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Registrant Project Requirements:
Mercantile, Business and Place of Assembly: Work & Inspections

Special Inspections

As per Chapter 17 of the Building Code, sign projects may require certain Special and Progress Inspections to be performed during and at the end of construction as outlined in the table below. Prior to Approval, the Applicant of Record is required to identify all required Special and Progress Inspections (BC 1704.1). Prior to DOB permit issuance, the Owner must typically engage a registered Special Inspection Agency (SIA) who will take responsibility for the Special and Progress Inspections. The Applicant of Record may perform these inspections if they are also an SIA. Inspection discrepancies and hazardous conditions shall be reported to the super-intendment of construction, as well as to the site safety coordinator or site safety manager, for correction, per BB 2016-006 and 1 RCNY 101-06. Per BC 1704.1.2, the contractor cannot hire the special inspector.

Based on the scope of work, a renovation project may be required to comply with the following Special and Progress Inspection requirements:

Structural Steel

May include steel welding, High Strength Bolting and Steel Details (BC 1704.3)

Concrete –
Cast-In-Place

Required where the total concrete placement on a given project is more than 50 cubic yards or other conditions.  Precast may be needed during façade renovation project.  (BC 1704.4)

Wood – Installation of Prefabricated I-Joists

Are subject to Special Inspections in accordance with BC 1704.2 and the requirements of BC 2303.1.2 (BC 1704.6.3).

Wall Panels, Curtain Walls and Veneers

Required for exterior architectural wall panels and the anchoring of veneers designed for installation on buildings above a height of 40 feet. Special Inspection of masonry veneer on such structures shall be in accordance with Section 1704.5 and Section BC 1704.10

Sprayed fire-resistant materials

Special Inspections for sprayed fire-resistant materials applied to roof and wall assemblies, and to structural members, shall be in accordance with Sections 1704.11.1 through 1704.11.7.

Structural Stability – Existing Buildings

Any modification of existing structural systems or elements, such as columns, girders, beams, bearing walls, etc. where the stability or integrity of the structural system is impacted, in accordance with Sections 1704.20.6 through 1704.20.10.

Excavations – Sheeting, Shoring and Bracing

Methods employed to protect the sides of excavations shall be subject to Special Inspections in accordance with Sections 1704.20.6 through 1704.20.10.   

Fire-resistant  Penetration and Joists

Special Inspections for penetrations of fire-resistant elements and assemblies, and related firestops in accordance with BC sections 1704.27.1 and 1704.27.2.

Flood Zone Compliance

Special Inspection for flood zone compliance shall be as required by BC Appendix G and BC 1704.29.

Masonry

Load bearing masonry, glass unit masonry and masonry veneer shall be inspected and verified in accordance with the requirements of sections 1704.5.1 through 1704.5.3, depending on the structural occupancy category of the building or structure.

Footings, Foundation and helical piles

Footing and foundation inspections shall be made after excavations for footings are complete and any required reinforcing steel and required forms are in place as per BC 110.3.1.

Structural Wood Frame

Inspections shall be performed for wood structural framing to determine compliance with the approved construction documents as per BC 110.3.3.

Fire-Resistance Rated Construction

Fire-resistance-rated partitions, walls, floors, ceilings, shafts, and shutters as per BC 110.3.4.

Mastic and Intumescent Fire Resistant Coatings

Fire resistant coating must be applied on structural elements as required by BC 1704.12

Smoke Control System and/or Smoke Purge System

Mechanically operated smoke removal system, as required by BC 1704.15 & 16 and BC 909 and/or BC 916

Raising and Moving Buildings

Raising and moving existing buildings, because all or part of it is located in flood zone,  as required by 1704.20.5 and BB 2015-010

Chimneys

Verify that Chimney and its liner is sealed properly in accordance with BC 1704.26

Luminous Egress Path Markings

Various egress path components marked with luminous signs and other markings per BC 1704.30 and 1024.8

Seismic Isolation

Structure in compliance with seismic isolation requirements in BC 1707.8, BC Chapter 16 and/or 1968 RS 9-6

Public Assembly Emergency Lighting

All components have been installed in accordance with AC 116.2.2, BC 1006.3.2, BC 1011 and BC Chapter 27, as required.

