Commissioner's Column |
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WELCOME to the new – and
improved – version of Buildings News.
Our
bi-weekly newsletter, which provides up-to-date
information about the Buildings Department,
service changes and new requirements, has grown
tremendously since its first edition in 2004 and
has become the go-to guide for contractors,
developers, architects, engineers and
workers who want to build in New York
City.
Today, the online newsletter has more than
16,000 subscribers – more than |
four times the total in 2006 – and the list
keeps growing. So we decided to revise
the newsletter’s format and make it
easier to access the latest information
our readers want to know, including
links to our Web site and online
property database.
In
the coming weeks, we will introduce new
photographs and new topics, such as
construction safety tips, guest columns and
profiles on our staff members in the field.
We
will also be following the urbanSHED
International Design Competition, which was
launched last month. This competition
challenges architects, engineers, designers
and students around the globe to develop a
sidewalk shed that enhances the pedestrian
experience without sacrificing safety. The
winning design will be chosen in December and
installed at a job site in
Lower Manhattan thanks to the support of the Alliance for Downtown New York.
I
hope you enjoy reading the new Buildings
News, and remember to stay safe on the job
site.
Robert
LiMandri |
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New GPS Technology |
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The Department is now using global-positioning system (GPS) technology to track the
locations of the Department's 379 inspectors
during their daily inspection routes.
With GPS installed in the inspectors'
Department-issued cell phones,
this tracking system will better
ensure the integrity of
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inspections, while helping unit heads
dispatch resources more efficiently and
provide employees with greater security
during the course of their duties. By the end of
September, the routes of all construction
inspectors, as well as inspectors from the
Boilers, Cranes and Derricks, Electrical,
Elevators and Plumbing units, will be
electronically monitored. |
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There are several important requirements that become
effective October 1.
These
changes are designed to bring more oversight
to the construction process and include: |
NCCCO
Documentation - Licensed Class C Hoisting Machine
Operators must submit documentation of CCO certification
to the Licensing Unit in order to
maintain qualification to operate in New
York City. Call (212) 566-4100 to
schedule an appointment to exchange your
license card.
Safety
Registration Numbers - Individuals and
organizations performing or supervising certain construction projects will need
a new Safety Registration Number. Registration is required even for those who
already have a tracking number.
New
TR1 - Applicants must use the 10/09
version of the TR1 for jobs that not yet
been issued a permit. On the updated version, there is a new item for
"alternative materials," the "Concrete Test
Cylinders" and "Concrete Design Mix" items
have been modified and a final inspection
report is required within 30 days of the
final inspection.
New
Request Form - Applicants must use the
new PER11 form to request an appointment or to drop off a folder. |
Development
Coordinator Initiative |
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The Mayor’s Office has extended its initiative to help real estate developers,
builders, contractors, and licensed
professionals working on private developments
that have been delayed because of conflicting
City
policies. The initiative is being piloted in Brooklyn
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| through the end of September and thereafter
is expanding to Queens. For more
information and to submit your Brooklyn or
Queens project for consideration, visit www.nyc.gov/devcoordinator. |
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On September 23, Commissioner LiMandri will
discuss the Department's role in PlaNYC and
sustainability initiatives as part of the 2009
Urban Green Expo. Associated
with the conference, |
| which runs from September 22-23,
the Department will host seminars in
energy-conserving design and the energy
code on September 21. |
| urbanSHED Design Competition |
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Help make New York City’s streets
safe, attractive and
pedestrian-friendly. Participate in
the urbanSHED design competition. Registration |
| Plumbing Information Sessions |
| process. These
sessions will be held from 1:00pm -
4:00pm in the 6th floor conference room
at Department headquarters at 280
Broadway in Manhattan on October 13,
October 27, November 10, November 17 and
December 8. |
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Did
You Know...that
in the first half of the year the
Department distributed 1,500 posters, 300 banners and 20,000 pamphlets in seven languages
to job sites and worker centers across the City, 