Facade & Structural Inspections in Jersey City
In response to the collapse of the Champlain Towers South Condominium in Surfside, FL, Jersey City recently mandated facade and structural inspections for qualifying buildings at the direction of the Construction Code Official. The requirements mirror that of the Local Law 11/98 (FISP) rules established by the NYC DOB to keep buildings, and the residents that live within them, safe.
Facade
Buildings 6 stories or more, or 4 stories or more for masonry facade
The inspection must include all exterior walls and appurtenances. The initial inspection must be completed by December 31, 2023, and repeated every five (5) years thereafter. Inspections must be completed by a qualified Professional Engineer or Registered Architect.
Structural
Concrete Buildings Only
The inspection must include all foundations, balconies, structural members, and waterproofing systems. The initial inspection must be completed by December 31, 2022, and must be completed every ten (10) years thereafter. Inspections must be completed by a qualified Professional Engineer or Registered Architect.
For over 35 years, Merritt Engineering has performed thousands of exterior façade inspections and has implemented cost-effective repair programs for buildings throughout New York City. We will continue to provide additional information regarding Jersey City's safety inspections as it is made available.
If you need immediate assistance, please feel free to contact us at (718) 767-0923.
FISP AMENDMENTS & SUB-CYCLE A DEADLINE
The NYC DOB has released a new rule, which took effect on November 12, 2021, and outlines amendments in order to clarify FISP requirements.
AMENDMENTS:
- Requirements for buildings that do not front a public right-of-way.
If a building does not front a public right-of-way, physical examinations are to be performed at a representative sample of the facade elevations with a minimum of one examination per building.
- “6-story” buildings could qualify under Local Law 11/98.
If your building is considered to be 6 stories per the Certificate of Occupancy, but contains a cellar whereby at least half of the cellar height is above grade at any exterior wall, your building would be required to file under Local Law 11/98 and all walls would be subject to inspection.
- Some flexibility offered to buildings who missed their prior FISP Report. Starting in Cycle 10, Owners who did not file their FISP Report for the previous cycle may file a report prior to the start of their designated filing window provided that all applicable civil penalties are paid at the time of filing.
SUB-CYCLE A DEADLINE APPROACHING
Any buildings 6+ stories with a building block # ending in 4, 5, 6 or 9, the deadline to file your 9th Cycle Local Law 11 Façade Report is approaching. Your Sub-cycle A report must be filed by February 21, 2022 to avoid any fines or penalties, which have increased significantly since the last cycle.
Should you require our services regarding a Local Law 11/98 (FISP) inspection or have any questions concerning the new rule, please feel free to contact us at info@merrittengineering.com.
Use of Drones for FISP Inspections
On November 24th the Department of Buildings announced the release of a new comprehensive report on the potential use of drones in New York City to aid in safety inspections of our city’s buildings. The report provides a deep dive into how drones could potentially be used for building façade inspections within the five boroughs. The DOB’s report found that when used in conjunction with up-close, hands-on examinations, the use of drones could potentially have application for façade inspections, by providing additional information to the Qualified Exterior Wall Inspector. However, the use of drones, high resolution photography, non-destructive testing, or other similar methods does not eliminate the requirements for close-up inspections as required by Local Law 11/98 (FISP).
Having recently utilized drone cameras for exterior inspections, our team has found the technology to be useful in evaluating existing conditions and determining necessary repairs in areas that are hard to access – such as ornate facades.
There are still hurdles to overcome, including the highly restrictive fly zones implemented by NYC and the FAA. Nevertheless, this is still an important step toward making building inspections safer and more efficient. To read the official press release and full report, please continue reading.
PERIODIC CONDITION ASSESSMENTS OF PARKING GARAGES IN NYC
As of January 1, 2022, The Department of Buildings (DOB) began enforcing the recent New York State Rule, which requires periodic inspections of parking structures in New York City, as part of an update to the NYC Building Code. Below is a brief summery of requirements and classifications.
Requirements
• Inspections must be conducted by a NYS registered Professional Engineer (PE).
• These assessments must be performed every six (6) years.
• Similar to FISP, filings will be by Sub-cycles, which is TBD.
• Annual observations should be completed between assessments and do not require a PE.
• Records of both assessments and annual observations should be available.
• Fines and penalties are TDB.
Classifications
• Safe
• Unsafe (If Unsafe, the DOB will be notified immediately and protection installed, followed by repairs.)
• Safe with Repair and/or Engineering Monitoring (A follow-up inspection will be required within a three year period.)
If you need immediate assistance, or would like to schedule a preliminary garage inspection to determine existing areas of concern, please feel free to contact us. Our team has extensive experience with garage investigations and restoration projects. Continue reading for an overview of our services offered.
Smarter Building Safety Inspections in Florida
In Florida, high-rise condos are still under scrutiny after the tragic collapse of the Champlain Towers South Condominium in Surfside, FL. Smarter inspections, assessing critical building elements with stricter reporting requirements should be expected along with the increased frequency of inspections.
On December 15th, a Miami-Dade Grand Jury released a series of recommendations to ensure building safety in Florida.
RECOMMENDATIONS
- All buildings older than 10 years must be inspected, and every 10 years thereafter.
- New buildings are to be inspected 10 to 15 years after completion, then every 10 years thereafter.
- Increase staffing in Miami's building department's Unsafe Structures Division.
- Stronger qualifications for engineers and/or architects as inspectors.
For the full Grand Jury report, continue reading here.
Our FL team has performed hundreds of inspections to confirm safe building conditions and are available to answer any questions you may have. Please feel free to contact us at (954) 691-0009.
How can we help you?
We are currently helping several of our clients get their buildings in shape, coordinating inspections and testing, leak investigations, façade and roofing restoration projects. All projects are managed efficiently by our team from beginning to end and are designed to provide sustainable, cost-effective results. We believe in providing our clients with the quality service they deserve. We would be happy to do the same for you.
Call us today at (718) 767-0923.
About Us
Established in 1986, Merritt Engineering has become a leading Engineering firm specializing in Building Restoration and Structural Design. We have extensive experience in Façade Restorations, Roofing & Waterproofing, Historic/Landmark Preservation, Design/Rehabilitations and Construction Administration.
For over 30 years, we have delivered customized, practical and cost-effective engineering solutions to properties throughout the United States including commercial, residential, healthcare, government and educational facilities. Today, Merritt continues to build a strong reputation through its commitment to preserving and enhancing our city’s skyline.
|