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Facade inspection checklist

A drop-by-drop field checklist for facade engineers, architects and their inspectors working under NYC's Facade Inspection Safety Program (FISP, Local Law 11) or a similar city ordinance. It follows 1 RCNY §103-04: prior report review, walk-around, close-up drops, appurtenances and classification.

What is a facade inspection checklist?

A facade inspection checklist is a field form for a periodic critical examination of a building's exterior walls and appurtenances. Under NYC's Facade Inspection Safety Program (Local Law 11), a qualified inspector checks masonry, lintels, sealants, parapets, balconies, railings and attachments, and classifies each condition as Safe, SWARMP (safe with a repair and maintenance program) or Unsafe.

When to inspect

In New York City, buildings taller than six stories need a FISP critical examination and report every five years (NYC Administrative Code §28-302, 1 RCNY §103-04). Cycle 10 filing windows run from February 2025 to February 2029, staggered by block number. Chicago, Boston and other cities set their own height thresholds and intervals.

The checklist

Every row is one observable check. Mark one answer per row and write what you saw or measured; the PDF adds a findings table and sign-off.

Header

Building address
BIN / block and lot
Stories and height
Elevation (street, orientation)
Drop / location ID
Access method (scaffold, swing stage, rope, lift)
QEWI
Inspector
Date
Weather

Before the inspection

Review the previous cycle so every earlier SWARMP and Unsafe condition is checked again.

Check	Yes	No	N/A	Notes / value
Previous cycle report and amended reports reviewed
Open SWARMP conditions from the last report listed by location
Open Unsafe conditions and existing sidewalk sheds listed
Repairs since the last report documented (permits, contractor reports)
Elevations fronting a public right-of-way identified
Minimum number of close-up drops set: one per 60 ft of elevation length
Drop locations chosen at the most deleterious conditions
Cavity wall probe locations chosen in areas not previously renovated (odd-numbered cycles)
Terra cotta and stone units flagged for sounding

Walk-around and overall elevations

From grade and from the roof, with binoculars. A drive-by is not an acceptable examination.

Check	Safe	SWARMP	Unsafe	N/A	Notes / value
Each elevation photographed in full, including setbacks and returns
Wall surface: no visible bulging, displacement or out-of-plane movement
No missing units, open voids or loose pieces visible
No large cracks running through floors or around corners
No rust staining below lintels or shelf angles
No efflorescence or water staining indicating water entry
Parapets and cornices appear plumb and intact from grade

Close-up drop: masonry, concrete and cladding

Hands-on from scaffold or platform, grade to roof. Record floor level and bay for every condition.

Check	Safe	SWARMP	Unsafe	N/A	Notes / value
Brick: cracked or displaced units
Brick: spalled faces
Mortar joints: open, eroded or missing mortar
Stone units: cracks, spalls or loose pieces
Terra cotta: glaze crazing or loss
Terra cotta and stone: hollow or loose on sounding
Concrete: spalls, delamination or exposed reinforcement
Metal or panel cladding: loose, displaced or corroded anchors
Previous repairs and patches: sound and bonded
Expansion and control joints present and functioning

Close-up drop: lintels, shelf angles and cavity walls

Check	Safe	SWARMP	Unsafe	N/A	Notes / value
Steel lintels: corrosion and section loss
Masonry cracked or displaced by lintel corrosion (rust jacking)
Shelf (relieving) angles: corrosion and movement
Horizontal joint under shelf angles open and sealed
Cavity wall probe made at this drop
Wall tie type recorded at the probe
Wall tie spacing recorded at the probe
Wall ties free of corrosion and engaged in both wythes
Probe closed and restored after inspection

Windows, doors and sealants

Check	Safe	SWARMP	Unsafe	N/A	Notes / value
Window frames secure in the opening
Glazing and lites intact and retained
Window hardware secure
Sealant at window perimeters intact and bonded
Sealant at panel and expansion joints intact and bonded
Window air conditioners supported by brackets and secure
Window guards secure

Parapets, copings and roof edge

Inspect from the roof side as well as the drop.

Check	Safe	SWARMP	Unsafe	N/A	Notes / value
Parapet plumb and stable; no leaning or rocking
Parapet masonry: cracks and open joints
Copings secure, with joints sealed
Cornices and decorative projections secure
Roof ladders and bulkhead attachments secure

Balconies, railings and fire escapes

Any guard or railing that is not positively secured is classified Unsafe under 1 RCNY §103-04.

Check	Safe	SWARMP	Unsafe	N/A	Notes / value
Balcony slabs: cracks, spalls or exposed reinforcement
Balcony slab edges and soffits sound
Railings and guards positively secured against movement
Balusters, intermediate rails and panel fillers secured (welds, bolts or screws)
Railing anchorages free of corrosion and spalling at the base
Balcony and terrace enclosures, greenhouses or solariums secure
Fire escape platforms, ladders and stairs: corrosion and section loss
Fire escape attachments to the wall secure

Appurtenances

The report must list every exterior appurtenance and its condition.

