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Registrant Project Requirements:
Creation and Alteration of Habitable Apartments In Basements or Cellars of 1- and 2-Family Buildings (Local Law 49 of 2019): Work & Inspections
Special Inspections
As per Chapter 17 of the Building Code, alteration 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 per 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, an alteration project may be required to comply with the following Special and Progress Inspection requirements:
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Structural Steel |
May include steel welding, High Strength Bolting, Cold Formed Steel, and Steel Details (BC 1704.3). |
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Concrete – Cast-In-Place |
Required where the total concrete placement on a given project is more than 50 cubic yards or other conditions BC 1704.4. Also see BC 1905.6 and BC 1905.3, and BC 110.3 and BC 1913.10. |
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Subgrade Inspection, Subsurface Conditions, Borings and Test Pits |
Subject to Special Inspections in accordance with Section BC 1704.7 |
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Structural Stability – Existing Buildings |
Alteration of existing structural systems or elements, such as columns, beams, bearing walls, etc. where the stability or integrity of a structural system is to be temporarily diminished, in accordance with Sections BC 1704.20.6 through BC 1704.20.10 |
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Excavations – Sheeting, Shoring, Bracing and Underpinning |
Methods employed to protect the sides of excavations, or to protect adjacent underpinned structures, shall be subject to Special Inspections in accordance with BC 1704.20.2 through BC 1704.20.10 and BC 1814. |
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Masonry |
Load bearing masonry, glass unit masonry and masonry veneer shall be inspected and verified in accordance with the requirements of BC 1704.5.1 through BC 1704.5.3, depending on the structural occupancy category of the building or structure |
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Vertical Masonry Foundation Elements |
Are subject to Special Inspections in accordance with BC 1704.9. |
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Exterior Insulation and Finish Systems (EIFS) |
All EIFS applications installed more than 15 feet above adjacent finished grades and alterations to existing EIFS installations more than 15 feet above adjacent finished grades shall be in accordance with BC 1704.13. |
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Mechanical Systems |
Mechanical systems requiring a certificate of compliance in accordance with AC 28-116.4.1 shall be inspected for conformance with the approved construction documents as per BC 1704.16. |
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Sprinkler Systems |
Sprinkler systems shall be inspected in accordance with BC 903 and BC 1704.23. See Sprinkler project guideline. |
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Heating Systems |
New heating systems shall be tested in accordance with BC 1704.25. See Mechanical project guideline. |
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Chimneys |
Chimneys shall be subject to a special inspection in accordance with BC 1704.26. |
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Fire-resistant Penetration and Joists |
Special Inspections for penetration of fire-resistant elements and assemblies; and related fire-stops in accordance with Sections BC 1704.27.1 and BC 1704.27.2. |
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Post-Installed Anchors |
The installation of post-installed mechanical anchors, adhesive anchors, and screw anchors shall comply with Table BC 1704.32. The special inspection shall include the verification of compliance with approved construction documents and standards established by the commissioner pursuant to AC 28-113.2.2 of the Administrative Code and BB 2014-018 and BB 2014-019. |
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Concrete Design Mix |
Concrete mix designs shall be in accordance with BC 1905.3 and 1913.5 (former TR 3 form). |
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Concrete Sampling and Testing |
Concrete sampling and testing shall be in accordance with BC 1905.6 and BC 1913.1.10 (former TR 2 form). |
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Preliminary |
Preliminary inspections shall be in accordance with AC 28-116.2.1 and BC 110.2. |
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Footings and Foundation |
Footing and foundation progress 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. |
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Structural Wood Frame |
Structural wood framing shall be in accordance with BC 110.3.3. |
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Fire-Resistance Rated Construction |
Fire-resistance-rated partitions, floors, ceilings, shafts, and shutters as per BC 110.3.4. |
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Alternative Materials |
Alternative materials shall be in accordance with BC 1704.14 |
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Energy Code Compliance Inspections |
Progress and Special Inspections:
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Required Inspections
In accordance with AC 28-116.2 and BC 110.1, DOB requires inspections at various stages of completion during alteration work, as well as at final completion. Based on the scope of work, the following inspections from different DOB Inspection Units may be required:
- Construction Inspections
- Footing and Foundation Inspection
- Framing Inspection
- Insulation Placement Inspection
- Final Inspection
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Plumbing Inspection - Work Progress and Final Inspection
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Fuel Gas Inspections - including gas piping roughing
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Oil Burning Equipment
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Electrical Inspection – Final Inspection
Contractors and property owner shall make sure to schedule and complete all of the required DOB Inspections. Prior to scheduling an inspection, Contractors must:
- Confirm that all construction work completed matches the most current approved drawings, and that such drawings are on site
- Periodically check that no safety hazards exist on the active construction project.
- Confirm that work complies with Code and other requirements.
- Confirm that Energy Code requirements are met.
Contractor Self-Certification of Inspections
Plumbing, sprinkler, gas, and/or standpipe contractors have the option to either require a DOB Inspection or submit a self-certification of the completed work. Such contractors opting to self-certify must submit a notice of intent to self-certify, with the dates of these self-certified inspections to DOB, and follow-up with the submission of results for self-certified inspections. The following inspections may be self-certified:
- Plumbing - Work Progress and Final Inspection
- Sprinkler work, if tapped off of domestic line, as allowed by AC 28-401.3 - Work Progress and Final Inspection
DOB Inspection Units conduct 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.
- 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.