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Skilled Trades Project Requirements:
Boiler Work & Inspections

During the course of completing boiler work or repairs of equipment, Contractors should check the following applicable notes to ensure regulatory and Code compliance with NYC Building, Mechanical and Fuel Gas Codes:

Boiler Inspections, per NYC Mechanical Code chapter 10 section 1011.1

  • Pressure Relief Valves.  Piped down; unthreaded end not directly connected to house drainage or vent lines
  • Approved Commercial Gas Flex.  Commercial cooking equipment on wheels with restraints
  • Residential Stoves, Ovens + Dryers.  Only these may use a gas flex; other equipment must be hard-piped.

NYC Fuel Gas Code: Gas Authorization, per FGC section 406

  • Flue, Make-up Air, Venting + Safety Control Wiring.  Must be complete for dryers, hot water heaters, boilers, HVAC units
  • Fire Protection Inspections.  Must be successfully completed when associated with a gas authorization request
  • Gas Test.  Must not be more than one year old
  • Color code.  All gas piping in new or existing buildings shall be identified by a yellow label marked Gas in black letters, at intervals not exceeding five (5) feet.  All labels must be in place at the time of the gas test. Plumbing Code (PC) 401.5 (ASME A13.1)
  • Welder affidavit (gas pipe welding only) from approved agency

NYC Energy Code: Commissioning Replacement Equipment >600kBTU/h

Commissioning preliminary report:  Must be submitted to DOB prior to sign-off Commissioning final report:  Must be submitted to DOB 90 days after sign-off, as required by ECC section C408.

Special Inspections

Boiler work may require, per Building Code Chapter 17, certain Special and Progress Inspections, and other construction requirements to be performed during and at the end of construction, as per the table below.  The Registered Design Professional is responsible for indicating which Special Inspections are required at application intake.  The Owner must engage the responsible Special Inspection Agencies, as required by Fuel Gas Code Section 406, for such Special and Progress Inspections.

SPECIAL/PROGRESS INSPECTION

DESCRIPTION OF CODE REQUIREMENTS

High Pressure Gas Piping

Per FGC Section 403.1.1, all welded gas distribution piping is subject to a special inspection.  See BC 1704.19

High-pressure-steam

High-pressure-steam piping and high temperature hot water piping shall be subject to a special inspection. See BC 1704.18

Mechanical Systems*

Mechanical systems shall be subject to a special inspection.  See BC 1704.16.2

Heating Systems

Special inspection is required for new and altered boilers and heating systems. See BC 1704.25

Chimneys

Chimneys shall be subject to a special inspection.  See BC 1704.26

Special Inspection for Fuel Storage and Fuel-Piping Systems

Fuel-oil storage equipment, including tanks, pumps, valves,
transfer, return, fill and vent piping, hangers and bracing, fill and vent terminals, and related systems regulated by the New York City Mechanical Code Section 1308,  See BC 1704.17

Seismic Isolation System

There shall be periodic special inspection during the fabrication and installation of isolator units and energy dissipation devices for equipment and piping that are integral to the seismic isolation system as per BC 1707.8

Fire Resistance Rated Construction

As per BC 110.3.4, Fire-resistance-rated construction shall be inspected to determine compliance with the approved construction documents, including inspection of the following work:

  • Fire-resistance-rated partitions, floors, ceilings, shafts; and
  • Fire shutters

Flood Zone Compliance

Special inspection for flood zone compliance shall be as required by BC Appendix G105.3.

Final Inspection

There shall be a final inspection of all permitted work. Final inspections shall comply with AC 28-116.2.4.

NYC Energy Code: Progress Inspections, as required by BC 109.3.5 and NYCECC
  • Penetrations through thermal envelope: must be sealed to minimize air leakage
  • Dampers integral to building envelope:  outdoor air dampers must close when system is off
  • HVAC & Service Water heating system controls: meets sizing and efficiency requirements
  • HVAC & Service Water heating system controls:  applicable part-load, reset, temperature controls
  • Piping insulation: minimum thickness of 1” to 4.5”, required on piping carrying fluids >105F
  • Maintenance Information:  shall be furnished for installation of new equipment
  • Permanent Certificate:  shall list type and efficiency of heating, cooling, and/or service water heating systems

*Some special inspections listed may not be applicable for boiler installations, but are essential to complete the required project work, i.e. plumbing and mechanical*

Other Requirements – FDNY

Fuel storage installations/modification of tanks require FDNY notification. FDNY requires an annual permit for fuel storage tanks.

Required Boiler Inspections

DOB inspections are required at various stages of completion of the boiler work, as well as at the final completion. Based on the work or repair project’s scope of work, the following boiler inspections may be required:

  • Final Inspection.  Sign-off

Self-Certification of Plumbing Inspections

For boiler work, contractors have the option to either require a DOB Inspection or submit a self-certification of boilers in one- to five-family residential buildings with devices having heat input less than 350,000 BTUs.  For fuel storage, the contractor has the option of self-certification for all work. Contractors must submit the results for self-certified inspections (online inspection results).

The Enforcement division conducts a random audit of all self-certified results to ensure compliance of inspected work with Code and other regulations.

Inspection Requests

An online tool for scheduling appointments for required DOB inspections must be used.  DOB NOW provides robust online accounts, making it easier to submit applications, make payments, schedule appointments, check the status of an application or inspection, pull permits, and make renewals.

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