Buildings news update - December 5, 2024

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December 5, 2024

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Cause
Determined For 2023 Building Collapse

Following an extensive investigation conducted in
collaboration with multiple agencies, DOB has published a comprehensive
report detailing the major structural collapse that occurred at 1915
Billingsley Terrace, in the Morris Heights section of the Bronx on
December 11, 2023.

The report concludes that the collapse was primarily caused by the
unsafe removal of a load-bearing masonry pier at the building's
northeast corner, during a permitted facade repair job. This reckless
action, undertaken by contractors, resulted from a critical failure by
the site's engineer of record to identify the load-bearing nature of the
pier. As a result of our investigation, the Department took enforcement
actions against the engineer and the contractor for their failure to
safeguard the public from construction activity at this building.

This incident could have been prevented if the
engineer and contractor had taken due care to properly shore up the
corner of the building prior to removing bricks for the load-bearing
pier. In an effort to prevent similar collapses like this from happening
in the future, DOB is creating a new proactive enforcement unit focused
on inspecting buildings that have been allowed to fall into disrepair by
negligent owners and also tracking bad actors within the construction
industry. The creation of this new unit is thanks in part to new
legislation from the City Council and a $4.7 million investment from
Mayor Eric Adams.

Check out the Press Release

Read the Investigation Report

Watch DOB Commissioner Oddo's Interview on WCBS

Watch New Surveillance Video of the 2023 Collapse

Join Our New
Innovation Review Board

At DOB, we're always asking: How can we do better?
And now, we're inviting YOU to help us answer that question!

We've launched a new Innovation Review Board, and we need volunteers to
join us in shaping the future of NYC's construction and development
industries. As a member, participants will evaluate the latest
innovations in construction and development to help us select the top
ideas, which we will support for city-wide implementation and industry
adoption.

Is there a better method for tracking progress on
a construction site?

How can gas piping be installed more safely and
efficiently?

What tools can be used to make work sites safer?

This is your chance to help us answer these questions
and make a real impact on NYC's built environment! The deadline to apply
to join the Innovation Review Board is December 14.

Learn More and Apply Today

New
Electrical Code for NYC

The New York City Council recently voted to approve a
comprehensive update for the NYC Electrical Code, the first such
revision of this code since 2011. This is major news for construction
projects around the city.

When the new electrical code officially becomes city
law later this month, an effective compliance date for all new projects
will be set for December 2025. DOB will be publishing a Buildings
Bulletin in the coming weeks to provide guidance to builders looking to
utilize the new Codes for projects before the effective compliance date.

Changes in the updated codes include:

Enhanced safety standards: Aligning with national
best practices.

Increased resilience: New rules for
rebuilding/reconditioning electrical equipment and systems in the
aftermath of flood events.

Boosting EV infrastructure: More support for
charging stations in garages.

Facilitating fossil fuel phase-out: Regulations
will point the way for newer buildings that use electricity for
heating, hot water, and cooking.

Better backups: Electric battery systems can meet
the needs for emergency and standby systems as a cleaner, safer
alternative to fossil fuels.

Longer license terms: 3 years, reducing the
hassle of frequent renewals.

Better design requirements for energy storage
systems: Building a more reliable, resilient city grid.

Creating these new electrical codes for the city was
a major undertaking. Many thanks to the volunteer experts of the city's
Electrical Code Revision Committee, DOB staff who worked on the new
codes, and our partners in the City Council, including Committee Chair
Pierina Sanchez who sponsored the bill.

Sidewalk
Sheds in the Papers

DOB has taken major steps to remove long-standing
construction sheds from city sidewalks, while reimagining what
pedestrian protection looks like in our city.

Over 300 long-standing sheds have already been
removed from city sidewalks in the past year, including some of the
oldest sheds around the five boroughs. Progress is also being made to on
our ongoing

Local Law 11 study, and

the work to redesign sidewalk sheds, with announcements on both of
these major initiatives set for 2025.

In addition, DOB has been working closely with the
New York City Council on proposed legislation, including strong new
enforcement tools to compel negligent property owners to start
long-delayed facade repairs, so that thier old sheds can finally be
removed.

Recent editorials and op-eds have been written by the

New York Daily News Editorial Board,

Downtown Brooklyn Partnership,

34th Street Partnership,

Council Member Erik Bottcher,

District Attorney Alvin Bragg, City Council Member Keith Powers, and
Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine in different outlets, all in
agreement that this legislation in the City Council is critical if we
want to make serious progress removing many of the hundreds of
long-standing sheds in our city.

Act Fast on
Local Law 97

Are you on track to meet Local Law 97 emissions
limits for your building? We are less than four weeks away until the end
of 2024, which is the first compliance year for NYC's groundbreaking
climate law. Buildings over 25,000 square feet must act now to make
necessary retrofits and avoid penalties.

We are also nearing the deadline (January 1, 2025) to
apply for certain adjustments to emissions limits if you are a
non-profit hospital or a high-emitting building with special
circumstances. You can find out more about the adjustment process on our
website.

Owners who need help getting on a compliance pathway
should reach out to NYC Accelerator, the city's free resource center for
those looking to comply with Local Law 97 and improve the energy
efficiency of their building. NYC Accelerator will provide guidance on
the requirements of the law, help you create a decarbonization plan and
improve the energy efficiency of your building, connect you with
sustainability contractors, and help you apply to available grants,
low-interest loans, and tax abatement programs.

Learn More About Local Law 97

Find Out More About Applying for Emissions Limit Adjustments

Contact NYC
Accelerator

Parapet
Observations Deadline

By the end of year, property owners with building
parapets fronting the public right-of-way are required to complete an
observation report of those parapets. To help get the word out about the
upcoming deadline and dispel misinformation about the requirements, DOB
has been conducting information sessions with elected officials,
community boards, and homeowners, and talking with members of the media.

