Sustainable building maintenance for safer and healthier cities : effective strategies for implementing the Mandatory Building Inspection Scheme (MBIS) in Hong Kong

Abstract

The prevailing trend of building ageing and dilapidation in Hong Kong has instigated the promulgation of the Mandatory Building Inspection Scheme (MBIS) as a statutory measure in handling the long-lasting problems related to building decay which mostly occur in existing private buildings aged 30 years old or longer. This paper aims to highlight the present situation of building deterioration in Hong Kong, and to determine and explain the effective recommendations or good practices for executing MBIS through an empirical survey. Most of the respondents perceived that: (1) Establishing detailed guidelines and clear standards for building inspection and remedial works under MBIS; (2) Offering more technical and financial assistance from the government to property owners to aid the execution of MBIS; and (3) Enhancing the public awareness on MBIS through different media, are the three most effective recommendations or good practices for MBIS. Such findings have enabled building owners and various industrial practitioners to equip with better knowledge and deeper understanding about MBIS for optimizing the implementation procedures in future.