Building inspections
Housing schemes that have received confirmation of public subsidisation before April 4th 1997 were inspected once five years after the construction was completed. The last of this type of building inspection was carried out in 2003, and approximately 7.000 housing schemes, comprising some 130.000 dwellings in all, have received the year-five inspections only.
Housing schemes which have received confirmation of public subsidisation after April 3rd 1997 are given two building inspections: the first is after one year, and is a "Deficiency inspection", while the second is a building inspection with the purpose of checking - firstly, whether the deficiencies registered at the year-one inspection have been eliminated and - secondly an overall inspection of possible development of damages, carried out after five years. By January 2011, 3.500 buildings, comprising 75.000 dwellings, have received the year-one inspection and 2.500 buildings, comprising 60.000 dwellings have also received a few year-five inspection.
The building registrations evaluate the general condition of the buildings and eventual damages are registered. Major deficiencies have only been registered in 2% of the year-one inspections. On the other hand, major deficiencies have been found in 25% of the building inspections made after five years. These inspections have all been carried out on buildings that are more than 20 years old. Most of the damages are characterised by the fact that they are liable for coverage of expenses for repair if they are claimed to The Danish Building Defects Fund.
Approximately 60% of the major defects were related to the substructure. Since January 1st 2000 it has been a requirement that all calculations of static to be submitted to the local municipalities. As a consequence, constructive defects have only been registered in 3% of the newer buildings - and the defects were primarily related to the phase of execution of the erection of the buildings. Constructive requirements are fully described in norms, code of practices and standards. The introduction of such requirements show that it is both desirable and necessary that society makes firm demands on, and in this respect can control, the building sector. Repair of constructive deficiencies and damages in buildings covered by The Building Defects Fund have, since 1992, cost the Fund and the building industry some billion Danish kroner in current prices. This was the case until the effects of the quality assurance requirements and the dissemination of information eventually had an effect on solving the problem. Furthermore, the last problems concerning major constructive defects were practically removed by the introduction of requirements for public authorisation on static calculations.
Approximately 250 independent firms, consultants (architects and engineers) and other (i.e. contractors) carry out the building inspections through out the country. The same firms are involved in projects of planning, supervision and execution of publicly subsidised residential housing. In this way the experiences from the building inspections are incorporated in new schemes that the companies are involved in. In average, the year-one inspection cost about 60.000 DKK per estate (the equivalent of 1.800 DKK per dwelling, or 24 DKK per m2 - or 0,25% of the initial construction expenses). On top of this are the expenses for the year-five inspection and any follow-up inspections, which may be necessary, if major deficiencies or damages are registered. The total expenses for the inspections in themselves must not exceed 0,5% of the initial construction costs.