DOB Staff Assist in Puerto Rico Earthquake Recovery
After devastating earthquakes struck Puerto Rico earlier this month, Mayor de Blasio issued a call for City agencies to assist in the recovery efforts. DOB has dispatched three teams, a total of 42 inspectors and engineers. So far, the team has completed over 9,000 damage-assessment inspections of affected homes and critical infrastructure including schools, hospitals, and emergency facilities.
New Façade Rules in Effect February 20th
The final version of the newly amended rule governing exterior wall inspections and repairs, strengthening our existing Façade Inspection & Safety Program (FISP), has been published in The City Record and will be in effect on February 20, 2020. Among other changes in the new amended rule, FISP reports will now require more up-close, hands-on inspections, as well as enhanced experience requirements for privately contracted Qualified Exterior Wall Inspectors (QEWI), increased penalties for property owners who fail to make repairs to unsafe façade conditions, and a new requirement for landlords to post information on the status of the façade in the lobby of the building.
NYC Energy Conservation Code Revision
On January 27th, Commissioner La Rocca, First Deputy Commissioner Gus Sirakis, and Chief Sustainability Officer Gina Bocra presented proposed amendments to the NYC Energy Conservation Code to the City Council's Committee on Housing and Buildings.
Major Disciplinary Cases
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$38,750 in total penalties issued to Tracking Number Holder Vulkan HVAC Inc., for a number of site-safety violations, on a construction site located at 63-31 Wetherole Street, including failure to have a construction superintendent on site, lack of required fall protection, work not according to plans, and two workers without required OSHA cards.
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$25,000 in penalties issued to Tracking Number Holder Building Maintenance and Reno for removing all fire barriers and fire stopping in six apartments of a multiple dwelling located at 11 Crooke Avenue, Brooklyn.
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The Department revoked the license of Licensed Master Plumber William Grand by Order of the Commissioner for violating the terms of a stipulation entered into in June 2018. The revocation is effective as of December 20, 2019.
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Registered Construction Superintendent Shi Ying Wu was disciplined by the Department for receiving a high number of OATH summonses issued to his construction superintendent registration, which has expired. Wu surrendered his registration effective December 27, 2019.
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Licensed Master Plumber Santiago Alvarez was disciplined by the Department for allowing workers not on his payroll to perform plumbing work at five locations; for failing to appear at a scheduled self-certification inspection on three separate occasions; and failing to be properly established. Alvarez agreed pay a fine of $25,000 and to a one-year suspension of his license, followed by one year of probation, effective December 9, 2019.
DOB publishes monthly bulletins detailing the agency's efforts to sanction and deter bad actors in the construction industry. You can find this information posted on the Enforcement Action Bulletin page of our website.
Additional Disciplinary Actions & Voluntary Surrenders
Industry Code of Conduct for Construction Professionals
Sign up for Weather Advisories
Service Updates
Follow-up #1: Local Law 152 of 2016: Periodic Inspection of Gas Piping Systems Required
Façades Unit Added to Customer Service Night
Electrical Plan Review Unit Relocates to 80 Centre Street
2014 Construction Code Updates
Update Page # 86 reflects changes made by Local Law 219 of 2019 (effective 12/15/2019), Amends the Administrative Code of the City of New York and the New York City Building Code, in relation to clarifying the requirements for site safety training providers and persons required to obtain site safety training.
Update Page # 87 reflects changes made by Local Law 10 of 2020 (effective 01/26/2020), amends the New York City Building Code, in relation to providing construction workers with information pertaining to site safety training during site safety orientations and refreshers.
Update Page # 88 reflects changes made by Local Law 115 of 2019 (effective 01/01/2020), amends the Administrative Code of the City of New York, in relation to preliminary inspections.
Update Page # 89 reflects changes made by Local Law 122 of 2019 (effective 01/01/2020), amends the Administrative Code and the Building Code of the City of New York, in relation to requirements for portable ramps in prior code buildings where such portable ramps are permissible and signage relating thereto.
Update Page # 90 reflects changes made by Local Law 104 of 2019 (effective 01/04/2020), amends the administrative code of the City of New York, in relation to denying building permits where a residential buildings has an excessive number of violations.
Update pages are printable inserts to keep your hard copy Construction Codes up to date.
All update pages for the 2014 NYC Construction Codes.
Hearings + Rules
1 RCNY 101-07 Amendment of Rules Governing Exterior Wall Inspections and Repairs (Approved Agencies Amendment)
Promulgated Effective Date 02/20/2020
1 RCNY 103-04 Amendment of Rules Governing Exterior Wall Inspections and Repairs (Periodic Inspection of
Exterior Walls and Appurtenances of Buildings Amendment)
Promulgated Effective Date 02/20/2020
1 RCNY 103-06 Amendment of Annual Reporting Requirements for Energy
and Water Use
Promulgated Effective Date 02/20/2020
Buildings Bulletins
2020-001: This bulletin clarifies that the installation of firestops does not require a New York City licensed electrician.
Local Laws
New York State Laws of 2019 Chapter 750 AN ACT to amend the Labor Law and the State Finance Law, in relation to requiring the licensing of persons engaged in the design, construction, inspection, maintenance, alteration, and repair of elevators and other automated people moving devices (Part A); and to amend the Administrative Code of the City of New York, in relation to the licensing of approved elevator agency directors, inspectors, and technicians performing elevator work in the City of New York; and to repeal the definition of private elevator inspection agency in section 28-401.3 of the Administrative Code of the City of New York (Part B).
Local Law 15 of 2020 (Int. No. 1482-B) A Local Law to amend the Administrative Code of the City of New York and the New York City Building Code, in relation to bird friendly materials.
Local Law 14 of 2020 (Int. No. 1481-A) A Local Law to amend the Administrative Code of the City of New York and the New York City Plumbing Code in relation to bringing such code up to date with the 2015 edition of the International Plumbing Code with differences that reflect the unique character of the city and repealing chapter 11 and appendices C, F, and G of the New York City Plumbing Code in relation thereto.
Local Law 10 of 2020 (Int. No. 1661-A) A Local Law to amend the New York City Building Code, in relation to providing construction workers with information pertaining to site safety training during site safety orientations and refreshers.
Website Updates
Licensing
Department Approved Course Providers
Not-For-Profit Course Provider Application
Did You Know?
Our new Loft Board website is live!
The new site provides updated information about Loft Law for tenants and owners, Loft Board meetings, loft-conversion project guidelines, and more.
Melanie E. La Rocca Commissioner
