Chicago Building Inspections

Basic Brothers Inc., has the extensive capability, equipment, manpower, and expertise to comply with the City of Chicago facade ordinance.

Buildings That Require Inspection

Chicago’s facade ordinance is applicable to building enclosures and exterior walls that are eighty (80) feet or more in height.The ordinance term “exterior walls and enclosures” refers to the exterior envelope of a building or structure, or any part thereof. With regard to “appurtenances,” including balconies, fire escapes, chimneys, hanging air-conditioners, marquees, at-grade canopies, signs, flagpoles, fire escapes, and window washing and exterior maintenance systems, the Rules limit the scope of the inspection to a visual examination of the surface of the exterior wall where appurtenances are in contact with the wall, and their impact, if any, on the integrity of the exterior wall.

Building Classification

Buildings are classified into four categories based on the exterior wall attachment system and the corrosion potential of any metal that is in direct contact with the exterior wall materials. Inspection intervals and the extent of the inspection effort are dependent on the building classification.

Critical Examination

Critical examinations, which require hands-on inspection on one 24 foot long scaffolding per elevation, are required at four, eight, or twelve years depending on the building classification. Critical examinations also require one inspection opening per elevation on buildings fifty (50) years or older for cladding that consists of masonry, stone or terra cotta that is affixed to the building structure with concealed corrodible or corrosion-resistant metal fasteners.

Ongoing Inspection

In addition to the critical examinations, building owners are required to submit an ongoing inspection and repair program report to the city at the halfway point of the critical examination cycle. Hands-on inspections of the facade are not required for the ongoing inspection.

Under the March 1, 2016 Rules and Regulations, owners may choose to file Ongoing Inspection and Repair Program (“Short Form”) reports every second year and not file Critical Examination Program reports at category mandated frequencies, regardless of building category, provided that none of the following criteria apply:

– The building is vacant or subject to registration as required by Section 13-12-125 or 13-12-126 of the Code

– The building is the subject of an active case in the Chicago Department of Administrative Hearings or an outstanding order of compliance by the Chicago Department of Administrative Hearings for a violation of sections 13-196-033 through 13-196-038 of the Code; or is the subject of an active case by the City in the Circuit of Cook County or an outstanding order of compliance or consent decree by the Circuit Court of Cook County for violations of the Code

– The building has been classified as “unsafe and imminently hazardous” in the most recently filed report

– The owner of the building is more than one (1) year delinquent in filing an Ongoing Inspection and Repair Report “Short Forms”

The “Short Form” Program was originally introduced in 2009. Owners of a building that meets any of the above criteria are ineligible to file an Ongoing Inspection and Repair Report “Short Form” and shall be required to file a Critical Examination Report.