After a Manhattan woman fell to her death by leaning against an unsafe balcony railing at her Upper East Side apartment in July 2013, the New York City Department of Buildings issued a new inspection requirement to lessen the chance of similar tragedies. The deadline for that inspection, February 2, 2015, is approaching.
The amended rule requires that railings and their connections be checked for structural stability as part of the city’s Facade Inspection Safety Program (FISP, formerly Local Law 11/98). All types of railings and connections—including those on balconies, terraces, roofs, and fire escapes—are included under the amended rule, which applies to all New York City buildings taller than six stories.
Railings and connections must be evaluated for structural soundness and an affidavit filed with the DOB by Feb. 2 to complete the 7th Cycle FISP report.
Because the new requirement took effect after the last filing deadline for the 7th Cycle of FISP, which was February 21, 2013, a separate inspection must be conducted on railings and connections and then an affidavit filed with the DOB by the February 2, 2015 deadline to complete the 7th Cycle Report. The inspection can be performed by the same engineer or architect who conducted the 7th Cycle facade inspection or by another Qualified Exterior Wall Inspector. It is up to the inspector to decide whether all of a building’s railings and connections should be inspected, or (as in the case of a mid- to large-size building) a representative sample will suffice.
If any of the railings or connections are deemed unsafe, the engineer/architect is required to submit an Unsafe Notification to the DOB, along with a letter from the owner stating that the balconies, terraces, or any areas enclosed by unsafe railings have been vacated and made safe, and access blocked. A Subsequent 7th Cycle FISP Report must then be filed with the DOB within two weeks to document the Unsafe status and the planned repair program.
Starting with the 8th Cycle of FISP, which begins February 21, 2015, the evaluation of railings and connections will be part of the facade inspection report and will not require a separate affidavit.
If your building has not had its railings evaluated for structural soundness as part of its 7th Cycle FISP Report, contact RAND at 212-675-8844 or fisp@nullrandpc.com for a proposal to conduct the inspection and file the affidavit with the DOB. If you suspect any railings are unsafe, the area around it should be blocked off until the inspection takes place and any necessary repairs are made.
The new requirement will hopefully lead to greater vigilance on the part of property owners and managers, and safer buildings for everyone.
Suzanne Weiss is RAND's Senior Engineer for Quality Control.
