Overview of the development and implementation of the mandatory building inspection scheme (MBIS) in Hong Kong

Abstract

Purpose-The study aims to provide a concise overview of the problem of building decay in Hong Kong, the current government measures concerning dilapidated buildings, and the latest development and implementation of the Mandatory Building Inspection Scheme (MBIS). A comparison of various mandatory building inspection schemes from other jurisdictions of the world is also given. Design/methodology/approach-A desktop study of building inspection procedures, repair and maintenance policies was carried out, followed by an industry-wide opinion survey conducted by means of self-administered questionnaires. Target respondents are within the construction community of Hong Kong. The perceived benefits, potential difficulties and insightful recommendations or good practices are investigated. A comparison of the relative ranking of individual mean scores from various groups of respondents is presented in this paper. Findings-The execution of MBIS was found to be effective in enhancing public awareness of the importance of building upkeep and recognition of the property owner's legal responsibilities in this respect. Private property owners were made aware of the necessity to take holistic preventive measures to maintain the overall safety of their own buildings. A comparison of MBIS with other similar mandatory building inspection schemes across different cities, revealed similarities as regards the inspection cycle, scope of inspection and qualifications of inspectors. The main difference related to the age rather than the height of target buildings.

Building Inspection System for Evaluating the Technical Performance of Existing Buildings

“…Some legislation forces builders and/or owners to implement them. In Hong Kong, for instance, the mandatory building inspection scheme is designed to cover buildings aged 30 years old or above [11]. Once every ten years, it requires building owners to carry out inspection and repair works of the common parts of the buildings, such as the external walls, projections and signboards [11].…”

“…According to Chan et al [11], Singapore, New York and Chicago have had their own building inspection schemes implemented since the 1990s. In Singapore, the target buildings requiring inspection comprise non-residential buildings up to the age of five years and residential buildings up to the age of ten years old.…”

“…In Singapore, the target buildings requiring inspection comprise non-residential buildings up to the age of five years and residential buildings up to the age of ten years old. In contrast, no age limit is specified in both New York and Chicago [11].…”

A Comparative Review of the Statutory Periodic Building Inspection Implementation in the Klang Valley Region, Malaysia and Hong Kong, China

“…In Malaysia, the Fire and Rescue Department and the Department of Safety and Health are responsible for conducting regular inspections to ensure fire safety and mechanical equipment compliance in buildings. However, no structural inspection was required prior to the year 1994 and conducting voluntary structural investigations for multi-storey buildings is often impractical, as residents are primarily focused on routine maintenance tasks (Chan et al, 2014). In Malaysia, the importance of a building's structural integrity was highlighted consequent to the Highland Tower Condominium collapse in 1993, which prompted the government to introduce mandatory periodic building inspections for certain types of buildings across the country.…”

Evaluation of the factors influencing the housing safety awareness of residents in Shanghai

“…Yu [18] developed a model for managing social risks during the housing demolition stage of urban redevelopment projects and investigated the linkages between social risks and stakeholders. Compared with Hong Kong in the process of housing safety management, a series of studies based on the questionnaire and factor analysis method have been carried out on residents' behavior, such as the impact of collective behavior of residents on housing safety management [19][20][21], while fewer studies have been conducted in Mainland China.…”