Dear Clients,
As we are all aware, on March 22, 2020, all non-essential businesses were "paused" by Governor Cuomo's Executive Order 202.6; as of the latest update, this pause has been extended through April 29.
On March 27, the guidelines were modified to state that all construction sites, with the exception of those involving emergency work directly related to the health and safety of the public and building residents, are required to be shut down. Below are answers to some frequently asked questions:
What types of projects are allowed to continue?
The New York City Department of Buildings (DOB) has published a "real-time map" of all essential and emergency work that is allowed to continue in New York City. These include projects and inspections necessary to protect the health and safety of the public and building occupants, such as Facade Inspection Safety Program (FISP) inspections; repair of emergency facade conditions (until it is safe to shut the site); restoration of heat, electricity, and other essential services; as well as the construction of healthcare facilities, affordable housing, and utilities. Owners of FISP buildings currently in Unsafe status may also apply for a waiver from DOB that allows work to continue.
My construction project has been shut down, now what?
The DOB has allocated responsibility for maintaining safe conditions at these temporarily inactive building sites to building Owners. Safety at inactive construction sites is to be ensured by weekly (at minimum) inspections by the Owner or Owner designee; inspections should also occur before and after significant weather events.
The DOB's Buildings Bulletin 2020-004, released on March 30, details how to - at a minimum - safely secure and maintain suspended construction sites.
Who should perform the inspections?
Where the site is subject to Site Safety provisions, the inspections must be performed by someone in possession of a Site Safety Training (SST) Card. The most logical source of qualified inspectors is the Contractor for your job; the original Site Safety Plan for your site would have been developed by suitably qualified employees of that Contractor or a sub-contracted Site Safety firm. Throughout the repair program, site safety would have been the responsibility of your Contractor.
If for some reason, you do not wish to approach your Contractor for this service, you are of course free to engage anyone with suitable qualifications, including any member of your building staff who has earned their SST card. For sites not subject to Site Safety provisions, the DOB has not specified any qualifications for inspectors.
Contact RAND
While RAND is not a Site Safety firm, we are happy to offer any assistance you may need to understand the requirements associated with the pause order and any other issues that may arise in these times. Please contact RAND at 212-675-8844 or info@nullrandpc.com.
Stephen A. Varone, AIA, President
RAND Engineering & Architecture, DPC