Energy Code Compliance Inspections
  • Penetrations through thermal envelope:  must be sealed to minimize air leakage as per NYCECC 402.4.2 and C402.4.2
  • Dampers integral to building envelope:  outdoor air dampers must close when system is off
  • HVAC & Service Water heating equipment:  meets sizing and efficiency requirements as per NYCECC Tables C406.2(1) through C406.2(7) and Table C404.2
  • HVAC & Service Water heating system controls:  applicable part-load, reset, temperature controls  as per NYCECC C403.2.4 and C404.6
  • Piping insulation:  minimum thickness of 1” to 4.5”, required on piping carrying fluids >105F as per NYCECC  Table C403.2.8 and C404.5
  • Maintenance Information:  shall be furnished for installation of new equipment as per NYCECC 303.3 and C303.3
  • Permanent Certificate:  shall list type and efficiency of heating, cooling, and/or service water heating systems as per NYCECC 401.3
  • Electrical Energy [metering] Consumption:  The presence and operation of individual meters or other means of monitoring individual tenant spaces shall be verified by visual inspection per 1 RCNY 5000-01(h) 2 – IIC1& NYCECC C405.7

Required Inspections

During the renovation work, DOB inspections may be required at various stages of completion, as well as for final completion of all permitted work. Based on the scope of work, the following inspections from different DOB Inspection Units may be required:

  • Boiler Inspection – Fuel Storage

  • Construction Inspection – Final Inspection

  • Cranes and Derricks Inspections

  • Electrical Inspection – Final Inspection

  • Elevator & Lifts Inspection – Final Inspection

  • Fuel Gas Inspections - including gas piping roughing

  • Oil Burning Equipment

  • Plumbing Inspection – including water supply, sanitary and storm water connection

  • Sprinkler and Standpipe Inspection – Work Progress and Final Inspection

Contractors and property Owners are responsible for scheduling and completing all required inspections. Prior to scheduling such an inspection, Contractors must:

  • Confirm that all construction work completed matches the approved drawings.

  • Periodically check that no safety hazards exist on the active construction project.

  • Confirm that work complies with Code, zoning, Multiple Dwelling Law, and other requirements.

  • Confirm that all Energy Code requirements are met.

Required Commissioning Testing

During the course of completing mechanical system work, Contractors should check the following to ensure regulatory and Code compliance with NYC Energy Conservation Code: Commissioning is required on newly installed systems with a cumulative input heating capacity >600,000 BTU/h and/or cooling capacity > 480,000 Btu/h.

Commissioning preliminary report: Must be submitted to DOB prior to mechanical sign-off.

Commissioning final report: Must be submitted to the Department 18 months after certificate of completion, as required by NYCECC section C408.

Contractor Self-Certification of Inspections

Contractors have the option to either require a DOB Inspection or submit a self-certification of the completed work, if applicable. Contractors opting to self-certify must submit a notice of intent to self-certify, with the dates of these self-certified inspections to the Department, and follow-up with the submission of results for self-certified inspections.

DOB inspection units conduct random audits of all self-certified notices to ensure compliance of inspected work with Code and regulations.

Other Regulations

  • Submission of Special Inspections can be done online by Special Inspection Agency.

  • DOB inspections may be required during various project stages. Such inspection requests may be made online, and any objections raised may be resolved on-line.

  • If the applicant elected to self-certify the required DOB inspections, an online notice of intent to self-certify must have been submitted at the project start. Such self-certified inspections may be audited; audit results will be provided to applicant and must be resolved prior to final sign-off.

  • Depending on the above, DOB or the applicant shall complete the final sign-off inspection to close the project.

  • If the completed project has changes that are not minor, an “As-Built” submission shall be allowed. The applicant must submit revised “As-Built” drawings prior to project sign-off.

Inspection Requests

An online tool for scheduling appointments for required DOB inspections must be used. This system, DOB NOW: Inspections provides the ability to request and cancel appointments online, as well as view inspection results and documentation.

Additional Requirements for Registrant

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