The condition of a roof is a key factor in the performance of any building. However, along with other ‘hard to reach’ parts of a building, roofs often get neglected until they start to cause problems. Due to the inherent difficulties in safely inspecting most roofs, identifying potential issues before they become a problem can be tricky.
The lack of safe access on most roofs typically leaves them tagged out of any advice in terms of their condition, risks and wider implications. As chartered building surveyors, it is difficult to provide clients with a complete assessment of a building without a roof inspection. However, technology provides chartered building surveyors with options not previously available to inspect these hard to reach places. So what are the advantages or disadvantages of using Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), commonly referred to as ‘drones’?
Working at height introduces a number of risks that need to be carefully managed. Where there is no fixed access available on site, there are a number of options available to access high areas. Mobile Elevated Work Platforms (MEWPs), such as scissor lifts and knuckle booms, can provide access for inspection on most low to medium-rise buildings. For single-storey buildings, ladder access may be appropriate if the associated safety risks can be adequately managed. For high-rise buildings, rope access and other specialist safety systems are typically required.
Although there are benefits to all of these approaches, there are often times when they are not appropriate or viable, be that for practical or cost reasons. Where this is the case, an Aerial Survey can provide a quick and cost-effective solution. Axiom have been using drones for the last three years to carry out roof and façade surveys. Drones allow us to quickly confirm the construction and condition of high-level areas of a building, as well as identifying key areas of concern, poor detailing, or isolated failures, that require further attention.
Typically an Aerial Survey is most useful in support of a full building survey or condition report, but it can also provide a good starting point to inform further investigations, or before contractors are instructed to undertake works. The quality of the images taken by modern drones is quite incredible, and, when operated by a chartered building surveyor that knows the key areas to inspect, they offer a very useful tool in a wide range of situations.
That said, drones do have some limitations and they are not always a complete, or the most appropriate solution. For example, they cannot be used in bad weather, high winds or in close proximity of airports. Where there is a known issue, it is unlikely that a drone will provide any further information, and a close up physical inspection may be required. For this reason, we’re also height and harness trained, and can work with fall arrest and rope access systems.
For most situations however, a drone will be the quickest and most cost-effective way of getting expert eyes to those hard to reach places, and ensure you get full advice on the condition of the whole building.
If you have any questions about aerial surveying, mapping, or videography, particularly in relation to property or construction, please get in touch or check out our Facade and Roof Inspection services.
