Int. No. 678

By Council Members Harrison, Freed and Nelson; also Council Members Eisland, Foster, Koslowitz, O’Donovan, Pinkett and Robinson-read and referred to the Committee on Housing and Building.

A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to the monitoring of certain construction work by the department of buildings.

Be it enacted by the Council as follows:

Section 1.  Section 26-217 of the administrative code of the city of New York is amended to read as follows:

§26-217 Inspections of building work.  All inspections of building work shall be made and conducted under the direction of the commissioner and in accordance with and subject to the provisions of this title and the provisions of the building code.  The department shall, at a minimum, conduct biweekly on-site inspections by officers and employees of the department to monitor the construction of any new building and to monitor the alteration of any existing building where the cost of making alterations in any twelve month period is thirty percent or more of the value of the building.  The commissioner may accept inspection and test reports from officers and employees of the department and other city departments and governmental agencies; and he or she may also accept inspection and test reports submitted by architects and engineers registered or licensed under the education law, or by other persons or services when he or she is satisfied as to their qualifications and reliability; except that the commissioner may not accept any such inspection and test reports in lieu of conducting the biweekly on-site inspections by officers and employees of the department as required by this section.

§2.  Section 27-209 of the administrative code of the city of New York is amended to read as follows:

§27-209  Inspections during progress of work.  After the issuance of a work permit, inspections shall be made during the progress of the work at such times or at such stages of the work and in such manner as the commissioner shall direct; and such inspections shall include inspection of machinery and equipment used for hoisting purposes, cableways and rigging purposes.  The department shall, at a minimum, conduct biweekly on-site inspections by officers and employees of the department to monitor the construction of any new building and to monitor the alteration of any existing building where the cost of making alterations in any twelve month period is thirty percent or more of the value of the building.  The commissioner may accept signed statements by architects or engineers and supporting inspection and test reports which have been filed with the department covering materials and equipment subject to controlled inspection and semi-controlled inspection, as provided under sections 27-132, 27-133, 27-136 and 27-137 of this subchapter, and the work may, unless otherwise specifically provided by code provisions or directed by the commissioner, proceed without any verifying inspections or test by the department, provided that the names and business addresses of such architects or engineers shall have been set forth in the work permit application or filed in writing with the department not later than ten calendar days prior to the commencement of work thereunder; except that the commissioner may not accept any such inspection and test reports in lieu of conducting the biweekly on-site inspections by officers and employees of the department as required by this section.

§3.  This local law shall take effect ninety days after its enactment.

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LS# 2475

12/23/99