Update Regarding NYC Building Code Changes
September 1, 2020
** IMPORTANT CLIENT BULLETIN **
October 8, 2021
INTRODUCTION
On October 7, 2021, the New York City Council passed a law updating the New York City Building Code. These changes directly affect the mandated inspection and test requirements for all vertical transportation equipment within the five boroughs of New York City. The changes to inspection and test requirements will go into effect as of January 1, 2022.
SUMMARY OF CHANGES
An additional periodic inspection of all vertical transportation devices must be performed each calendar year by a third-party elevator inspection agency hired by the owner. In most cases, this will be the same firm already performing witnessing services for the annual Category testing.
Submission deadlines for paperwork associated with Category 1 and 5 tests have been significantly shortened.
The following is a summary of the current requirements, along with the changes that will go into effect as of January 1, 2022:
Periodic Inspections
ADDITIONAL CONSIDERATIONS
As mentioned in the previous section, the owner will now be required to sign the periodic inspection report and category testing report (ELV-3) with short turnaround times.
There will be a filing fee for the periodic inspections, but the amount is not specified in the law, and will be determined by the Department of Buildings prior to January 1, 2022.
The current filing fees for Category testing are $30.00 per Category 1 test and $70.00 per Category 5 test. However, filing fees for Category testing are now allowed to be set by the Department of Buildings, and are no longer specified in the law. Although we are not aware of plans to change these fees, it will be easier for the Department of Buildings to change these fees in the future.
Regarding AOC’s for Category testing, up to two (2) extensions of 45 days each can be requested to correct specific defects if it is not practical to complete those repairs within 90 days of the test date. However, hazardous conditions and Firefighters’ Service-related deficiencies must be corrected immediately.