Check	Safe	SWARMP	Unsafe	N/A	Notes / value
Signs and sign supports
Flagpoles and their anchors
Satellite dishes and antennae
Cell equipment and its supports
Flower boxes and planters
Exterior light fixtures and conduits
Other equipment attached to or protruding from the facade

Classification and public protection

Complete before leaving the site.

Check	Yes	No	N/A	Notes / value
Each condition classified Safe, SWARMP or Unsafe
Previous SWARMP conditions not corrected now classified Unsafe
Every condition keyed to a photo, elevation and locator drawing
Dated photos taken of the inspector performing each close-up drop
Unsafe conditions reported to the QEWI for immediate DOB and owner notification
Public protection recommended for Unsafe conditions (type and location)
Probable cause noted for each Unsafe and SWARMP condition

FISP condition classification

Rate the asset by its worst defect, best to worst.

Safe: Needs no repair or maintenance to keep the exterior sound, and will not become unsafe in the next five years.
SWARMP: Safe today, but needs repair or maintenance within one to five years to keep it from becoming unsafe. If not corrected by the next cycle, it must be reported as Unsafe.
Unsafe: Hazardous to people or property. The QEWI notifies DOB and the owner immediately and recommends public protection, such as a sidewalk shed.

Photos to take

Each full elevation, square on, with the drop locations visible
Close-up overview at each floor of each drop
The inspector performing each close-up drop, dated
Each cavity wall probe, open, with ties and spacing visible
Every appurtenance, one photo each
Close-up of every SWARMP and Unsafe condition, with a scale reference
Previous-cycle conditions in their current state, from the same angle
Existing sidewalk sheds and public protection

Field tips

Label photos in the field with elevation, drop, floor and bay. The report must key every condition to a photo, and matching them later is where the hours go.
Re-shoot every condition from the last report from the same angle. Uncorrected SWARMP items become Unsafe, and the photo pair proves it either way.
Push on every railing and baluster. Visual inspection does not tell you a railing is positively secured; movement does.
Sound terra cotta and stone with a hammer. A unit can look sound and be hollow behind the glaze.
Drones and high-resolution photos help plan drops but do not replace close-up examinations under 1 RCNY §103-04.
Note why you chose each drop location. Reviewers check that drops sit at the most deleterious conditions.

Standards and sources

Checked against these sources on 2026-10-12. Your agency's own manual takes precedence.

1 RCNY §103-04, Periodic Inspection of Exterior Walls and Appurtenances of Buildings (FISP rule)
NYC DOB Facade and Local Law 11 program page
NYC DOB FISP filing instructions (DOB NOW: Safety, TR6)
NYC DOB FISP Cycle 10 service notice
NYC DOB Buildings Bulletin 2021-012 (AI software may supplement, not replace, the QEWI)
NYC Administrative Code §28-302, exterior wall maintenance

Questions

What is FISP or Local Law 11?

The Facade Inspection Safety Program (FISP), often still called Local Law 11, requires owners of New York City buildings taller than six stories to have the exterior walls and appurtenances examined every five years. A Qualified Exterior Wall Inspector (QEWI) performs the critical examination and files a technical report with the Department of Buildings.

What does SWARMP mean?

SWARMP stands for Safe With a Repair and Maintenance Program. The condition is safe at the time of inspection but needs repair or maintenance within one to five years to keep it from becoming unsafe. A condition cannot be reported as SWARMP in two consecutive cycles: if it is not corrected, it is reported as Unsafe.

How many close-up drops does a FISP inspection need?

1 RCNY §103-04 requires close-up physical examinations at intervals of no more than 60 feet along each elevation that fronts a public right-of-way: one drop under 60 feet of length, two from 60 to under 120 feet, and one more for every additional 60 feet. Each runs from grade to the top of the wall, including setbacks.

Who can perform a facade inspection in NYC?

The QEWI, a New York State licensed professional engineer or registered architect qualified by DOB, conducts the examination and signs the report. Selected tasks can be delegated to qualified staff working under the QEWI's direct supervision, as defined in the rule.

Can drones replace a close-up facade inspection?

No. The FISP rule states that drones, high-resolution photography and nondestructive testing do not eliminate the requirement for close-up inspections. They are useful for planning drops and documenting overall elevations.

What happens when a condition is Unsafe?

The QEWI must notify DOB and the owner immediately, identify the location and recommend the type and location of public protection, such as a sidewalk shed. The owner must make the condition safe, and an amended report is filed once the repairs are complete.

Do this inspection on your phone: AI drafts it, you approve

Inspectial turns the photos, voice notes and GPS from this checklist into a structured, map-ready inspection record. Every finding links to its photo, and nothing is official until you approve it.

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