There was a Department of Buildings industry meeting on March 3, 2011. The meeting reviewed exemptions to the new TR-8 that went into effect February 7, 2011. From the Energy Conservation Code, and discussed in the indus-try meeting, the exemptions to the TR-8 are: 1.) Storm windows installed over existing fenestration. 2.) Glass only replacements in an existing sash and frame, provided the U-factor and the solar heat gain coefficient (SHGC) will be equal to or lower than before the glass replacement. 3.) Alterations, renovations or repairs to roof/ceiling, wall or floor cavities which are insulated to full depth with insulation having a minimum nominal value of R-3.0/inch. 4.) Alterations, renovations or re-pairs to walls and floors, where the existing structure is without fram-ing cavities and no new framing cavities are created. 5.) Reroofing where neither the sheathing nor the insulation is ex-posed. Roofs without insulation in the cavity and where the sheathing or insulation is exposed during reroofing shall be insulated either above or be-low the sheathing. “Such seven-year report shall contain certification by an architect or engineer of the percentage of the building in which sprinklers have been installed as of the date of the such report and an implementation plan prepared by such architect or engineer detailing when and how the remaining portions of the building will be made fully compliant. Failure to file such Final Report or Interim Report by the dates indi-cated or within any extended period of time granted by the commis-sioner, shall be a violation.” Time does fly by quickly and it won’t be long before July 1st is here; now would be a good time to have that survey planned and be ready to file the report on time.  More

Are you fully covered? The Department of Buildings wants to know just how much coverage you have . . . Sprinkler coverage that is. Yes, we are well into 2011, and believe it or not, Local Law #26 requires an update on compliance with the sprinkler coverage for commercial buildings that are 100 feet or more in height. “Unless a Final Report certifying that your building has full sprinkler coverage is filed on or before July 1, 2011, a seven-year Interim Report must be filed (no earlier than January 1, 2011) and no later than July 1, 2011.” We are currently in Cycle 7 of the Façade Inspection Cycle—the timeframe for Cycle 7 is February 21, 2010—February 21, 2015. Cycle 7 is broken down into three sub-cycles; at the end of February sub-cycle B began—this applies to all buildings over 6 stories with a block number end-ing in: 0, 7, or 8. This means that all buildings over 6 stories with block numbers ending in 0, 7, 8 will need to schedule a façade inspection and file a technical report with the Department of Buildings.  More