LL10 Adds Balconies to Required Inspections

By Andrew J. Pisani

The Department of Buildings has recently released additional inspections requirements for Local Law 10 Facade Inspection Report. As a refresher, LL 10 mandates that building owners must have their exterior walls and appurtenances inspected by a licensed professional engineer or registered architect, and file a report with the DOB. LL 10  applies to buildings with at least six stories above a basement, and  all portions of exterior walls within 25 feet of the street line must be inspected.

Now, the inspection must also cover a building’s balcony railing. A Qualified Exterior Wall Inspector must inspect the structural soundness and connections of the balcony –  even if a Cycle 7 report has already filed and been accepted by the Facade Division.

Balcony railings must be inspected to ensure that their components (balusters, intermediate railings and panel fillers) are positively secured against upward movement.  If any balcony enclosure is found not to be properly secured, the condition is classified as UNSAFE and a separate report regarding the condition of the balcony enclosure must be filed within Cycle 7.