Building Managers, Office Managers and Business Owners and Contractors

By Andrew J. Pisani

The start of the new year always triggers one thing – the expiration of annual permits.  With the limited staffing these days at all the city agencies please look all your annual permits now and get the renewals started sooner than later.

Annual permits have a way of being over-looked, and it’s never a good idea to rely on the various city agencies to send a reminder or annual bill on time.

Now’s a good time to check all of your permits:

1)    Public assembly permits including the renewal of your Flame Spread Affidavits for all your fabrics in the PA space.
2)    Compressor/HVAC Equipment Use Permits
3)    Canopy  (DOT)
4)    Marquees
5)    Business signage & billboards
6)    Department of Health permits for restaurants
7)    Fire Department permits for sprinkler and standpipe,  fuel storage, & emergency generator (remember to maintain the monthly inspection log and keep it readily available, by the buildings engineer that has the appropriate Certificate of Fitness )
8)    All of your FDNY Certificate of Fitness licenses. fire pumps, sprinkler/stand[pipe,  generators, fire safety director, residential sprinkler, smoke detectors to name a few ( building managers check your staff)
9)    DEP annual permits for your premises known as the “Right To Know Annual Inventory Report” for all hazardous material stored on the premises such  as but not limited to: paint/lacquer, paint thinners and turpentine, ammonium based products, benzene, compressed gas  motor oil, gasoline, etc..   Whether you are a large office building with your own maintenance department, or a dry cleaners or a funeral home, if hazardous material are stored,  it needs to be reported.
10)   DEP for boilers, RPZ, Backflow preventers, cooling towers
11)   Annual boilers & elevators.
12)   Liquor license
13)   Cabaret Licenses
14)   Façade reports including all  railings ( balconies,  parapets, walkways)
15)   Contractors insurances and Safety Registration
16)   Ansul systems
17)   Fire extinguishers
18)   HPD owners registration
19)   Energy Audits and Benchmarking

July 1st 2019 is fast approaching. This is the date that all office buildings 100 feet and taller are to be fully sprinklered. By now your Owner’s affidavit should have been filed (due 7/1/05) your 7 year report should have been filed (due 7/1/11) and your 14 year report is due 7/1/18.

There are many annual permits from many City agencies that are out there, and checking them is a quick way to stay on top of your portfolio of permits. Now is the time to renew them – not after you receive a violation because they expired. Please don’t wait, use this time wisely.