This annual observation is a simple but important new requirement, which
entails a visual inspection of the parapets that can be performed by
anyone who is qualified to identify parapet damage, including
construction professionals, handymen, building superintendents, and even
the property owners themselves. The annual observation reports,
recording the results of this simple inspection, don't need to be filed
with DOB, however they must be kept by the property owners for the next
six years.

Detached 1- and 2-family homes, and buildings with a
barrier or fence preventing access to the exterior wall are exempt from
these new requirements.

Every year, DOB responds to dozens of parapet collapses across the city.
Our investigations into these incidents routinely find that they could
have been avoided with proper preventative maintenance. This new
requirement is intended to help property owners better understand if
their building is in need of repairs, so they can fix the issue before
it becomes a bigger, and more expensive, problem.

Find Out More About Parapets

Read our Industry Notice

Check Out Our Parapet FAQ Page

Watch WPIX 11 News Story About the New Requirement

Resumes
Welcome

It's a big city out there with lots of buildings (1.1
million in fact!), which is why DOB is looking for New Yorkers to join
our team and further our missions of enhancing public safety, quality of
life, and sustainability in every neighborhood across the five boroughs.

DOB inspectors, plan examiners, legal professionals, and administrative
staff all play a critical role in promoting safety and quality of life
here in the greatest city in the world. As a member of DOB, you can help
make New York City an even better place for everyone that lives, works,
visits and builds here.

Check Out Our website to Learn More About Careers at DOB

See Our Open Job Postings

Service Updates

NEW Requirements for Associated Electrical Filings for Solar and
Electric Energy Storage Equipment Work Types in DOB NOW: Build

Follow-up #2: Post Approval Amendments – CCD1 Requests, ZRD1 Requests,
and Requests for Second Review of Plan Examination Objections

Follow-up #2: Updated Hoisting Machine Operator Experience Verification
Form

Training and Certification Extension for Limited HMO License

Failure
to File the 2023 Parking Structure Inspection Report Violations to be
Issued

Worker Wallet Card Launched in Training Connect

Follow-up #1: Electrical Advisory Board Eliminated

REQUIREMENT: Unlicensed Operation of Articulating Boom Cranes, Mini
Cranes, and Rotating Telehandlers Must be Reported

NCCCO Certification Revision to New York City Hoisting Machine Operator
License

Lift Director License Type to Launched in DOB NOW: Licensing

All Department Service Updates

Hearings +
Rules

1 RCNY 101-03 Amendment of Rules Relating to Homeowner Resolution
Program (Fees Payable to the Department of Buildings)

Promulgated Effective Date 12/18/24

1 RCNY 102-01 Amendment of Penalty Schedule for Violations involving
Parking Structures (Violation Classification and Certification of
Correction)

Public Hearing: 12/16/2024 @ 11:00 a.m.

1 RCNY 102-05 Penalty for failure to certify correction of
immediately hazardous violations (Penalty for Failure to Certify
Correction of Immediately Hazardous Violation)

Promulgated Effective Date 12/18/24

1 RCNY 102-06 Amendment of Rules Relating to Homeowner Resolution
Program (Homeowner Resolution Program)

Promulgated Effective Date 12/18/24

1 RCNY 103-10 Amendment of Penalty for Failure to File Certification
of Gas Piping Inspection (Periodic Inspection of Gas Piping System)

Promulgated Effective Date 12/18/24

1 RCNY 103-13 Amendment of Rules relating to Inspection of Parking
Garages (Periodic Inspection of Parking Structures)

Public Hearing: 12/19/2024 @ 11:00 a.m.

1 RCNY 908-01 Amendment of Rules relating to Installation and
Location of Carbon Monoxide Detectors (Carbon Monoxide Detectors)

Public Hearing: 12/12/2024 @ 11:00 a.m.

1 RCNY 3616-08 Amendment of Rules relating to Installation and
Location of Carbon Monoxide Detectors (National Fire Protection
Association ("NFPA") 720 Amendment relating to the Installation and
Location of Carbon Monoxide Detectors) Public Hearing: 12/12/2024 @
11:00 a.m.

All
Department Rules

Buildings
Bulletins

All Buildings Bulletins

Local Laws

All
DOB-Related Local Laws

Upcoming
Events

Every week, DOB holds online and in-person events for
industry professionals and members of the public.

See Our Schedule for All Upcoming Events

DOB NOW

DOB NOW: Build is continuously being updated
to address regulatory changes and in response to industry feedback.

For a comprehensive list of recent changes, check out
DOB NOW: Build Release Notes, which has been updated for November
2024. This guide gets into the nitty-gritty of interface and process
changes related to DOB NOW: Build, helping industry professionals
better navigate the public portal.

DOB NOW: Build Release Notes

FAQs and Resources for DOB NOW: Build

Small
Businesses

Small business owners and entrepreneurs in New York
City can receive one-on-one guidance and helpful consultations for their
projects by reaching out to

DOB's Small Business Team (SBT).

Whether opening a new place of business or renovating
an existing one, SBT gives the City's small business owners and
entrepreneurs the dedicated support they need. The first step for your
small business is filling out a

SBT support request form on our website.

Stop Work
Orders

DOB will issue a Stop Work Order at a work site if it
is necessary to protect public safety.

Avoid any unnecessary project delays, by taking the
necessary steps to keep your work sites in a safe condition.

See our
Stop Work Order Map

Top Ten Reasons For Stop Work Orders

Learn More About Stop Work Orders

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

Winter is right around the corner, which means winter
weather isn't far behind.

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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