Construction Standards for NYC Agencies

Municipal buildings must meet certain environmental standards. Small construction projects must meet the Mayor's Office of Contract Services' (MOCS) environmentally preferable purchasing (EPP) standards for construction material,  while Local Law 86 of 2005 requires large projects to meet more stringent Green Building standards. 

 MOCS construction products standards
 Local Law 86  

ALSO SEE:
green building standards
green building in NYC
improving building energy efficiency

MOCS Standards

The MOCS minimum standards for construction projects were developed in regard to purchasing for environmental sustainability in construction. Local Laws 118, 119, 120, and 121 of 2005 require establishing standards for goods and materials purchased by the City according to a list of environmental priorities regarding energy and water efficiency, hazardous materials and recycled content. (For more information about goods procurement, see environmentally preferable purchasing for agencies).

The NYC Environmentally Preferable Purchasing: Minimum Standards for Construction Projects  applies to building construction and renovation of spaces over 15,000 square feet (or if in leased space, where an agency leases at least 50,000 square feet and the
construction work is a capital project) that is not covered by the City's Green Buildings Law (LL 86 of 2005).

To assist in compliance, the New York City Environmentally Preferable Purchasing (EPP) minimum Standards for Construction Products guide contains a list of products that may be specified in construction contracts covered by the EPP laws and provides the applicable minimum standards referenced in the laws.

Standards exist for:

• Appliances - Residential
• Architectural Coatings
• HVAC Equipment - Commercial
• HVAC Equipment - Residential
• Lighting Products
• Miscellaneous Construction Products
• Plumbing Fixtures

If you are preparing specifications, you should review the index of the book and determine whether an EPP standard exists for any of the goods and materials you are specifying. If a standard does exist, you will need to have the specifications reflect the minimum standards. Please note: the EPP laws establish minimum requirements.  

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Local Law 86

Local Law 86 goes above and beyond MOCS standards, mandating more comprehensive requirements for certain building projects. Local Law 86 standards are divided into sections of requirements based on project scope:

• When project scope involves a new building, and/or an addition to an existing building, and/or fit-out of space in a new building or addition, and/or substantial reconstruction in an existing building (defined as construction involving two of the following three existing mechanical systems, HVAC, electric, and/or domestic plumbing, in addition to construction affecting >50% of existing building floor area), AND has a combined construction cost for such work >$2M, the following requirements exist
  • and when construction cost >$2M and <$12M
    • and primary occupancy is G or H-2 - must be LEED Certified
    • and primary occupancy is not G or H-2 - must be LEED Rating: Silver
  • and when construction cost >$12M and <$30M
    • and primary occupancy is H-2, building must be LEED Certified and project energy cost reduction must be 20% -25% minimum, depending on payback of Energy Efficiency Measures (EEM’s)
    • and primary occupancy is G, building must be LEED Certified and Project energy cost reduction must be 25% -30% minimum, depending on
      payback of EEM’s
    • and primary occupancy is not G or H-2, building must be LEED Rating: Silver Project energy cost reduction must be 20% -25% minimum, depending on payback of Energy Efficiency Measures (EEM’s)
  • Construction cost >$30M
    • and primary occupancy is G or H-2, building must be LEED Certified and Project energy cost reduction must be 25% -30% minimum, depending on
      payback of EEM’s
    • primary occupancy not G or H-2, building must be LEED Rating Silver and Project energy cost reduction must be 25% -30% minimum, depending on
      payback of EEM’s

• When a project scope does not involve a new building, an addition to an
  existing building, a fit-out of tenant space in a new building/addition, and/or substantial reconstruction of an existing building with a combined construction cost >$2M, the following requirements must be met:

• Construction cost of boiler work >$2M - Boiler energy cost reduction: 10%
  minimum.
• Construction cost of lighting work >$1M - Lighting energy cost reduction: 10%
  minimum.
• Construction cost of HVAC comfort control work >$2M - HVAC comfort controls energy cost reduction: 5% minimum.

For an easy to read chart of the above requirements, the Mayor's Office of Operations Office of Environmental Coordination's  has developed a Diagram of Project Criteria and Requirements for Local Law 86 of 2005 .

ALSO SEE:
helpful links about green building  

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