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: Materials & Inspections

The Office of Technical Certification and Research (OTCR) administers several programs mandated by the NYC Construction Codes. Among its many functions, OTCR will:

Advance construction safety and quality by governing technical certifications of approved agencies and other entities performing inspections, tests, material approvals and other tasks; and
Promote new technology that enhances construction safety, sustainability and efficiency by administering approvals for innovative products and materials introduced to the design and construction industries.

Click on the below links to learn more about OTCR, and visit this page regularly for the most up-to-date information. You may also email questions directly to the OTCR team at: OTCR@buildings.nyc.gov.

Recognizing Materials and Equipment - The following documents are provided for the safety and application of construction products used within New York City.

OTCR Product Recognition Matrix - Provisions for recognizing code-prescribed and alternative materials.
Timeline - Transitioning from MEA to OTCR
OTCR Documents
1. Technical Bulletins - (moratoriums, special notices, site-specific approvals, etc)
  - BC 18.01.08 (Helical Piles) (26 kb)
2. MEA Legacy Database (partial listing of valid Resolutions as of Jun30, 2008)
  - MEA Index
  - MEA Reports