Understanding PFI
Requirements in Singapore
What Periodic Facade Inspection involves, why BCA requires it, and how TR78 governs the use of drones for inspection work.
What is Periodic Facade Inspection (PFI)?
Periodic Facade Inspection is a statutory requirement under Singapore’s Building Control Act for owners of buildings that meet criteria set by the Building and Construction Authority (BCA).
It requires a BCA-registered Competent Person to inspect a building’s external facade at regular intervals and report on its condition.
Is PFI mandatory, and when does it apply?
PFI becomes mandatory once BCA issues a notice to the building owner or MCSTs, generally triggered by building age, height and use. On receiving a notice, owners are required to engage a Competent Person and complete the inspection within the stipulated timeframe.
The role of the Competent Person
A Competent Person (CP) is a suitably qualified and BCA-registered professional engineer who takes responsibility for the inspection, certifies the findings, and submits the report to BCA. This cannot be delegated to an unregistered party.
TR78 and the use of drones for facade inspection
TR78 is the Technical Reference published for the use of unmanned aircraft systems (drones) in facade inspection work in Singapore. It sets out requirements for flight planning, pilot licensing and image resolution so drone-based inspections can be relied upon as a valid alternative to scaffolding or rope access.
Why drone inspection over traditional access methods?
Faster turnaround with no time lost on scaffolding, less disruption to residents and traffic, full coverage of roofs and awkward geometry, and typically lower overall cost.
This page is general information about PFI in Singapore and does not constitute legal or regulatory advice. Always confirm the specifics for your building directly with BCA or with our team.