Is my building safe? A look at how to protect your building during times of extreme weather.
After record breaking rain from Tropical Storm Ida, buildings and residents were hit with flooding, power outages and leaks. Unfortunately, this also brought damaged roofs, and a whole range of building envelope problems.
Here are some tips from our experts on how to keep your buildings and your tenants protected.
Assess - What do we do next?
Rainy conditions and high winds can severely impact exterior components of a building that are already at risk, such as cracks in exterior masonry and deteriorated roofing conditions. Take note of which locations need repair – for example, if you have water ponding on your roof, are currently experiencing leaks, or structural problems occur, report them to an engineer and request a professional inspection with recommendations. A Building Condition Survey, conducted by a licensed Engineer can prove to be beneficial in your decision making process with respect to renovation and maintenance projects, including how to phase them out to fit your budget.
Address - Work with a professional
When there is damage to specific building components, don’t procrastinate on repairs. For example, many building façade components, such as brick and concrete, are exposed to potential weaknesses and experience fast-paced deterioration. it is crucial to ensure these items are thoroughly addressed and properly repaired. You should also repair or replace cracked masonry, rusted lintels and deteriorated mortar joints as soon as possible to prevent further damage and deterioration.
Assemble - Plan ahead
If there’s one thing seasoned Building Owners and Property Managers can attest to, it’s that putting off repairs will always cost more down the road. External factors, such as severe weather during tropical storms, exact a heavy toll on buildings. By being proactive and budgeting for a routine repair and maintenance program, Owners and Managers can ensure the timely repair and replacement of aging building components, identify the most economical means of phasing immediate and future repairs, and eliminate unanticipated, and unnecessary capital expenditures later on.
If you need immediate assistance, or would like to schedule a building survey to determine if repairs are required, please feel free to contact us at (718) 767-0923.
DOB Waives Fees for Ida Damage
As a reminder, as of Tuesday, September 14, 2021, the Department of Buildings will not require applicants to pay any fees for filings and permits for work due to damage caused by remnants of Hurricane Ida per Mayoral Emergency Executive Order No. 235. Permit restrictions will also be waived on these properties. In addition, if fees were paid for filings or permits for work due to damage caused by remnants of Hurricane Ida from September 1-13, a refund can be requested. For more information please see Buildings News Update below, and the following NYC DOB Service Notice.
Reduce your ECB violations payments by Dec 2021
In order to help New Yorkers recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, NYC is offering a temporary program allowing you to pay a reduced amount for eligible Environmental Control Board (ECB) judgments in order to reduce City-issued fines and penalties.
If you have unpaid OATH ECB judgments that are eligible for the FAIRER (Fines and Interest Reduction Enabling) Program, you may be able to save up to 75% and have the penalties and interest associated with your judgments waived.
The FAIRER Program began on September 20, 2021, and continues through December 20, 2021. To participate, you must pay your violations in full by December 20, 2021
For more information, including eligibility, continue reading.
NYC Building Energy Grades to be posted by October 31st
NYC buildings are required to display energy efficiency scores and grades that annually benchmark their energy and water consumption. The letter grade must be displayed near a public entrance by October 31 of each year. The labels are available in the DOB NOW Public Portal annually on October 1.
See the below breakdown of the new Local Law 33 and Local Law 95 (LL33/95) grades:
A: 85 & above
B: 70-84
C: 55-69
D: 54 & below
F: Non-compliance
N: Exempt or score not feasible to obtain*
Retrieve your building's Energy Efficiency Rating label by visiting the DOB NOW Public Portal and following these steps:
- Look for a new tab for building efficiency scores on the Public Portal of DOB NOW, under the device search and before Licensee search.
- Search by Borough, Block and Lot (all required fields).
- If a lot number exists, a list of BINs with corresponding addresses will be listed in rows. If not, an error message will be displayed.
- A button/ link to download the label will be displayed next to each row with the specific BIN/Address.
- Once a user clicks on one of the buttons/links, they will get to a new screen where they will have to enter their information and sign the attestations (by checking a box).
- Once the user clicks submit, the label will be displayed and available for downloading and printing
Failure to display will result in a violation from the DOB and an annual fine.
It's important to note that building energy efficiency ratings are based on energy performance, not emissions. Having a high letter grade does not necessarily translate to Local Law 97 compliance, which mandates building emissions limits.
To read more about the Climate Mobilization Act, continue reading.
The threat of hurricanes is very real for Florida
The State of Florida has been hit by the most number of hurricanes, with its peak month being October, and this year is no different. Our Florida team has assembled this hurricane preparedness checklist for your buildings and tenants:
- Secure all construction sites and buildings
- Bring in all outdoor items to prepare for ongoing sustained winds in excess of 70mph
- Keep all gutters and drains cleared to prevent flooding
- Use permanent shutters on windows and doors
- Stock up on disaster supplies, such as flashlights, batteries and water
- Check emergency generators and other systems to make sure they are working properly
As a reminder, our team is on stand-by for you before, during and after any storm and happy to assist with any building related issues or questions you may have. Should you have any questions or require engineering services,
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.
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