Repsol YPF

The lack of preservation of buildings’ external elements is a major cause of concern with regards to the real or potential damage to the building’s safety. For this reason, building regulations and local conservation ordinances are strict in safety matters. The threat of demolition can sometimes guarantee the preservation of a building. But buildings and building sites should comply with other regulations so that they don’t deteriorate so much.   

The owners are responsible
Reference to building security measures is made in the Civil Code, autonomous legislation, Law of Civil Procedure, Leasing Act, Horizontal Property Act, and in plenty of regulations regarding housing and restoration, as well as urban regularisation and protection of historical and cultural heritage laws…   

In compliance with regulations, the owners, who often are residents’ associations, must assume the necessary building repairs to ensure that external elements are well maintained. Buildings whose safety cannot be periodically certified – the frequency varies from one city council to another- face fines, increasing with the amount of neglect.    

Weight, water, wind…
Walls nowadays are very safe. However, as old as a building might be, thorough repairs can bring back splendour and safety to a building. 

The façades’ materials must be well secured to avoid loosening. The façade, whether it is modern or old, must be water and wind proof. On the other hand, façades must bear the weight of their own materials and also withstand bad weather conditions, such as wind or snow. Windows, panels and glass are all part of the building structure. All elements must be thoroughly checked due mainly to their constant exposure to the wind, horizontally, which is spread along its length, and their own weight, vertically, including glass and panels.

Buildings' external elements shouldn't be finished with materials that aren't prone to deformity. Apart from guaranteeing staying in place, the façade must be able to withstand possible break-ins, particularly in areas where the building is easily accessible from the street or other buildings nearby. The most common solutions involve increasing glass security as well as installing electronic alarm devices. 

The recently approved Technical Building Code (Código Técnico de Edificación or CTE) introduces new practices regarding fire safety. As regards fire spreading from one building to another, it establishes, among other things, a minimum distance between façades and dividing walls, in order to reduce the risk of fire spreading horizontally, whether the buildings are adjoined or part of the same structure. At the same time, the Technical Building Code ensures roofs stop fire spreading to adjoining buildings.