ASTM E2270-05

Standard Practice for Periodic Inspection of Building Facades for Unsafe Conditions

SCOPE
1.1 This standard practice describes methods and procedures for inspection, evaluation and reporting for periodic inspection of building facades for unsafe conditions. In the context of this standard, unsafe conditions are hazards caused by or resulting from loss of facade material.
1.2 This standard practice does not purport to address the nature of deterioration of various building facade materials nor the performance of their assemblies. It is the responsibility of the Specifying Authority requiring the facade inspection to retain a Qualified Professional who can demonstrate expertise in the evaluation of various facade materials and their assemblies.
1.3 Investigative techniques discussed may be intrusive, disruptive, or destructive. It is the responsibility of the Qualified Professional to anticipate, and advise on the nature of procedures, and to plan for implementing repair as necessary.
1.4 It is the responsibility of the Specifying Authority to establish the usage of this standard practice and to supplement this standard with additional requirements suitable to its local jurisdiction. It is also the responsibility of the Specifying Authority to determine compliance with local licensing regulations and customary practices.
1.5 This standard may involve hazardous materials, operations, and equipment. This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use. Awareness of safety and familiarity with safe procedures are particularly important for above-ground operations on facades and destructive investigative procedures, which typically are associated with the work described.

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 28-Feb-2005
• ICS: 91.060.10 - Walls. Partitions. Facades
• Technical Committee: E06 - Performance of Buildings
• Drafting Committee: E06.55 - Performance of Building Enclosures

Relations

• Replaces: ASTM E2270-03 - Standard Practice for Periodic Inspection of Building Facades for Unsafe Conditions
• Effective Date: 01-Mar-2005
• Replaced By: ASTM E2270-13 - Standard Practice for Periodic Inspection of Building Facades for Unsafe Conditions
• Effective Date: 01-Nov-2013
• Referred By: ASTM D7338-14(2023) - Standard Guide for Assessment Of Fungal Growth in Buildings
• Effective Date: 01-Mar-2005
• Referred By: ASTM E2841-19 - Standard Guide for Conducting Inspections of Building Facades for Unsafe Conditions
• Effective Date: 01-Mar-2005

Standards Content (Sample)

NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information
Designation: E2270 − 05
StandardPractice for
Periodic Inspection of Building Facades for Unsafe
1
Conditions
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E2270; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope 2. Referenced Documents
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
1.1 This standard practice describes methods and proce-
E631 Terminology of Building Constructions
dures for inspection, evaluation, and reporting for periodic
inspection of building facades for unsafe conditions. In the
3. Terminology
context of this standard, unsafe conditions are hazards caused
by or resulting from loss of facade material. 3.1 Refer to Terminology E631.
3.2 Definitions:
1.2 This standard practice does not purport to address the
3.2.1 facade—all areas on the exterior of the building,
nature of deterioration of various building facade materials nor
except for horizontal roof areas. The facade includes all
the performance of their assemblies. It is the responsibility of
exterior walls, windows, balconies, cornices, parapets, and
the owner to retain a qualified professional who can demon-
appurtenances. The facade also includes walls supported at
strate expertise in the evaluation of various facade materials
roof level, such as penthouse walls, chimneys, and so forth.
and their assemblies.
3.2.2 public access area—any sidewalk, street, alley, park,
1.3 Investigative techniques discussed may be intrusive,
plaza, playground, schoolyard or other area that is open and
disruptive,ordestructive.Itistheresponsibilityofthequalified
accessible to the public, regardless of whether it is publicly or
professional to anticipate, advise on the nature of procedures,
privately owned.
and to plan for implementing repair as necessary.
3.2.3 qualified professional—an architect or civil/structural
engineer duly licensed. The qualified professional must be
1.4 It is the responsibility of the specifying authority to
knowledgeable of the design, construction, and inspection of
establish the usage of this standard practice and to supplement
building facades, stability, and deterioration mechanisms relat-
this standard with additional requirements suitable to its local
ing to the specific materials and assemblies particular to the
jurisdiction. It is also the responsibility of the specifying
facade being inspected.
authority to determine compliance with local licensing regula-
tions and customary practices. 3.2.4 qualified inspector—a qualified professional or a per-
son working under the direct supervision of a qualified
1.5 This standard may involve hazardous materials,
professional.
operations, and equipment. This standard does not purport to
3.2.5 maintenance personnel—personnel who have been
address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its
involved in maintenance of the subject building facades.
use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to
3.2.6 owner—the owner, agent, manager, or person in
establish appropriate safety and health practices and deter-
charge, of possession, operation, or management of the
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
building, or any combination thereof.
Awareness of safety and familiarity with safe procedures are
particularly important for above-ground operations on facades 3.2.7 specifying authority—party requiring inspection of a
and destructive investigative procedures, which typically are building facade.
associated with the work described.
NOTE 1—The specifiying authority may be a governmental body.
3.2.8 levels of facade inspections:
1
This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E06 on Perfor-
mance of Buildings and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E06.55 on
2
Exterior Building Wall Systems. For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
Current edition approved March 1, 2005. Published March 2005. Originally contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
approved in 2003. Last previous edition approved in 2003 as E2270 – 03. DOI: Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
10.1520/E2270-05. the ASTM website.
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E2270 − 05
3.2.8.1 general inspection—visual observation of facade 4.2 Need for Periodic Facade Inspections—Duetoage,lack
components from distances equal to or greater than 6 ft (1.8 m) ofmaintenance,designorconstructionerrors,oracombination
with or without magnification
...