Building Safety Inspection Scheme (Voluntary)
For owners of private buildings who have intention to carry
out preventive maintenance to their buildings, they can participate in the voluntary Building Safety Inspection
Scheme launched by this department since April 1997. The aim of the scheme is to
ensure that repair works can be carried out under specified standards and the supervision
of qualified professionals.
Buildings in Hong Kong are
increasing and ageing. Without proper maintenance, inadequacies in the following areas may
threaten safety of the occupants and the general public:
- Integrity of the external finishes
- Structural stability
- Means of escape and fire resisting construction
Building Safety Inspection Scheme (BSIS) seeks to
tackle the problem areas identified above through preventive measures; and where such
danger cannot be avoided, to give timely warning.
BSIS calls for co-operation of building owners to
engage building professionals to carry out inspections on their buildings in accordance
with recommended technical guidelines and standards. The inspection report will be
deposited in the Buildings Department for audit check. Upon completion of necessary
follow-up remedial works on the buildings, the Authorised Persons (AP) /
Registered
Structural Engineer (RSE) will issue completion certificate and the Buildings Department
will issue acknowledgement letters.
Steps to Take
- Owner appoints an Authorized Person (AP) /
Registered Structural Engineer (RSE) to make building safety inspections
- AP/RSE prepares report and deposit it in Buildings
Department (BD) for audit check
- Owner appoints building contractor to carry out
necessary repair
- AP/RSE issues Completion Certificate
- BD acknowledges The Completion Certificate
Benefits to Building Owners
Through participating in BSIS:
- the effects of ageing and deterioration of building
elements will be arrested;
- there will be assurance in terms of building safety
and fire safety for the occupants and the public at large;
- there will be definite enhancement in the rental and
resale value of the property, thus attracting more favourable terms and insurance
premiums.
An Authorized Person (AP), Registered Structural
Engineer (RSE) or Registered General Building Contractor (RGBC) is a person whose name is
on the
AP register
(which includes architects, engineers and surveyors), RSE register or on the
register of GBC
respectively kept under the provisions of the Buildings Ordinance. These
lists can also be viewed at the Buildings Department.
This department has set up a Building
Safety Loan Scheme (BSLS) to provide loans for the individual
owners with financial difficulties to carry out the requisite
inspection and repair works under the BSIS.
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