February 21, 2016 marks the beginning of Sub-cycle 8B. Owners with buildings located on blocks ending in a 0, 7, or 8 have two years (until February 21, 2018) to undergo inspection and to file Critical Examination Reports with the DOB. The set terms are required under the Façade Inspection Safety Program (FISP), formerly known as Local Law 11/98, which is currently in its 8th Cycle. Cycle 8 is in effect from February 21, 2015 to February 20, 2020.
The law requires all buildings within the five boroughs of NYC with a height of six stories or greater to be inspected by a registered architect (RA) or professional engineer (PE) and to report and file any findings with the DOB. Each building’s exterior must undergo a close-up inspection of its roof, walls, terraces, railings, fire escapes, canopies, and air conditioners. Once the inspection is completed, the building's condition is then classified as either Safe, Safe with Repair and Maintenance Program (SWARMP), or Unsafe. A Safe building needs no further action, a building that is categorized as Safe With Repair And Maintenance Program (SWARMP) must be repaired within the time frame listed by the engineer or architect in the report, and an Unsafe building must be repaired within 30 days and the public protected immediately. For more information, please visit nyc.gov.
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