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Periodic Facade Inspection (PFI) in Singapore
Received a BCA notice for your building? We run your Periodic Facade Inspection end to end: we bring in the Competent Person, survey every elevation by drone instead of gondolas or scaffolding, map the defects and support the report through to BCA. For building owners, MCSTs and managing agents across Singapore.
Request a quoteIs your building due for PFI?
Under Singapore’s Periodic Facade Inspection regime, in force since 1 January 2022, the building owner must appoint a Competent Person, a Professional Engineer or Registered Architect certified in facade inspection, to inspect the facade every 7 years and have any defects found repaired. The Competent Person must be appointed within 2 months of BCA’s notice. Landed houses and temporary buildings are exempt.
Taller than
13 m
Older than
20 years
Inspected every
7 years
Source: Building and Construction Authority, Periodic Facade Inspection regime. When is your PFI due? Read the guide →
What we handle for your PFI
One team from the BCA notice to the accepted report. Each step names who is responsible, because the law puts some of them on the Competent Person, not on us.
01
Notice and scoping
We review your BCA notice, the building and the airspace, and send a fixed scope and quote.
Who: Pitch Perfect
02
Competent Person
A Professional Engineer certified in facade inspection, from our partner network, is appointed by you within BCA’s 2-month window.
Who: Partner engineer
03
Approvals and notice
BCA approval for the drone survey, a CAAS activity permit for the flight, and a resident notice issued at least 3 days ahead.
Who: Engineer + Pitch Perfect
04
100% visual survey by drone
Every elevation captured at a fixed standoff, with the engineer or inspector on site. Defects mapped against an elevation grid.
Who: Pitch Perfect
05
Close-range checks
At least 10% of each elevation inspected within arm’s reach, targeted using the drone record, with rope-access or gondola partners.
Who: Engineer + access partner
06
Report and repairs
The Competent Person submits the report to BCA. We refer repair contractors and can re-fly to document completed repairs.
Who: Engineer, supported by us
New to the rules? Read When is your PFI due? for deadlines, penalties and what the inspection involves.
How the project runs
6 stages from first site visit to endorsed report, with responsibility named at each step.
Full process →The right aircraft for the job
DJI Matrice 4E for facade capture, survey and mapping. Wide, tele and 3D capture on one gimbal, flown at a fixed standoff for a consistent ground sample distance across every elevation.
Safety and permits
Licensed pilots, safety officer on site, activity permits cleared before mobilisation.
Safety approach →PFI questions
Start straight away. The owner must appoint a Competent Person within 2 months of the date on the notice, and the drone flight needs BCA approval and a CAAS permit, which take 1–4 weeks depending on location. Send us the notice and the building address and we will scope the job, line up the Competent Person and plan the approvals.
A Professional Engineer (civil or structural) or Registered Architect who has passed BCA’s Certificate in Façade Inspection. We bring in a Professional Engineer from our partner network for this role, so you deal with one team. The Competent Person is appointed by the building owner, must have no interest in the building, and signs and submits the inspection report to BCA.
Yes, for the 100% visual inspection, with BCA approval obtained by the Competent Person beforehand. It does not replace the close-range inspection of at least 10% of each elevation that BCA requires; the drone record shows the engineer where those checks are best spent.
Half a day to a day of flying, then 3–5 working days to process and map defects and a further 3–5 working days for engineering review and endorsement. Allow 1–4 weeks before that for permits.
Every defect is located against the elevation grid, classified and entered into a register. The Competent Person reviews the register, decides which items need close-range verification, and the report states what must be rectified and in what order. Anything unsafe is made safe and reported to BCA immediately. We can refer rope-access and repair contractors from our network.
Often yes, with clearance, and it adds lead time. Sites inside restricted or aerodrome airspace need additional approval on top of the standard activity permit. Activity permits take 1–4 weeks depending on location, and these sites sit at the longer end because other government agencies must also approve. We tell you at enquiry if a site is unlikely to be cleared.
Yes, at least 3 days before the flight. We draft the resident notice for management to issue: dates, flight window, what will be photographed and what will not, and a contact for questions. Capture is limited to the building envelope.