By Bradd Hout

The NYC Department of Buildings is proposing changes to help improve the permit renewal process for stalled developments. Previously, the Department of Buildings would void permits on sites that had not begun construction work within one year of a permits issuance. under the new program, a developer is allowed 4 years of no activity before the permit will expire.

The city estimates that there are roughly 541 stalled construction sites across the five boroughs. Through this action, the department intends to help ease and speed the recovery of the construction and real estate industries in NYC.

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By: Arelis Batista

With the implementation of the NYC Construction Codes of 2008 Special Inspections replaced most Controlled Inspections for all construction projects approved on or after July 1, 2008. The scope of Special Inspections is similar to Controlled Inspections, defined in Chapter 17  of the 2008 Building Code and the Department’s Special Inspections Rule. The new code mandated that Special Inspections only be performed by Special Inspectors working for a Buildings Department-registered Special Inspection Agency.

In addition, the NYC Construction Codes of 2008 implemented similar requirements for Progress Inspections. Progress Inspection Agencies must be qualified to perform inspections required by the Rules of the Department, Title 28 of the Administrative Code, and/or the new NYC Building Code (Chapter 1 – BC 109). Inspections must be performed by a registered design professional with relevant experience, or a person under their direct supervision. Progress inspectors must also verify that Special Inspections, required prior to the Progress Inspection, have been completed and documented.

As part of the first phase of the implementation of the New York City Construction Codes., Special and Progress Inspectors and agencies had one (1) year to become certified by July 1, 2009. Qualifications inspectors are specific to trade and building code. (See Qualifications) In addition, inspectors and agencies must have the following insurance coverage:
Professional liability/errors and omissions insurance for a minimum of $500,000 for the term of the registration
General Liability insurance for a minimum of $1,000,000
Insurance required by the provisions of the New York State Workers’ Compensation and Disability Law.

The Department of Buildings has extended the period for compliance until December 31, 2009. in the interim, inspections are currently submitted on TR-1′s and applicants attest to compliance with the current requirements of the code. Projects filed prior to June 30, 2008 use the old TR-1 and projects filed after must use the new TR-1.

Registration as a Special Inspection Agency will be introduced later in 2009, allowing electronic registration for agencies performing Special Inspections. Currently, individuals meeting the qualifications and insurance requirements may certify inspections.

Note: No registration is required at this time. When a Special Inspector signs and submits the TR1, they’re certifying that they meet the qualifications under Appendix A.

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By Tom Walsh

The NYC Department of buildings has announced plans to build a new city owned and operated concreted testing laboratory and the implementation of a new concrete re-testing protocol after over 80 new buildings in NYC have been named in an indictment of Testwell Laboratories by the Manhattan District Attorney’s office. Testwell, who has been accused of falsifying concrete-testing documents, performed the required concrete inspections and technical reports. Testwell Laboratories is one of the leading in the industry and has performed concrete inspections on the new Yankee Stadium, Freedom Tower and the new Jet blue Terminal at JFK. All of the projects, along with 80 other projects will be required by the Buildings Department to re-test the concrete to verify it meets the current standards allowed by code.

The newly created city testing laboratory will be open in January 2010, focusing on High Rise and Low Construction through the five Boroughs. The Department of Design and Construction will be assigning employees, as well as a licensed professional as Director, to the new lab in the Bronx in the coming months.

View the official NY DOB Memo.

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The NYC Department of Buildings is enacting a new zoning review process this month that is aimed at giving the public greater access to what projects are being proposed in the city. The review, called the “develpment challenge process,” allows for the general public to challenge zoning approval issued by the department.

This enactment is interesting for many reasons. For one, the process is proposed to occur after the initial zoning review has been completed by the Department of Buildings. This not only places a greater sense of accountability on the department plan examiner, but also gives an inventive to the public to understand the facets of the NYC Zoning Resolution. The possibility of a savvy resident disapproving a plan examiners approval based on actual references to an ordinance seems very possible and somewhat unprecedented and interesting. While such public review models may exist in some form within planning and landmarks departments across the country, I think most building departments have rarely used this type of open review for the community. The willingness of the department to open itself to public comment is commendable in this sense.

Written by Bradd Hout

Aside from the interesting scenario noted above, the programs true intention is to provide residents with an increased ability to review the proposed projects in their neighborhood. I would agree that the public has a right to know and comment on new buildings in their area and this only reinforces this right. The resolution of conflicts that could be caused with an overload of comments and/or delays in review times will ultimately decide how successful this program becomes. In any event, the NYC Department of Buildings has certainly taken a step forward in becoming more transparent and accessible to the general public.

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Written by Bradd Hout

The NYC Department of Buildings has instituted new drawing requirements for the approval of all projects filed after March 23, 2009. These requirements mandate that all plans submitted adhere to strict title block plan designations, sheet numbering and other formatting. The new system is part of an ambitious move aimed at making approved drawings accessible (via scanning) to department employees and other internal agencies. By creating a standardized page numbering and labeling system, the department hopes to create a uniform format by which drawings can be reviewed electronically.

The move was met with some confusion and frustration initially but has seemed to grab hold within the NYC design community. As this process matures the NYC Department of Buildings should succeed in improving the accessibility and archiving of drawings filed with their agency.

New to these requirements? Click for a link to the departments guide to drawings requirements.

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