One death or injury as a result of a façade failure is one too many. Any building owners with a building higher than six stories are required to file a technical façade report through the Façade Inspection & Safety Program (FISP). Local laws and regulations vary among different cities, but the dangers of a faulty façade are everywhere. Filing your FISP report isn’t difficult when you have the help of façade engineering consultants. These consultants can help building owners with their inspections and go through the process of filing the necessary paperwork.
What the FISP Accomplishes
The FISP has the sole purpose of ensuring buildings are safe for people inside and outside. The job of façade engineering companies is to conduct thorough inspections to determine whether buildings are safe, unsafe or safe with a repair and maintenance program. By conducting routine inspections and filing FISP reports every five years, façade engineering consultants can keep buildings safe for employees inside the building and any people near the building.
Filing Requirements
An expert in façade engineering may be called a Registered Design Professional or a Qualified Exterior Wall Inspector. The Qualified Exterior Wall Inspector has the ability to file the reports online on behalf of the building owner. However, the building owner must also create an online account in order to authorize the reports.
The documents filed by façade engineering companies include photographs of objects needing attention or repairs, a recommended repair report, any findings not evident in photographs, any work permits used or required and more. Once the Qualified Exterior Wall Inspector submits the report, it will undergo technical review and any missing documents or notes may be requested, if applicable.
Consequences for Not Filing the FISP Report
Ignorance of the law is no excuse when it comes to filing the FISP report. Penalties of up to $1,000 per year and $250 per month could accumulate as a result of being late to file. This includes filing the initial report, not fixing anything needing repairs within the designated timeframe and not filing an amended report, if applicable. Not being timely with the report could cause building owners to pay unnecessary fines and penalties, and possibly even cause them to have another façade engineering inspection.
Getting a regular façade safety inspection isn’t just recommended; it’s the law. To get in touch with the best façade engineering company to help you maintain compliance, be sure to contact us.