NYC Increases
Oversight of Concrete-Testing Industry |
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On September 2, Buildings
Commissioner Robert LiMandri,
Department of Design and
Construction Commissioner David J.
Burney, FAIA, and Department of
Investigation Commissioner Rose Gill
Hearn announced a new program to expand oversight
and evaluation of concrete testing
in New York City. The program
includes plans to build a city-owned
and operated concrete-testing
laboratory, the creation of a new
Concrete Unit at the Department of
Buildings and the
implementation of a new concrete re-testing protocol for
82 buildings and construction sites
under the City’s jurisdiction that
were named in the Manhattan District
Attorney’s Office indictment of
Testwell Laboratories and are a part
of the Testwell investigation.
The Buildings Department's new Concrete Unit will focus on concrete-placement and concrete-testing operations at job
sites throughout the five boroughs. Using a standardized checklist, the
unit has begun to perform spot
checks of testing procedures at
construction sites throughout the
City and will audit the work at each
private laboratory’s facility to
ensure proper procedures are being
followed. |
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October 1st Requirements |
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On October 1, several new
requirements will go into effect
including new forms and certification for Class C HMO
licenses.
Additional information and
changes have been added from the
previous edition of Buildings
News, most
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importantly the extension of the deadline to obtain a Safety Registration
Number (See Service Updates).
New
TR2 and TR3 - Applicants must use the 10/09 versions of the TR2 and TR3 forms.
Final Inspection Reports - Licensed professionals must submit a final inspection report to
the Department within 30 days of performing
the final inspection.
NCCCO Documentation - Licensed Class C Hoisting Machine Operators
must submit documentation of CCO certification to the Licensing Unit
ito maintain qualification to
operate in New York City.
New TR1 - Applicants must use the 10/09 version of the TR1 for jobs that
have not yet been issued a permit.
New Request Form - Applicants must use the new PER11 form to request an appointment or to drop off a folder. |
Mayor Bloomberg Signs Four New Safety
Bills |
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On September 3, Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg signed four bills into law that
enhance safety at construction and
demolition sites and strengthen
standpipe and sprinkler safety. Intro 993-a requires registered
design professionals to submit plans and
details to DOB regarding demolition |
| work using handheld mechanical devices such
as chainsaws or jackhammers. Intro 994-a requires the uniform
color-coding of standpipes and sprinkler
systems. Intro 999-a requires site safety
managers to check standpipe systems to
ensure they are in a state of readiness and
to document these inspections. Intro 1000-a relates to the cutting and
capping of standpipes.
Following the
tragedy at the former Deutsche Bank building
in Lower Manhattan, Mayor Bloomberg ordered a comprehensive review of oversight
and operations at construction, demolition,
and abatement sites. As a
result, 33 recommendations were developed to improve safety, and since June 2009, nine bills have been signed into law implementing these recommendations. |
New Asbestos Abatement Requirements |
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On
October 13, new rules related to the filing requirements of asbestos abatement
documents go into effect.
The
Department of Environmental Protection
has created an online database that
enables the electronic preparation
of DEP's asbestos
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| abatement form (ACP7). Applicants will have a chance to familiarize
themselves with this new online database,
the Asbestos Reporting and Tracking System
(ARTS), from September 28 through October
12. However, applicants will not be able to
submit this form using ARTS until the new
rules go into effect on October 13.
The
Buildings Department is hosting two sessions
to demonstrate DEP's new database. These
sessions will be held in the 6th floor
training room at DOB headquarters at 280
Broadway in Manhattan:
Thursday, September 24 9:30am –
10:30am
Wednesday, September 30 10:30am –
11:30am
Please email operationsredesign@buildings.nyc.gov no
later than Tuesday, September 22 if you
would like to attend.
Visit the Construction, Demolition and Abatement section of our website for more information on these new rules and filing requirements. |
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Benjamin "BJ" Jones
Assistant Commissioner for Strategic
Planning and Implementation |
| Citywide Administrative Services. The
Hayes Prize recognizes emerging leaders
in New York City government. Assistant
Commissioner Jones, who has been at
Buildings since 2003, is responsible for
carrying out the Department's strategic
initiatives.
In 2007, he led a team of
more than 400
stakeholders in overhauling the 1968
Building Code. The revision was a
multi-year effort, consisting of a
line-by-line review of the existing
code. The resulting new NYC
Construction Codes incorporate national standards and
rules emphasizing safety, efficiency,
and sustainability while broadening the
Buildings Department's enforcement
tools.
Assistant Commissioner Jones was
also instrumental in the
recent analysis of high-risk
construction operations which
resulted in the creation of 66
recommendations to strengthen the
safety of crane, hoist, excavation, and
concrete operations. |
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Interested
in learning more about the
energy code?
On September 21, the Department is hosting seminars on
energy-conserving design
in association with |
| the 2009 Urban Green Expo. The seminars
will be held at the Manhattan offices of
the architectural design firm HOK
which is located at 620 Avenue of the Americas. |
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