 |
 he men and women of the New York City Department of Buildings made significant
strides in 2009 to increase
construction safety throughout
the five boroughs and reinforce
accountability within the
industry and our own agency.
From the enactment of new safety
laws to a citywide worker safety
campaign to the use of GPS
technology to track the on-duty
locations of all inspectors,
this Department has become a
leader in construction safety.
Our staff has worked closely
with contractors, developers,
licensed professionals and
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other agencies from around the world to improve construction operations so we can better protect New Yorkers than ever before.
We all understand the devastating
consequences that can result from
shoddy work or shortcuts taken on
the job site. Most construction
accidents can be prevented, and all
of us have a responsibility to make
sure that they are. In 2009,
construction-related fatalities
dropped a remarkable 84% compared to
the previous year, and we must work
together to ensure that trend
continues in 2010.
Construction is critical to the
economic future of this City, but
there is no reason why it cannot be
performed in a safe and lawful
manner. A safer construction site
means a safer city.
Stay safe,
Robert LiMandri
Upcoming Projects & Initiatives |
The Department is implementing several key
initiatives and projects in 2010,
including new laws for
sprinkler and standpipe
systems and a City
energy code. See more information below.
Registration for Special Inspection Agencies
The
Department will begin electronic registration of Special Inspection Agencies later in the year. Agencies must meet all qualifications outlined in the Special Inspections Rule. Under the new NYC
Construction Codes,
Special Inspections,
which replace
Controlled
Inspections,
are an important
verification that
work considered
critical to life
safety and property
protection has been
or is being
conducted according
to approved plans
and specifications.
New Regulations for Standpipes and Sprinklers
New standpipe and sprinkler piping laws go into effect beginning February 2010.
Building owners and
contractors must be sure
their properties and
projects comply with these
new laws. The
Buildings Department
participated in the
multi-agency advisory group
that proposed these new
safety standards. Mayor Michael
R. Bloomberg
appointed Deputy
Mayor Edward Skyler to
lead the the
Construction, Demolition and
Abatement Working Group,
which
generated 33 recommendations to make
construction,
demolition and
abatement sites
safer, including
the laws outlined below.
View our Fact Sheet for more details.
6th Annual Construction Safety Week
The Department will
host its 6th Annual
Construction Safety
Week, providing contractors,
builders, licensed
professionals,
workers and owners
the opportunity to join
Department experts to discuss the
latest building
trends. Safety
Week 2010 runs from
April 26 - April 30
with events to be held in
all five boroughs.
Staggered Facade Inspection Cycles
Cycle 7 of the Department's Facade Safety & Inspection Program begins February 21, 2010. This cycle is staggered into three sub-cycles which allows for better Department oversight and helps lower costs for
building owners.
New York City Energy Conservation Code
The New York City Energy
Conservation Code (NYCECC)
becomes effective July 1,
2010. The NYC
Energy code will
apply to all new building
and alteration work. |
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Service Updates |
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OP-98 Notification
The Call Center now only accepts
electronic submission |
| of OP-98
forms as proof of notification. If
you do not receive a Rejection
Notification or an Acceptance Confirmation, you must contact the Call
Center within 24 hours of submission. |
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Stalled Sites
The Department is now accepting
applications for the |
| Stalled Sites Program. Owners who opt
into the program must create in-depth site
safety maintenance plan tailored to
their sites' specific challenges. In
exchange, their active work permits can
be renewed for up to four years. View
the Service Notice and Buildings Bulletin 2010-001 for more details. |
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ZRD1 & CCD1 Guidelines
View guidelines on when to use the ZRD1 and CCD1forms. |
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Asbestos Exemption
Applicants must use the revised ASB4 form when |
| indicating that their project
is exempt from asbestos investigation. View Buildings Bulletin 2009-31 for details. |
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PW3 Form
As of February 1, 2010, only the 1/10
version of the PW3 |
| will be accepted in the borough offices. |
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HMO Class C Licenses
The Department
now accepts documentation from the Crane |
| Institute Certification
(CIC) in addition to the National
Commission for the Certification of
Crane Operators (NCCCO) for Class C HMO
licenses. |
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Fire Alarm Plans
Fire Alarm plans are now reviewed by FDNY. There are |
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Rear Yards
Buildings Bulletin 2009-30 clarifies the level at which a |
| residential rear yard is required for a mixed building. |
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Alternative Materials
The Department recently issued three Buildings Bulletins |
that address a number of alternative materials. These bulletins are:
- 2009-27 - factory-built grease ducts
- 2009-28 - fire-rated
flexible duct wrap insulation and
- 2009-29 -fire-rated
rigid air duct ventilation assembly
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Keep
reading Buildings News for new information and updates. |
Anthony Thompson
Plumbing Inspector
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The
Department’s plumbing inspectors play a
vital role in ensuring public safety by
inspecting the construction of plumbing and
fire protection systems throughout the City. |
Next month, Plumbing Inspector Anthony Thompson, who is in the U.S. Army Reserves,
will take his skills overseas to help
protect the health and safety of his fellow
soldiers in Afghanistan.
Following in his younger brother's
footsteps, Inspector Thompson enlisted in
the Army Reserves in 2007, the same year he
joined the Department. He endured weeks of
combat training in 2008 and now will leave
for additional training in the coming days
before heading to Afghanistan. His
engineering unit will be dedicated to
building plumbing systems for military
facilities and nearby towns. Read more. |
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