Buildings news update - November 3rd, 2023

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November 3rd, 2023

DOB NOW

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Sustainability Laws on the Horizon

Last week, DOB held a

public hearing for proposed enforcement rules related to Local
Law 97 of 2019, the City's landmark climate law that establishes carbon
emission limits for NYC's largest buildings starting on January 1st,
2024. The proposed enforcement rules were crafted with an eye towards
supporting building owners who are making an effort to comply with the
law, and penalizing building owners who are not. DOB's Sustainability
Bureau is now reviewing public comments and plans on publishing the
final version of the enforcement rules later this year.

Also a reminder that Local Law 154 of 2021 goes into effect on January
1st, 2024. In the first stage of implementation, Local Law 154 prohibits
the use of fossil fuels for heating, hot water, cooking and other
appliances in all newly constructed 1- and 2-family homes, and in all
newly constructed buildings less than seven stories tall. New York
City's

building electrification law will be phased in over the next
several years, eventually prohibiting fossil fuel hookups in all new
building construction in New York City.

Overdose
Deaths in the Construction Industry

New data from the NYC Health Department shows that
construction workers led occupational groups in overdose deaths in New
York City. According to Health Department data, at least 269
construction workers died of an overdose in 2020, by far the most of any
occupation included in the analysis.

In that same year, there were a total of eight
building construction related fatalities in New York City. Meaning that
construction workers in our City are significantly more likely to die
from a drug overdose than from anything that occurs on a work site.

DOB is strongly urging contractors, licenses and
other construction professionals to talk with their employees about the
high rates of fatal overdoses in the construction industry, and the
available free programs and services the City offers to prevent overdose
deaths. We are also asking that members of the industry consider
printing out our

English and

Spanish language flyers with information about fentanyl and
naloxone to hang up at their work sites.

Read our Press Release For Information About Those Free Resources

In-Person
Industry Meetings

Every Month, DOB holds multiple in-person industry
meetings for Registered Design Professionals and Class 2 Filing
Representatives in our agency borough offices. These industry meetings
are an opportunity for the professionals with business before the
Department to interface directly with senior borough staff with their
questions and concerns.

See our schedule for upcoming industry meetings:

Bronx - 2nd Wednesday of the month

2 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.

1932 Arthur Avenue, Bronx, 5th Floor

Brooklyn - 4th Thursday of the month

2 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.

345 Adams Street, Brooklyn, 3rd Floor conference room #2

Manhattan - 4th Wednesday of the month

2 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.

280 Broadway, Manhattan, 3rd Floor conference room

Queens - 3rd Wednesday of the month

2 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.

120-55 Queens Boulevard, Queens, Room G110

Find Out More About Upcoming Events at DOB

Full-Scale
Emergency Response Training

Last month, the Department of Buildings along with
our partner organizations, concluded the 2023 New York City Continuity
of Operations (COOP) Full Scale Exercise Training, a 9-day disaster
preparedness program held every year in Fort Totten, Queens.

Spearheaded by DOB's Emergency Management Unit, this
annual training event for government staff and private industry
professionals includes rehearsals of the latest emergency protocols for
dealing with wide-scale natural disasters affecting buildings in an
urban environment.

Thanks to our partners at FDNY, NYCEM, SEAoNY, and
AIA New York for planning and participating in this year's training
drills.

Read our Press Release

Periodic Gas
Piping System Inspections

Reminder to property owners in Community Districts
11,12, 14, 16 and 17, that the deadline for their periodic gas piping
system inspections, as required by Local Law 152 of 2016, is right
around the corner.

All buildings in these Community Districts, except
for one- and two-family homes and other buildings classified in
occupancy group R-3, are required to have their gas piping systems
inspected by December 31st, 2023.

Visit Our Website For More Information

Sustainability Projects in DOB NOW

Beginning Wednesday, November 15th, 2023, all new
Solar, Green Roof, and Electric Energy Storage Equipment applications
will be required to be submitted through the Department's DOB NOW filing
portal. These types of filings will no longer be accepted in BIS after
November 15th, 2023.

DOB will be holding live webinar training sessions
for industry members about the upcoming change on

Thursday, November 9th at 10 a.m. and on

Monday, November 20th at 10 a.m.

