SIGNIFICANT CHANGES TO LOCAL LAW 11, FACADE INSPECTION AND SAFETY PROGRAM (FISP)
New rules adopted January 14, 2020 have made substantial changes to inspections, reporting requirements, and civil penalties associated with New York City Department of Buildings Facade Inspection and Safety Program (FSIP).
The following significant changes will go into effect for Cycle 9 of the FISP:
New Standards for Façade Inspectors: Qualified Exterior Wall Inspectors (QEWI’s) are now required to have seven or more years of experience. QEWIs will have to provide detailed resumes to the NYC DOB to show that they have relevant experience and knowledge of NYC building codes and facade rules.
The NYC DOB will now require more comprehensive facade examinations and more detailed reporting requirements with increased description of observations and photographic evidence of inspections.
Financial penalties for owners have been significantly increased for failure to file reports, as well as late filings, and failure to correct unsafe conditions, when extensions of time have not been granted.
For more information on the new FISP Cycle 9 please contact RPO Inc.
New Signage Requirements for Privately Owned Public Spaces (POPS)
The City Council recently adopted a zoning text amendment that updates public space signage regulations at privately owned public spaces (POPS).
It requires that all new and existing POPS, including plazas, arcades, sidewalk widenings and other publicly accessible spaces that were created by a variance or floor area bonus, install a signage scheme incorporating the new, specific POPS signage / symbol. Proposed designs are to be submitted for review by the City Planning Commission by Aug. 3, 2020, if the POPS does not have signage installed that was previously approved by DCP.
POPS that already have signage that was previously approved by DCP have until Feb. 5, 2022, to submit new signage schemes.