Was it All a Facade?: DOB Launches Review of the City’s Facade Inspection Program
Facade inspections and regulations may soon undergo major changes, after the NYC Department of Buildings (DOB) announced the introduction of a comprehensive review of the current Facade and Inspection Safety program in May.
The program, also known as Local Law 11, was launched after falling building debris fatally struck a pedestrian in 1982. With the occurrence of more tragedies, the Local Law underwent further expansions, the most recent of which was enacted in 2020. Now, in conjunction with the “Get Sheds Down” program, officials are working proactively on an evidence-based review of the current regulations to support the removal of sheds and scaffolding. The review will examine buildings over six stories tall, which currently require inspections conducted by a licensed exterior wall inspector every five years.
“Our mandatory façade inspection program has helped identify thousands of hazardous building conditions over the years, and has served as a model for other cities across the country,“ said DOB Commissioner Jimmy Oddo in a recent press release. “This new scientific study will help us as we look to further refine these important regulations, so that they continue to keep New Yorkers safe, while ensuring that sidewalk sheds are only up when they are truly needed.”
With the help of AI-powered inspection software, the report will identify patterns of likely damage, to help indicate conditions where facade failures may occur. This preventative, rather than reparatory approach to lawmaking indicates a renewed effort to improve the safety of NYC buildings as they age.
Not all building materials or types of construction deteriorate to the same degree, so the current one-size-fits-all method of inspection fails to appropriately address safety concerns. The new study will consider this important factor, and future changes to LL10 may include categories to classify facades’ conditions, on top of the existing categories: safe, unsafe, and safe with a repair and maintenance program (SWARMP).
The study will also conduct extensive outreach to municipalities, industry groups, material fabricators, and universities outside of NYC for a comprehensive perspective of the best inspection practices.
To prepare for any oncoming inspection changes, reach out to Outsource Special Inspections (OSI), a trusted source for special inspections in New York City since 2012. Led by a senior team of knowledgeable, highly qualified professional engineers, OSI performs NYC Department of Buildings-certified inspections across New York City every day, covering over 600 clients.
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