By Frank Fortino How’s this for a fast pace. After a forty year break between the 1968 Building Code and the 2008 Code, the City’s on track to convert over to the newly minted 2014 Code. With the signing of LL141/13, the 2014 Code will supersede the 2008 Code on October… View more
By Frank Fortino Over the years our industry has trended towards a healthy, greener environment. Eco friendly materials have been matched with requirements for more green space, tree plantings, bike lanes and pedestrian walkways. Now, with an update to the Zoning Code, the DOB is taking the next step of improving… View more
By Andrew J. Pisani The Department of Buildings has always had a policy which allowed for a space that was normally a non-Public Assembly space to act as a Public Assembly space for a special event. In the eyes of the DOB, Public Assembly is considered a group of 75 people… View more
By Austin Regan BC 403.5.2 Additional Exit Stairway “For buildings other than Group R-2 that are more than 420 feet in building height, one additional exit stairway… shall be provided in addition to the minimum number of exits required…” In other words, if your tall building normally requires two stairways to… View more
By Austin Regan Next October, a mere seven months from now, the updated 2014 Building Code will go into effect. Unlike the previous conversion from the 1968 Code to the 2008 Code, this time there will be no transition period where the applicant can choose which Code to follow. Once the… View more
By Garvey Thelemaque Starting in January, all New building and Alteration Type 1 applications must comply with the NYC Energy Conversation Code, and each application will be fully reviewed for Compliance. The application process has changed a bit as well. Applicants must include an additional set of drawings, which will be reviewed… View more
By Austin Regan The recent tragic fire in the residential midtown tower known as the Strand brought to light some interesting dilemmas regarding the way fires are fought and the way buildings are designed to protect against fires. As a highrise building, the Strand was essentially constructed of non-combustible materials. Fire… View more