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Registrant Project Requirements: Educational and Institutional Work & Inspections

Special Inspections

As per Chapter 17 of the Building Code, renovation work 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 if they are also an SIA. 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 (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 BC 1704.20.3, BC 1704.20.2 and BC 1814.
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 . Also progress inspection for lowest floor level per BC 110.3.2.
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, and Foundation	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 and 1704.16, and BC 909 and/or BC 916.
Raising and Moving a Building	Raising and moving existing buildings, because all or part of it is located in flood zone, as required by BC 1704.20.5, and BB 2015-010.
Chimneys	Verify the chimney and its liner are 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 BC 1024.8.
Seismic Isolation	Structure in compliance with seismic isolation requirements in BC 1707.8, BC Chapter 16 and/or 1968 RS 9-6
Energy Code Compliance Inspections	Penetrations through thermal envelope: must be sealed to minimize air leakage, and prevent thermal bridging, as per NYCECC R402.4.1.2 and C402.5. Dampers integral to building envelope: outdoor air dampers must close when system is off HVAC and Service Water heating equipment: as per C406.2, exceeds by 10 percent the minimum sizing and efficiency requirements as per NYCECC Tables C403.2.3(1) through C403.2.3(7), C403.2.3(11), and C403.2.3(12) and Table C404.2. HVAC and 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 C403.2.10 and C404.4. Maintenance Information: shall be furnished for installation of new equipment as per NYCECC R303.3 and C303.3. Permanent Certificate: shall list type and efficiency of heating, cooling, and/or service water heating systems as per NYCECC R401.3. Electrical Energy [metering] Consumption: The presence and operation of individual meters or other means of monitoring individual tenant spaces and apartments shall be verified by visual inspection per 1 RCNY 5000-01(h)1 & 2– IC1, IIC1, and NYCECC C405.6.

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 Department Inspection Units may be required:

Boiler Inspection – Fuel Storage
Construction Inspection – Final Inspection
Cranes and Derricks Inspections
Electrical Inspection – Final Inspection
Elevator and 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.
Confirm that relevant progress and special inspections are on-site and clearly approved by the SIA.
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 all Energy Code requirements are met.

*Note: Contractors must also prepare for progress and special inspections by SIA in a similar manner to what’s indicated above.*

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 the Department 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, but only if applicable to a particular inspection. 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 unit conducts a random audit 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.
Department 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.