A Checklist for Inspection of Buildings with Damages or Cracks or Distress

History of Building

Details of Building Design

1. Project Definition:

a. Construction Period:

b. Architect:

c. Owner:

d. End Users:

e. Contractor:

f. Construction Manager:

g. Site Engineer:

2. Drawings

a. Approval Drawings:

b. Architectural Drawings:

c. Structural Drawings:

d. If no drawing sketch of column positions and sizes:

3. Building Details:

a. Type of building – RC Framed, Steel, LBM, LBM with Madras Terrace

b. Type of foundation: Footings, Spread, Combined, Raft, Pile

c. No. of floors in building:

d. Type of building for each floor: Residential/Commercial/Industrial/Assembly

e. Any Floating columns/Eccentric footings/Concealed beams

f. Any well/sump near footings

g. Any Expansion, control, construction joints

4. Soil Investigation:

a. Soil test result enclosed: Yes/No

b. Soil Testing Consultant:

c. Soil test not conducted because:

Distress Audit

1. Structural Distress

a. Major structural cracks wider than 2mm

b. Narrow structural cracks

c. Pattern cracks

d. Noticeable deflections/sway

e. Vibrations or other alarm

f. Noticeable support settlements

g. Noticeable walls out of plumb

h. Floor heaving or cracking

i. Cracks on Compound walls


2. Non-Structural Distress

a. Cracks at joints of frame and infill walls

b. Cracks due to corrosion

c. Cracks related to construction

d. Plastering cracks on walls

e. Joinery sill/lintel cracks

f. Cracks on floors

g. Movements related to dimensional instability due to temperature, shrinkage, relaxation or creep

h. Cracks or movement of parapet walls

i. Cracks on weathering course


3. Maintenance Damages

a. Penetration dampness

b. Rising water dampness

c. Spalling finishes

d. Biological degradation – Rodents

e. Biological degradation – Insects

f. Biological degradation – Fungi/algae

g. Chemical/environmental degradation

h. Overall Maintenance condition


4. Terotechnical Diagnosis

a. Detrimental distress/damages requiring immediate repair or rehabilitation

b. Detrimental distress/damages requiring further investigation

c. Detrimental distress/damages requiring periodic observation

d. Non-detrimental distress requiring regular maintenance