Building inspection

About: Building inspection is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 148 publications have been published within this topic receiving 1145 citations.

Using simulation to build inspection efficiency benchmarks for development projects

Abstract: It is difficult for organizations introducing and using software inspections to evaluate how efficient they are. However, it is of practical importance to determine whether they have been efficiently implemented or whether further corrective actions are necessary to bring them up to standard. We present in this paper a procedure for building inspection efficiency benchmarks based on simulation and typical inspection data. Based on most of the data published in the literature, we build an industry-wide benchmark which intends to capture the current practice regarding inspection efficiency. This benchmark construction procedure can also be used to build enterprise specific benchmarks. Last, we assess how robust we can expect them to be by distorting their input distributions to reflect violations of the assumptions made.

Building defects, warranties and project financing from pre‐completion marketing

Abstract: Postulates that project financing from pre‐completion marketing accentuates the tendency for the property developer to shirk from exercising the optimal level of care and effort, and leads to a higher incidence of building defects. Evaluates the disincentive effects of pre‐completion marketing against the mitigatory effects of providing defect warranty by way of a simple model of effort aversion. Derives the condition under which defect warranty can eliminate pre‐selling disincentive effects. Concludes that three policy implications follow from this model. The problem of building defects can be alleviated by imposing a longer defect warranty period; tightening building inspection standards; and limiting the extent to which developers can sell their property development prior to completion.

Determinants of the Safety Performance of Private Multi-storey Residential Buildings in Hong Kong

Abstract: Given the high population and development density in Hong Kong, building failures can result in catastrophic consequences. It is thus worthwhile identifying those dilapidated buildings, and this explains why the Hong Kong government has considered launching a mandatory building inspection scheme in the city. Apart from the measurement of building safeness, however, it is equally important to explore the major determinants of the safety performance of buildings. Such information can help the government and other related organizations to rationalize their subsidies offered for building improvement and to make more informed strategies of urban regeneration in Hong Kong. To this end, the safety performance of 429 private multi-storey residential buildings was measured in this study using the Building Safety and Conditions Index developed by The University of Hong Kong. It was then followed by an explanatory analysis which found that older buildings were less safe than large, modern buildings. More importantly, the co-existence of a property management agent and a statutory owners’ association delivered the best building safety performance, and in this respect was the optimum building management regime for private multi-storey buildings in Hong Kong. These findings pose significant policy implications for building safety and urban regeneration in Hong Kong.