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: Materials & Inspections

The Office of Technical Certification and Research (OTCR) administers programs mandated by the NYC Construction Codes. OTCR:

Advances construction safety and quality by governing technical certifications of approved agencies and entities performing inspections, tests, material approvals and other tasks; and
Promotes new technology that enhances safety, sustainability and efficiency by approving innovative design and construction products and materials.

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 Acceptance Guidelines
OTCR Material 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 June 30, 2008)
  - MEA Index
  - MEA Reports
3. OTCR Forms and Applications