Audits & Inspections
Comprehensive facade audits using advanced rope access techniques to identify defects early and plan preventative maintenance.
Overview
Facade condition deteriorates gradually, and by the time defects are visible from ground level, they are often significant and costly to repair. A proactive facade audit programme identifies issues at an early stage when intervention is simple and inexpensive -- before water ingress causes internal damage, before corrosion compromises structural fixings, and before falling debris creates a public safety risk.
Allied Commercial's facade audits are conducted by experienced technicians who descend the full facade via rope access, providing hands-on close-up inspection that cannot be replicated by drones or ground-level observation. Every defect is documented with high-resolution photography, GPS coordinates, and severity classification. Sounding (tap-testing) is used to identify delamination and hollow areas in rendered and tiled facades.
The inspection data is compiled into a comprehensive condition report by our engineering team. The report classifies each defect by urgency (immediate, 12-month, 3-year, 5-year), estimates repair costs for budgeting purposes, and provides a recommended maintenance programme that can be phased across capital planning periods. This evidence-based approach gives building owners and managers the data they need to make informed decisions about repair timing and investment.
Our audits meet the requirements of state-specific facade inspection legislation, body corporate obligations, and insurance compliance. For buildings in Queensland, we comply with QBCC facade inspection requirements. For strata properties, our reports satisfy the body corporate's obligation to maintain common property in a reasonable state of repair under the Body Corporate and Community Management Act.
Key Benefits
- Identify defects early before they become costly failures
- Meet insurance, strata, and regulatory compliance obligations
- Budget forecasting with phased maintenance programmes
- Independent, engineer-reviewed reports
- GPS-tagged documentation provides an auditable defect record
- Rope access inspection is faster and cheaper than scaffolding
Service Capabilities
What we deliver
Full-facade rope access inspection with close-up documentation
Sounding and tap-testing for delamination detection
GPS-tagged high-resolution defect photography
Severity classification and risk prioritisation
Engineer-reviewed condition reports with budget estimates
Recommended maintenance programmes phased over 5-10 years
Compliance with QBCC, strata, and insurance requirements
Thermal imaging for moisture detection in facade substrates
Industry Standards
Australian Standards compliance
Defines the performance criteria against which facade condition is assessed -- water penetration, air infiltration, structural adequacy, and displacement.
Facade audits assess compliance with the NCC's weatherproofing performance requirements for external walls and window openings.
Provides the methodological framework for our building inspection procedures, reporting format, and defect classification system.
For strata properties, our audit reports satisfy the body corporate's legal obligation to maintain common property and document its condition.
Technical Specifications
At a glance
Delivery Process
How we deliver
Desktop Review
We review building drawings, previous inspection reports, maintenance history, and any known issues before attending site. This ensures the on-site inspection is focused and efficient.
Physical Inspection
IRATA technicians inspect the entire facade close-up via rope access. Every defect is photographed, GPS-tagged, and classified by type and severity. Sounding is used to detect hidden delamination.
Engineering Analysis
Our engineering team analyses the inspection data, identifies root causes, assesses risk, and prepares repair cost estimates for each defect category.
Condition Report Delivery
A comprehensive report is delivered with prioritised recommendations, budget estimates, and a phased maintenance programme. We present findings to building owners, body corporates, or asset managers as required.
FAQ
Common questions
How often should a facade audit be conducted?
We recommend a comprehensive facade audit every 5 years for buildings less than 15 years old, every 3 years for buildings aged 15-30 years, and annually for buildings over 30 years or those with known facade issues. Buildings that have experienced severe weather events (cyclones, hailstorms) should be inspected within 30 days of the event. Some insurance policies and body corporate regulations specify minimum inspection frequencies -- we can advise on the requirements applicable to your building.
What is the difference between a facade audit and a dilapidation report?
A facade audit is a condition assessment of the facade itself -- its materials, coatings, sealants, fixings, and structural elements. It is typically commissioned by the building owner to plan maintenance and repairs. A dilapidation report is a pre-construction record of existing condition, commissioned to document the state of a building before adjacent construction begins, so that any damage caused by construction activity can be identified and attributed. We provide both services, and often recommend combining them where adjacent construction is planned.
Do I need an engineer or a contractor for a facade audit?
Both have a role. Engineering consultancies such as TRSC provide RPEQ-certified structural assessment and certification where a Form 15 or formal engineering opinion is required. Allied provides contractor-led condition audits focused on buildability: what is failing, what it costs to fix, and how access will work. Many owners commission the engineering assessment first, then engage us to convert the findings into a priced, staged remediation scope.
What happens after the audit report is delivered?
Each defect in the report carries a severity rating and a budget estimate, so the owner or body corporate can fund works in priority order. Make-safe items (loose render, cracked glass, failed fixings) are quoted for immediate rectification. Medium-term items are grouped into staged packages aligned to financial years. Because Allied self-performs facade repairs, glazing, and rope access works, the audit flows directly into delivery without re-tendering.
Industries
Trinity network
Specialist partners
- TRSC Structural Engineering
RPEQ facade and structural assessment
- Veritas Inspect
Digital facade condition records
Need Audits & Inspections?
Contact us for a no-obligation quote or free site inspection.