Less than two months after the tragic Champlain Towers South condominium collapse in South Florida, Jersey City’s City Council has passed an ordinance requiring cyclical facade and structural inspections as a direct response to the collapse, which killed nearly 100 people.
The new legislation, written to further protect Jersey City buildings and its residents, mandates:
Structural inspections of concrete buildings taller than six stories every 10 years. This requirement includes inspections of foundations, balconies, all structural members, and waterproofing. The initial inspection must be completed by December 31, 2022.
Facade inspections of buildings taller than six stories and masonry facade buildings four stories or taller every five years. The inspection must include all exterior walls and appurtenances. Initial inspections must be completed by December 31, 2023.
All inspections must be conducted by a licensed architect or professional engineer.
Inspection Reports
Modeled from New York City’s facade inspection laws (now known as the Facade Inspection Safety Program, or FISP, which was first enacted in 1980), written inspection reports prepared by an architect or engineer must be submitted to the Division of the Construction Code Official within 30 days of the inspection. The reports must:
- Certify the results of the inspection.
- Clearly document the condition of the building’s structure (in the case of a structural inspection) or building’s facade (for facade inspections), and note the conditions as safe or unsafe.
- If needed, provide repair and maintenance recommendations, including a timeline for which all repairs must be made.
Repairs
If repairs are required, the building owner or board must immediately undertake any measures necessary to secure public safety, and make the repairs within the timeline set forth in the inspection report. Once repairs are completed, a new inspection must be completed and an amended inspection report submitted within 30 days.
Filing Fees
- Structural Inspections: $100.00 per structural inspection report
- Facade Inspections: $100.00 per facade inspection report
Specific rules detailing inspection, reporting, and repair requirements will be determined by the Division of the Construction Code Official and announced in the months to come.
Contact RAND
If you would like a consultation for RAND to conduct a structural or facade inspection for your building and/or to design or administer repair work, please contact us at 212-675-8844 or info@nullrandpc.com.
Steven Tingir is a partner at RAND and head of the firm's Facade & Roofing team.
