Buildings taller than six stories must have their façades inspected every five years. The results of the Façade Inspection Safety Report (FISP) must be sent to the Department of Buildings (DOB). Whether your building is due for inspection depends on its sub-cycle, indicated by the last digit of the Block Number. The filing period for sub-cycle B begins on February 21, 2016, and continues through February 21, 2018.
Because paper copies of these reports are not accepted, they must be saved as PDFs and submitted to the DOB on DVDs/CDs.
Use this table to determine if your building is up for inspection and the related filing period:
| Sub-cycle | Last Digit of Block Number | Filing Period |
|---|---|---|
| A | 4,5,6, or 9 | 2/21/2015 – 2/21/2017 |
| B | 0,7, or 8 | 2/21/2016 – 2/21/2018 |
| C | 1,2, or 3 | 2/21/2017 – 2/21/2019 |
Note that as of May 2014, the DOB also includes guardrails in the inspection of balconies, terraces and building setbacks.
The following non-exhaustive list of elements must be inspected to ensure structural stability and compliance with the building code applicable when the building was constructed:
- Balconies
- Terraces
- Exterior walls
- Exterior corridors
- Roof handrails
- Roof guards
- Fire escapes
A document stating the safety status of these elements (Safe, Safe with a Repair and Maintenance Program, or Unsafe) must be signed by a Qualified Exterior Wall Inspector and the building owner or building owner representative. If the building does not include any handrails or guards, this portion of the façade inspection need not be submitted.
For any additional questions or comments on façade inspections, please contact Milrose Consultants.
