Reoccurring Maintenance Inspections

In order to enhance tenant safety, DOB requires that owners schedule regular maintenance inspections and testing of equipment to ensure safe operation of boilers, elevators and proper maintenance of building façades. The regularity of these inspections vary depending on what is being inspected, building size, and location. Tenants can check DOB’s BIS database to see the most recent inspections, as well the inspection’s findings.

Elevators

There are two types of elevator inspections mandated by the NYC Building Code: Annual Inspections and Category Inspections.

• Annual Inspections must happen twice a year. These inspections are usually unannounced, and owners have to provide inspectors access so they can complete the required inspections/tests. If an inspector is unable to gain access, he/she will post a notice in a visible location with instructions for rescheduling the visit.

• Category Testing checks the performance of specific elevator equipment. The timeline for these inspections is varied, depending on the type of testing performed.
  
  Water hydraulic elevators have largely disappeared from use in NYC, so that type of inspection is extremely rare. Your building elevator will likely only require no load safety, rated load and speed testing.

Category Test Type	What it Checks	Reoccurrence
No Load Safety	Safety devices Suspension cables Alarms & communication devices Emergency lighting The machine room & elevator pit Hoistway	Once a year
Rated Load and Speed	Same as the No Load Safety testing Addition of test weights to verify the elevator is also safe for operating at full load capacity	Once every five years
Water Hydraulic	Unexposed portions of roped water hydraulic elevators and pressure vessels Extremely rare in NYC	Once every three years

Boilers

There are two types of boilers: high and low pressure. High-pressure boilers are used in industries and designed to generate the steam found in power plants, dry cleaners and laundromats.

If your building uses a boiler for heat and water, it is a low pressure boiler. The temperature in a low-pressure boiler will not rise above 250 degrees Fahrenheit.

Low pressure boilers must be inspected once a year unless:

• The building is a residential building housing 5 families or less
• Individual boilers being used to heat individual residential units
• Has an input of 100,000 BTUs or less

Inspections of low-pressure boilers can only be performed by authorized boiler inspectors licensed by the Department of Buildings or an authorized insurance company.

Facades

If your building is six stories or higher, your landlord must have the exterior walls and appurtenances inspected every five years.

Additionally, any conditions that could potentially jeopardize public safety must be repaired within 90 days.

Gas Piping Systems

All buildings, except most one- and two-family houses, must have their gas piping systems inspected once every four years. These inspections can only be conducted by a by a Licensed Master Plumber (LMP), or a qualified individual working under the direct supervision of a LMP.

The inspection timeline is determined by your community district.

Date Range for Inspection	Buildings in Community Districts
January 1, 2020 – December 31, 2020*	1, 3 and 10 in all boroughs
January 1, 2021 – December 31, 2021*	2, 5, 7, 13, and 18 in all boroughs
January 1, 2022 – December 31, 2022*	4, 6, 8, 9, and 16 in all boroughs
January 1, 2023 – December 31, 2023*	11, 12, 14, 15, and 17 in all boroughs

* and no later than December 31 within every fourth calendar year thereafter

NOTE: Get information about your NYC Community District.