A newly published ASTM International guide provides standard notation, syntax and symbols for facade inspections. A second proposed guide seeks to standardize how drones are used for facade inspections.

The first standard (E3036, Guide for Notating Façade Conditions in the Field) will provide engineers and architects a common way to use and understand symbols, according to ASTM member Michael Petermann, a principal at Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates.

“This standard will be particularly useful to building owners who maintain a database on the conditions of their facade,” says Petermann. “As periodic inspections occur, they can perform side-by-side comparisons of databases and drawings to confirm if conditions have worsened. With the standard, they won’t waste time translating between notation systems of different firms.”

A second standard, also from ASTM’s task group on facade inspections, is being developed. It is titled “Guide for Visual Inspection of Building Facades Using Drones” (WK52572). The task group looks to address the growing need for camera-equipped drones to document facade conditions through video and still photography.

“This proposed standard will improve the quality of inspections by allowing drones with high-quality cameras to provide close-up views of parts of facades that can’t otherwise be seen,” says Petermann.

The proposed standard will likely include general guidance for safety, a protocol for video-scanning facades, storage of scan results for future use, etc.

In the U.S., nine cities require periodic facade inspections to uncover unsafe conditions and prevent collapse in about 18,000 buildings, according to ASTM.