New York Codes, Rules and Regulations › Title 8 - EDUCATION DEPARTMENT › Chapter II - Regulations of the Commissioner › Subchapter J - Buildings And Transportation › Part 155 - Educational Facilities › Section 155.2 - Construction and remodeling of school district facilities

Current through Register Vol. 46, No. 28, July 10, 2024
(a) All plans, specifications and work
				  regarding the erection, enlargement, repair, replacement, maintenance or
				  remodeling of occupied facilities of school districts and of boards of
				  cooperative educational services shall comply with the Uniform Safety Standards
				  for School Construction and Maintenance Projects as set forth in section
				  155.5 
				  of this Part. Such uniform safety standards shall include but not be limited
				  to: pre-construction testing and planning, exiting and ventilation,
				  pre-construction notification, asbestos and lead protocols, control of dust,
				  gases and fumes, protection from falling debris, and general safety and
				  security.
(b) Plans and
				  specifications for the erection, enlargement, repair or remodeling of
				  facilities of school districts, other than in city school districts in cities
				  having one million inhabitants or more, and of boards of cooperative
				  educational services, shall be submitted to the commissioner when the
				  contemplated construction costs of such work are $10,000[FN1]or more, and for
				  all projects affecting the health and safety of pupils.
(1) Documentation in such quantity and format
				  as prescribed by the commissioner, including plans and specifications, addenda
				  and change orders, shall be submitted to the commissioner for approval in
				  accordance with procedures set forth by the commissioner. When approved, such
				  documentation shall be retained by the department. A commissioner's approval
				  letter referencing such documentation shall be sent to school authorities.
				  School authorities shall maintain approved documentation, including copies of
				  approved plans and specifications, addenda, change orders, and the associated
				  commissioner's approval letter, for permanent filing.
(i) Plans and specifications shall conform to
				  the State Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code (19 NYCRR Parts 1219
				  through 1229, the State Energy Conservation Construction Code (19 NYCRR Part
				  1240) and to this Part, and shall show in detail requirements of design and
				  construction, space layout, circulation and exiting facilities, smoke and fire
				  control, accident protection, visual and thermal environment and related
				  electrical and mechanical work, and sanitation and related plumbing work which
				  ensure the health, safety and comfort of occupants of the facility.
(ii) Materials, equipment and types of
				  construction which may endanger the health, safety and comfort of occupants
				  shall not be used.
(iii)
				  Construction materials, details and workmanship shall conform to generally
				  accepted standards as determined by the commissioner.
(iv) Specifications for construction shall
				  allow for equivalencies and shall not require the base bid to be based only on
				  the materials or products specified.
(v) Specifications for construction shall
				  require that contractors or suppliers furnishing mechanical equipment shall
				  instruct the governing body of the school district or board of cooperative
				  educational services or its representative in the proper operation and service
				  of all such equipment at the time of completion and before acceptance of the
				  building by such governing body.
(vi) Should accounting, tabulation or
				  computer equipment be requested as original equipment, the plans and
				  specifications shall conspicuously identify the areas or spaces for the
				  installation of such equipment. Such plans and specifications shall contain a
				  description of the equipment, its estimated costs, the need for and purpose of
				  such equipment, a description of the space required to house the equipment,
				  including the proposed pupil capacity of such space, and a description of the
				  integral relationship between the construction work and the equipment. Such
				  equipment shall not be approved for purposes of building aid computed pursuant
				  to section 3602 (6)  of the Education
				  Law, when located outside the constructed or reconstructed space or when not
				  shown to have a direct integral relationship to the construction
				  work.