The Buildings Department (BD) is addressing the issue of deteriorating external walls in older buildings by launching a Special Inspection of External Walls of Buildings Operation. In an effort to prevent incidents of falling concrete, BD is collaborating with professional bodies including the Hong Kong Institute of Architects (HKIA), and invites HKIA members to partake in this significant initiative.
In February 2024, BD introduced a proposal through the Administration's paper titled "Proposals to Enhance the Implementation Arrangements of Building Maintenance (Paper No. CB(1)228/2024(04))". This initiative plans for a systematic inspection of 360 "target buildings" each year throughout the region, commencing in the first quarter of 2024. The aim is to complete inspections and any urgent repairs on two-thirds of these buildings before the onset of the rainy season, utilizing government contractors if necessary.
To incorporate the expertise of the architectural professionals, BD seeks the participations of HKIA members (alongside peers from the Hong Kong Institution of Engineers and the Hong Kong Institute of Surveyors under separate professional teams in the same Operation). Approximately 40-50 target buildings—all aged 30 years or more, low-rise (under 6 storeys), and lacking formal management ("3-nil" buildings)—will be assigned to HKIA members for inspection.
Key Details of the Operation:
Timeline:
Interested HKIA members are encouraged to register their interest using the provided Google Form by 6:00pm, 30 April 2024 (Monday):[Google Form Link - https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScnktkOGUtQLj5MXty-tGob79lre8ouIdiHvcxZe-BLtGHzYA/viewform?usp=sharing]
For any inquiries, please contact bia@hkia.org.hk.
This initiative is a pivotal step towards ensuring the safety and integrity of aging buildings in Hong Kong, and your expertise and participation are highly valued.