Expanding functionality in the DOB NOW system is a
major effort at the Department, and with the addition of Solar, Green
Roof, and Electric Energy Storage Equipment applications, almost all
construction projects can be filed using the online portal.

Read our Service Notice for Solar and Green Roof Projects

Read our Service Notice for Electric Energy Storage Equipment

Visit the
DOB NOW Public Portal

More Upcoming DOB NOW Training Webinars

Service
Updates

DOB NOW: Build to Launch Suspended Scaffold Work Type

DOB NOW: Build to Launch Solar and Green Roof Filing Submittal

Electric Energy Storage Equipment Work Type to Launch in DOB NOW:
Build

Follow up #1: Local Law 163 of 2021: Artwork on Temporary Protective
Structures

Civil Penalty Waiver Requests for Boilers and Elevators in DOB NOW:
Safety

Violations for 2018-2022 Failure to File Affirmation of Correction for
Category 1 Elevator Test Report

Special Inspections: Implementing Requirements for Inspections
Introduced in the 2022 NYC Construction Codes

Work
Without a Permit: Requesting an Override, Reduction, or Waiver of Civil
Penalties

Energy Storage Systems Applications: Updated Filing Requirements for
OTCR Site-Specific Evaluation

Building Owners Required to Post Building Energy Efficiency Rating Label
- Local Law 33 of 2018 as amended by Local Law 95 of 2019

All Department Service Updates

Hearings +
Rules

1 RCNY 104-10 Amendment of Rules Related to Riggers and Rigging
(Riggers rule amendment)

Public Hearing: 11/21/23 @ 11:00 a.m.

1 RCNY 104-20 Amendment of Rules Related to Riggers and Rigging
(Supervisory Responsibilities of a Licensed Rigger rule amendment)

Public Hearing: 11/21/23 @ 11:00 a.m.

1 RCNY 3316-01 Amendment of Rules Related to Riggers and Rigging
(Rigging Operations and Rigging Equipment rule amendment)

Public Hearing: 11/21/23 @ 11:00 a.m.

1 RCNY 908-02 Rules Relating to Installation and Location of Natural
Gas Alarms

Public Hearing: 11/20/23 @ 11:00 a.m.

1 RCNY 3616-06 Rules Relating to Installation and Location of
Natural Gas Alarms

Public Hearing: 11/20/23 @ 11:00 a.m.

1 RCNY 103-16 Amendment of Rules Relating to Inspection of Parking
Structures

Promulgated Effective Date 11/23/23

All
Department Rules

Buildings
Bulletins

2023-018: This Bulletin clarifies the technical and administrative
requirements when Joint Living-Work Quarters for Artists (JLWQA) are
converted to general residential use. (Bulletin
Highlights)

2023-017: This Bulletin clarifies the applicability of the New York
City Building Code provisions for exit access stair enclosures (BC
1019.3, Exception 3) in one- and two-family dwellings.

2023-016: This Bulletin establishes the acceptance criteria where
gas work was performed by individuals not possessing the minimum
required qualifications.

2023-015: This Bulletin rescinds 26 Memoranda issued by the
Department but are no longer applicable under current Codes and Local
Laws.

2023-014: This Bulletin rescinds 6 Directives, 9 PPNs and 3 Letters
which were issued by the Department but are no longer applicable under
current Codes and Local Laws.

All Buildings Bulletins

Local Laws

All
DOB-Related Local Laws

Stop Work
Orders

In an effort to better educate the industry on why
DOB issues Stop Work Orders at construction sites, we have published a
list of the top 10 reasons why these enforcement actions are taken.

Thanks in part to DOB's focus on educational outreach
about City regulations, we are happy to report that the number of Stop
Work Orders issued in 2023 is down by about a third compared to 2022.

Check out our Top 10 List

Read Our Stop Work Order Guidance

Enforcement
Bulletins

DOB publishes monthly bulletins detailing the
agency's efforts to sanction and deter bad actors in the construction
industry. You can find this information posted on the

Enforcement Action Bulletin page of our website.

Additional Disciplinary Actions & Voluntary Surrenders

Weather
Advisories

When severe weather strikes, it pays to be in the
know.

The Department of Buildings emails out weather
advisories when NYC is expected to face high wind events and other types
of severe weather.

Sign-Up For Weather Advisories

Jimmy Oddo,
Commissioner

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