At the beginning of the new school year, the State Construction Control Bureau (SCCB) has identified 956 educational institutions across Latvia – preschools, schools, universities, and research buildings – where the mandatory periodic technical inspection (PTI) has not yet been carried out. Building owners are required to ensure such inspections once every ten years.

The Director of the State Construction Control Bureau, Baiba Vītoliņa, emphasizes: “The number of uninspected educational institutions is alarming, especially considering the multiple reminders and warnings issued by the Construction Information System (BIS), as well as the fact that almost a year has passed since October 31, 2024, when the inspections should have been completed and registered in Building Information System (BIS). Therefore, we call on municipalities, which are most often the owners of school buildings, to ensure PTI for school buildings without delay. We also encourage school staff and parents to inquire whether the building owner has fulfilled this obligation. There is still a widespread misconception in society that building safety is guaranteed by supervisory authorities, but in fact, it is primarily the responsibility of the building owner! The State Construction Control Bureau performs the supervisory function – adopting legally binding decisions for owners as stipulated in legislation and monitoring their enforcement. The main purpose of state supervision is to protect public safety. Unfortunately, in our daily work we see that owners often fulfill their building safety obligations sluggishly and irresponsibly.”

Periodic technical inspection is an evaluation of a building’s actual condition to ensure its safe use. This work is carried out by certified construction specialists who hold specific knowledge and certification in architecture, structural design, fire safety, construction management, or construction supervision. At present, there are 3,203 such specialists in Latvia who are qualified to perform PTIs.

“At the same time, we want to reassure the public and remind them – the absence of a PTI does not necessarily mean that the building is in critical condition, but rather that the building owner is not informed about the technical state of their property and the possible measures needed to improve it. Not all building owners possess specialized technical knowledge in construction, which is precisely why the construction regulations clearly state – the owners of second- and third-group public buildings, in this case educational institutions, must carry out a PTI once every ten years,” explains Baiba Vītoliņa.

Despite the large number of educational institution buildings lacking PTI, there is also a positive trend – over the past year, the number of completed inspections has significantly increased. At the end of August 2024, PTIs had been completed for 527 educational institution buildings, or 27%, whereas by August 2025, this number had already risen to 1,040 buildings, or 52%. This progress has been achieved thanks to the automatic reminder functionality introduced in the Building Information System (BIS) and the persistent supervision of PTI compliance by the State Construction Control Bureau, which has accelerated the process.

According to BIS data available to the State Construction Control Bureau, the municipalities most active and responsible in ensuring PTI for educational institution buildings are Ventspils (92% of buildings inspected), Ropaži (85%), and Salaspils (82%). Meanwhile, the lowest compliance levels are found in Krāslava (only 6% inspected) and Balvi (9%). In Riga’s administrative territory, periodic inspections have been carried out for 44% of educational institution buildings.

The State Construction Control Bureau reminds that failure to inspect third-group public buildings is subject to administrative liability: a warning or a fine of up to €125 for natural persons and up to €500 for legal persons.

Explanation: According to Paragraph 30 of Cabinet Regulation No. 384 of 15 June 2021 “Construction Standard LBN 405-21 on Technical Inspection of Buildings”, for second- and third-group public buildings commissioned before 1 October 2014 and not inspected within the past ten years, a PTI was required to be completed by 31 October 2024.

 

State Construction Control Bureau

Public Relations: sa@bvkb.gov.lv