Pre-Opening Inspections on Residential Buildings

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13 August 2018

Real Estate

Residential Buildings

Building a residential complex can be quite a challenge for any company. The sheer amount of planning and the complexity and scale of the task can overwhelm anyone.

In those situations, mistakes are possible and they happen. Which is why it is important that the building is inspected for flaws during the construction and especially once the construction is done and before it is put into use.

Experts at Xpera Group give us the rundown of the most important checks and inspections a building needs before it can be safely used.

Electrical Inspection :

Electricity is one of those things which can be extremely dangerous if treated carelessly and at the same time, indispensable for our daily lives.

Before any building can get its use permit, the appropriate authority will need to ensure that all of the electrical installations are safe and installed properly.

Waterproofing :

Also known as building envelope inspection, this particular part of the inspection makes sure that no water can get into the building.

The building envelope includes doors, windows, the roof, and the walls, everything that separates the outside from the inside.

Typically, these inspections are conducted before the building is released to general use, but it is also important to periodically conduct it even when the building is in use since the envelope will be exposed to the elements the most.

Fire Safety Inspection :

Another hugely important matter is the fire safety of the whole building. Each municipality and county might have their own specific rules about fire safety, but it will always be a requirement in order to get a permit.

The most important thing is to have a functional fire alarm system, as well as fire extinguishers or similar firefighting tool readily available throughout the building.

Structural Stability Inspection :

The name of this inspection is self-explanatory – the inspectors will need to ensure that the building can support its own weight, as well as that the materials used are durable enough to last for as long as the building is expected to be used.

Earthquake Inspection :

Some regions are just more prone to earthquakes, which has forced those areas to be extra careful when constructing their buildings, and the earthquake inspection is there to ensure that the building can withstand an earthquake and be safe enough for the people inside.

Balcony Inspection :

Balconies are a known weak point in the structure. The part which binds the balcony to the building itself is a critical point which needs to be protected and properly maintained.

Water is probably the worst enemy of balconies, but the damp air and especially salty air near the seas can act as an abrasive force as well.

The other key point in balcony protection is the railing. Depending on the material, the railing has different maintenance needs and expected durability which needs to be followed strictly.

Pest Inspection :

Even though the building is new, a variety of pests might choose to make it their home, especially if something was made improperly, giving them plenty of places to hide.

This inspection is not obligatory and will not be a condition to get a use permit, but some people want to go the extra mile and perform this check as well.

These types of inspection might not be the only ones you will have to apply for, but they are the most important and you need to make sure that your building is going to be up to the code before you do.

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