Defect documentation and elevation mapping for the CP's report.
A photographic record is only useful if defects are located, classified and prioritised consistently. We produce field-data sets, photo records and defect maps that drop cleanly into the appointed Competent Person's Periodic Façade Inspection (PFI) report — or stand alone as a façade condition-check record outside the statutory regime.
The role of structured documentation
Under Singapore's PFI regulations, a façade inspection report must contain a detailed description of the visual and close-range inspection (and any approved full façade investigation), analyses of observations and tests, and the appointed Competent Person's recommended rectification works. The CP signs and certifies the report.
Our role is to make that report easy to write. We deliver field data — photographs, drop logs, defect schedules and elevation drawings — in a layout that maps directly onto the report sections the CP will produce.
Anatomy of a façade inspection report
A typical PFI report (consistent with the standard structure used in Singapore) is organised in the following sections. Our deliverables are structured against this layout so that the CP can assemble the final report quickly.
Façade system of the building
General building information, overview of building elevations and a description of the façade system (cladding type, sealant configuration, glazing, fixings).
100% visual inspection
Summary of the visual sweep, inspection methodology, key findings by elevation and overall condition observation.
Minimum 10% close-range inspection
Diary and scope of close-range work per elevation, key findings, and access methodology used (rope access, gondola, boom lift).
Assessment & defect statistics
Defect tabulation by type, location and severity; percentages across the elevation and the building.
Repair recommendations & follow-up
Prioritised rectification recommendations, suggested follow-up cycles and any monitoring scope.
Conclusion
CP's overall assessment of façade condition and the recommended next step.
Annex A — 100% visual inspection
Location plan, defect distribution plans, full defect record by elevation.
Annex B — 10% close-range inspection
Detailed drop/trail records, scale-referenced defect photographs and test notes.
Annex C — Approved plans & drawings
Records of relevant approved plans and shop drawings, where available.
Annex D — Declaration by CP
Standard certification by the Competent Person, signed and stamped.
What we deliver into that report
- Elevation drawings with defect pins, gridded to building reference lines (e.g. E1–E4 per elevation).
- Photo register, time-stamped and indexed by elevation, zone and defect type. Where photographs are UAS-captured, GPS metadata is preserved.
- Defect schedule in tabular form — defect ID, location reference, type, extent, severity tag and observation notes — sortable by severity or location.
- Drop/trail logs for the close-range coverage, recording where each vertical drop or horizontal trail was carried out.
- Suggested action category per defect: monitor, plan, repair now — as a field-level input that the CP can adjust against the CP's own classification.
- Access record and crew sign-off in an annex, with PTW references and method-statement IDs.
Severity categories — field tagging
We field-tag defects on a four-category scale so they can be compared across elevations and inspection cycles. The categorisation in the final report is the CP's call — our tags are a field-level starting point.
Critical
Risk of imminent debris fall or component detachment. Immediate make-safe and engineer review.
Significant
Active deterioration likely to progress within months. Scheduled remediation needed.
Moderate
Visible defect with no immediate safety implication. Include in next maintenance cycle.
Cosmetic
Aesthetic only. Record and monitor; address opportunistically.
These categories are our internal field classification. The classification used in the certified PFI report is set by the appointed Competent Person.
Photo standards we work to
- Three scales captured for each elevation: overall (elevation shot), mid-range (zone shot), close-up (defect with scale reference).
- Consistent angle and distance on close-up shots, so that the same defect can be re-photographed at the next cycle and compared.
- Scale reference in frame (ruler, marked tape or coin) for measurable defects.
- File-naming convention indexed by elevation, zone, defect type and date — e.g.
E2_Z14_HOLLOW-TILE_20260512.jpg. - Native files retained alongside any annotated or report-cropped versions.
Reusability between cycles
Where the building's previous PFI report and photo archive are available, we map our new survey against the existing elevation grid and defect IDs. This is what makes a façade inspection a cycle rather than a series of disconnected snapshots — new defects, worsened defects, and rectified defects all become traceable across cycles.