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QRWI Certification

There is a formal certification process for Qualified Retaining Wall Inspectors (QRWI) as per the NYC Rules and NYC Administrative Code.

In order to be certified as a QRWI inspector, the candidate must be a registered professional engineer in New York State.  In addition, the QRWI candidate will be required to document, to the Department, a minimum of three (3) years of structural engineering experience in:

  • retaining wall design
  • support of excavation
  • structural design, and/or
  • forensic structural engineering assessments.

The QRWI will be required to submit a detailed curriculum vitae (CV) with three sample engineering projects, regarding the design of retaining walls, support of excavation or forensic structural investigations and repairs.

NOTE: In lieu of retaining wall-specific design and/or investigations projects, the QRWI candidate could also submit Support of Excavation (SOE) related projects.

Upon the review of the QRWI candidate’s CV and sample engineering reports and projects, the Retaining Wall Unit will schedule an interview with the candidate. The interview will consist of a series of questions designed to examine the candidate’s knowledge of structural engineering and of the NYC Building Code and Rule requirements regarding retaining walls.

If you are interested in becoming a QRWI please email the Retaining Wall Unit at LL37RetainingWalls@buildings.nyc.gov.

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