom lift**
- **Drone** (for hard-to-reach areas)
- **Ground-level** (with telephoto lens)
Legal Requirements
Many jurisdictions (notably NYC Local Law 11 / FISP) require periodic facade inspections of mid- and high-rise buildings.
Related Terms
- Cladding Inspection
A documented check of a building's external envelope — including EIFS, stucco, brick veneer, curtain wall, and rainscreen systems — for defects, water ingress, and fire risk.
- Building Inspection
A documented check of a building's structural, mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and life-safety systems to verify compliance with code and specifications.
Looking for software that helps your team capture these inspections in the field? See our field inspection software or construction inspection software.