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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PR- 229-07
July 3, 2007

MAYOR BLOOMBERG SIGNS LEGISLATION ESTABLISHING NEW CONSTRUCTION CODES

Remarks by Mayor Bloomberg at a Public Hearing on Local Laws

"The final bill before me is Introductory Number 578-A, sponsored at the request of the Administration by Council Members Dilan, Fidler, Gonzalez, James, Reyna, Nelson, Gentile, Sears, and Weprin.  This bill establishes the NYC Construction Codes, including a new Building, Mechanical and Fuel Gas Code, as well as revised provisions for their administration and enforcement. 

"This bill delivers on a campaign promise I made in 2001 to update the current Building Code, which was last revised comprehensively in 1968.  Because building codes govern a critical part of the City's infrastructure, it is essential that the minimum standards they establish mirror the very latest in design and construction technology.  In 2003, a Mayoral commission formed the year before to study the issue recommended that we adopt modified versions of the International Code Council's family of construction codes. Since then, the Department of Buildings has worked tirelessly with local industry, labor and real estate representatives, and with elected officials, to build the consensus needed to bring about this historic change.  Introductory Number 578-A is the product of these efforts.

"Introductory Number 578-A will enhance safety by mandating sprinklers in more buildings, requiring fire alarms in more occupancies, updating structural integrity requirements, and improving construction safety.  The new codes will make building in New York City easier, faster and less expensive by utilizing up-to-date national standards, facilitating cost-effective building, encouraging online application filing and providing a more user-friendly format for the industry to follow.  The new codes will also be innovative and sustainable by giving free rebates for green design, helping to reduce CO2 emissions, and facilitating the biotechnical industry.  We will review the new codes every three years and, in doing so, will use them as one among the many tools required to implement our PlaNYC program. 

"I would like to thank the Buildings Commissioner, Patricia Lancaster and her staff for their work on this important legislation.  I would also like to thank Fire Commissioner Nicholas Scoppetta and his staff as well as the nineteen technical committee co-chairs. Also deserving of our thanks are The Real Estate Board of New York, the American Institute of Architects and representatives of the labor community including Edward Malloy and Lou Colletti.  Finally, I would also like to thank the Council for its support and approval of this bill.







MEDIA CONTACT:


Stu Loeser/Matthew Kelly   (212) 788-2958




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