NEW TAIPEI (TVBS News) — In Taiwan, the exterior of aging residential buildings often lacks tiles, posing a risk to pedestrians. Recent years have seen numerous incidents of tiles falling, prompting many to install safety nets.
Achieving a unanimous vote for building renovations, often referred to as a "face-lift," proves challenging. "Through these renovation techniques, we can address the issue of falling tiles," said Chiu Ta-chang, Deputy Chairman of the New Taipei City Professional Civil Engineers Association. "However, the costs must be shared by all tenants, making it easier if a management committee is involved."
Statistics reveal that among Taiwan's special municipalities, Taipei City leads with 299 applications for renovation subsidies. Of these, 237 have been approved, and 222 completed. New Taipei City follows with 102 applications, 101 approvals, and 89 completions.
Consider a New Taipei residential building: with 36 households, the exterior repair costs NT$22 million, offset by a NT$9.4 million government subsidy. Each household would still owe NT$400,000.
Ho Chia-chun, an associate professor at the National Taiwan University of Science and Technology’s Department of Civil and Construction Engineering, noted, "Recently, it's common to apply heat-insulating or waterproofing materials directly to concrete walls."
As new materials and techniques emerge, experts urge regulatory updates to enhance safety. Taiwan's Building Act mandates user responsibility for building safety, yet lacks regular inspection and reporting requirements for exterior walls, complicating enforcement.
