FISP
facade inspection safety program
With more than 35 years’ experience in the Façade Inspection Safety Program, RJSA uses their expertise to work with their clients to not only stay in compliance with the requirements of the Local Law but care for all their buildings holistically.
CYCLE 9 RECENT UPDATES
THE BASICS
Every five years, owners of buildings with more than six stories must have the exterior walls and appurtenances inspected by a Qualified Exterior Wall Inspector, or QEWI. A QEWI is a Registered Design Professional (RDP), Registered Architect, or Professional Engineer. Once completed, all the information is formatted into a FISP compliance report and filed electronically with the New York City Department of Buildings through their DOB NOW system.
NEW REQUIREMENTS FOR LOCAL LAW 11 CYCLE 9
NYC DOB FISP Department issued Cycle 9 Amendments effective immediately. It includes higher penalties, more stringent inspections, and detailed reports such as:
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Probes: Must be performed on cavity wall buildings at each close-up inspection. Read more about probes.
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Close-up Inspections: Must be performed at intervals of not more than 60 feet fronting each public right of way.
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Photographs: Up-close photographs will be required for protection against misleading filings.
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FISP Condition Certificate: Owners must post FISP Certificates in the lobbies to inform building occupants of the exterior wall status.
CURRENT CYCLE
CLASSIFICATIONS
Every building that falls under the City of New York’s Local Law 11/98, which is estimated to be about 14,000 buildings across the five Boroughs, is classified in one of the following three categories:
SAFE
SWARMP
UNSAFE
No problems and in
good condition
Safe with a Repair and Maintenance Program
Problems or defects
threatening public safety
When a building is filed SAFE, no further action is required until the next filing cycle.
A SWARMP building must be repaired in the time frame listed in the FISP report by an Engineer or Architect.
An UNSAFE building must be repaired within 30 days. If needed, a request for an extension can be filed with the New York City DOB.
LOCAL LAW 11 - VIOLATIONS
The New York City Department of Buildings is constantly visiting sites all over the five boroughs doing spontaneous inspections. Facade related offenses could result in penalties of up to $25,000 per infraction.
Types of Infractions:
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Failure to file a Façade Technical Report
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Failure to file an Amended Façade Technical Report
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Failure to maintain building walls
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Failure to protect the public
FEES & PENALTIES
Filing Fees
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Initial Report: $425
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Amended/Subsequent Report: $425
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Extension Request: $305
Penalties
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Late filing of initial report: $1,000/month
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Failure to file initial report: $5,000/year
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Failure to correct SWARMP Conditions: $2,000
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Failure to correct UNSAFE Conditions:
Year Base Penalty Plus
1 $1,000/month NA
2 $1,000/month $10/linear foot shed/month
3 $1,000/month $20/linear foot shed/month
4 $1,000/month $30/linear foot shed/month
5 $1,000/month $40/linear foot shed/month
