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Code & Zoning
Code & Zoning
‘I only want to know what I need for TCO’: Construction Division Signoffs
By Austin Regan, R.A. In last month’s article, we mentioned the four Department of Building (DOB) divisions that must sign off on issuance of a Final Certificate of Occupancy: Construction Division Plumbing Division Elevator Division Electrical Division For Temporary Certificates of ...
Local Law 32 Sets the Stage for the 2019 Energy Code and Beyond
By Alex Rippere In a city that lived with the same ossified building code for 40 years before joining the rest of the country and adopting semi-regular revisions to the International Building Code as its local code, the pace of ...
Code & Zoning / Department of Buildings / Industry News
‘I only want to know what I need for TCO’
By Austin Regan, R.A. It is inevitable. At every Certificate of Occupancy kickoff meeting, someone interrupts the first 10 minutes of my presentation, saying, “I only want to know what I need for TCO.” The architect, owner, and contractor all ...
Code & Zoning / Department of Buildings / Industry News
New Memo Cuts Through the Fog on Outdoor Uses
By Alex Rippere A couple years ago, rumors started circulating that the Department of Buildings (DOB) would only permit rooftops and terraces to be occupied for residential amenity space or restaurants and cafes with additional outdoor seating. Those rumors were ...
Elevator Shafts: Where Building and Energy Codes Collide
By Alex Rippere Part of the joy of this industry comes from watching lines on a page evolve into a finished building over several years. Unfortunately, thanks in part to that stretched-out time frame, some things done at New Building ...
Back to Basics: A Guide to Envelope Assembly Types
By Alex Rippere As part of a series on energy code basics, this month’s article addresses envelope assembly types. Specifically, we look at why some kinds of construction comply with energy codes better than others. Broadly speaking, the energy code ...
By George Crawford Benchmarking—measuring, tracking, and evaluating energy and water consumption using standard metrics, and comparing those numbers among similar buildings—has always been a good idea. Now it’s the law for many New York City property owners. Starting in 2018, ...
By Alex Rippere 2017 brought its share of challenges and opportunities when it comes to the energy code and its enforcement. The “fun” will likely continue in the year ahead. Retroactive application Last September, the mayor announced that the current ...
Greater East Midtown Rezoning Results in New E-Designations
By Frank Fortino With the City Planning Commission’s final approval of the Greater East Midtown Rezoning proposal on August 9, 2017, other rezonings were also applied to certain blocks in the neighborhood. As a result, these areas have since received ...
By Austin Regan, R.A. Last month we reviewed some of the available advantages when working with a building that does not comply with the zoning resolution’s bulk regulations. A developer can invest capital to repurpose a building to a more ...
The 2016 NYCECC: When Compliance Conflicts with Construction Reality
By Alex Rippere This past October marked the one-year anniversary of the 2016 New York City Energy Conservation Code (NYCECC 2016). Looking back, the code change has brought its share of challenges. Perhaps the trickiest thing about the energy code ...
It May Be OK to Not Comply, But Don’t Get Caught Non-Conforming
By Austin Regan It’s always been tough to be a non-conformist in society. From the 17th century Salem “witches” to today’s “kneeling” athletes, those who choose to act outside society’s norms have always risked the scorn and ridicule of the ...