ASTM E2841-19

4.1 This guide is intended to provide building professionals with a methodology for conducting periodic condition assessments of building facades, for the purpose of determining if conditions exist in the subject facades that represent hazards to persons or property. It addresses the performance expectations and service history of a facade, the various components of a facade, and the interaction between these components and adjacent construction to provide a stable and reliable enclosure system. This guide was written as a parallel document to Practice E2270 as well as potential uses in conducting facade inspections as required by authorities having jurisdiction. Practice E2270 is written in the imperative form as a Standard Practice and is designed for adoption by specifying authorities. This guide is intended as a dissemination of explicit knowledge gained from experience of conducting periodic facade inspections. Implicit in this guide are general facade inspection techniques that have been tailored for periodic inspections. These tips and techniques are shared to provide a comprehensive template from which a facade inspection program can be tailored.

4.2 This guide is not intended for use as listed below. In each instance, more appropriate standards or guides exist.

1.1 This guide is intended to establish procedures and methodologies for conducting inspections of building facades including those that meet inspection criteria for compliance with Practice E2270 as well as potential uses in conducting facade inspections as required by authorities having jurisdiction. For the purposes outlined in this guide, unsafe conditions are hazards which could result from loss of facade materials.

1.2 Investigative techniques discussed may be intrusive, disruptive or destructive. It is the responsibility of the investigator to establish the limitations of use, to anticipate and advise of the destructive nature of some procedures, and to plan for patching and selective reconstruction as necessary.

1.3 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard.

1.4 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, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use. Awareness of safety and familiarity with safe procedures are particularly important for aboveground operations on the exterior of a building and destructive investigative procedures that typically are associated with the work described in this standard.

1.5 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.