Unsafe condition prior to repair: Severely cracked terra cotta cornice identified during the 9th Cycle inspection.
As Cycle 10 of the Facade Inspection Safety Program (FISP) begins, it’s important to remember why this law exists. It wasn’t created as a bureaucratic requirement or an administrative burden — it was established to prevent tragedies that occur when facade maintenance is neglected.
In 1979, Grace Gold, a 17-year-old Barnard College freshman, was killed when a piece of masonry fell from a building on West 115th Street. Her death led to the passage of Local Law 10 of 1980, requiring periodic facade inspections for buildings over six stories. The law was later strengthened and expanded into Local Law 11 of 1998, eventually evolving into the Facade Inspection Safety Program. These changes introduced stricter oversight, mandated hands-on inspections, and required investigative probes for cavity wall facades to thoroughly evaluate facade conditions and detect hidden deterioration.
Tragedies have continued to shape and strengthen these regulations. Following the 2013 death of media executive Jennifer Rosoff, who fell from a Manhattan balcony when a deteriorated railing failed, FISP requirements were updated to mandate railing and guardrail inspections, placing greater emphasis on the evaluation of balconies and other appurtenances.
Despite these regulations, delayed repairs and ignored warnings continue to put people at risk. In 2015, 2-year-old Greta Greene was fatally injured while sitting on a bench with her grandmother, when a piece of terra cotta fell from the eighth floor of a building on West End Avenue — a building that had failed to complete required facade inspections and address known cracks. In 2019, architect Erica Tishman lost her life when terra cotta fell from a Midtown building that had already been cited for facade violations but remained unrepaired. Both tragedies could have been prevented with timely action. Following Tishman’s death, the city intensified enforcement, increasing violations and cracking down on long-standing neglect.
FISP isn’t about sidewalk sheds; it’s about safety. Too often, sidewalk sheds are seen as the defining feature of facade regulations, but in reality, they are a temporary measure, not a solution. They often exist for an extended period primarily because unsafe conditions have been identified, and repairs have been delayed or deferred.
The true goal of FISP is not to cover up problems, but to prevent them from becoming hazards in the first place. By requiring hands-on inspections and proactive maintenance, the program helps keep buildings structurally sound and protects pedestrians, residents, and workers from falling debris and facade failures. Staying ahead of compliance isn’t just about avoiding fines, it’s about taking responsibility for the safety of everyone who walks these streets.
As Cycle 10 begins, building owners should take a proactive approach, not just to meet compliance deadlines, but to address facade conditions before minor issues become serious hazards. Regular hands-on inspections help uncover hidden deterioration, allowing for timely repairs that protect both building occupants and the public. Taking action now can prevent future violations, emergency repairs, and unnecessary risks — and, most importantly, save lives.
Contact RAND at 212-675-8844 or fisp@nullrandpc.com. Learn more at www.randpc.com/fisp.
