Quick answer. The first thing is that nobody walks underneath: move people away and cordon off the area. If anyone is injured or more could fall at any moment, call 112. Then tell the property manager or the president, take photos, report the incident to the community's insurer and ask for the facade to be inspected and anything loose to be removed.
Would you like us to take a look? Send us photos and we’ll give you a no-obligation quote.
1. Safety first
- Move people away and do not pick up pieces directly below the damaged area.
- Cordon off the pavement with tape, barriers or something clearly visible. If the fall affects the public highway, the local police can help close it.
- Tell the neighbours not to go out onto the affected balconies.
- If anyone is injured, there is immediate danger or material keeps falling, call 112: the fire brigade can step in to remove anything about to fall.
2. Notify the right people
The facade is a common element, so its upkeep is the responsibility of the residents' community. Tell the property manager or the president, as they are the ones who must arrange the repair and notify the insurer.
3. Document what happened
- Photos of the fallen pieces, of where they came from and of any damage they caused: cars, awnings, furniture.
- Approximate date and time.
- If the fire brigade or police attended, the date and, if they give it to you, the incident number.
4. Report the incident to the insurer
Many community insurance policies include third-party liability cover. What they cover of the repair itself depends on each policy, so it is best to report it as soon as possible and keep the photos and invoices.
5. Urgent making safe
Before the final repair, everything loose around the fallen area has to be removed. With rope access this can be done quickly and without scaffolding: the surface is tapped to find hollow areas, which are removed in a controlled way. See making safe loose facade material.
Then the rest of the facade is inspected. If one piece has fallen, there are often more areas in the same condition, especially on cornices and balcony fronts. We explain it in cornice with falling pieces.
6. Final repair
The repair depends on the cause: concrete with rusted reinforcement, poorly bonded render, water getting in through the top of the cornice… A good repair treats the cause, not just the hole. For damaged concrete, see R4 mortar for concrete repair.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Sweeping up the pieces and forgetting about it.
- Filling the hole with mortar without removing loose material around it.
- Delaying the report to the insurer.
- A neighbour trying to remove loose pieces without safety equipment.
Common questions
Who pays for damage to a car or a pedestrian?
Usually the community, as owner of the facade, through its third-party liability insurance if it has one. Each case depends on the policy and the circumstances.
Do we have to wait for the owners' meeting to make it safe?
Not for urgent work. Removing what could fall is a safety measure that the property manager or the president can order. The full repair is normally approved at the owners' meeting.
How long does urgent making safe take?
It depends on the size of the area and the access. A specific area of cornice or balcony can be made safe in a day; if the whole facade is affected, the work is planned in phases.
Has something fallen from your facade?
Call us or send us photos and we will tell you how to make the area safe.
Or write to us at info@buildararat.com
This guide is for guidance only and does not replace an inspection of the property or reports by qualified technicians.