The Facade Inspection Safety Program (FISP), also referred to as Local Law 11, mandates that buildings in New York City exceeding six stories in height must undergo exterior facade and appurtenance inspections every five (5) years. A technical report must be submitted electronically by a Qualified Exterior Wall Inspector (QEWI) to the Department of Buildings through the DOB Now website portal. This legislation was recently strengthened with the aim of safeguarding the city's residents from the danger of falling debris, following a series of tragic accidents.
REPORTING PROCESS:
To facilitate the reporting process, DOB has staggered the buildings into groups according to the last digit of their block number.
For the 9th Cycle of inspections:
Block numbers ending in 4, 5, 6, or 9:
Reports must be filed between February 21, 2020, and February 21, 2022.
Block numbers ending in 0, 7, or 8:
Reports must be filed between February 21, 2021 and February 21, 2023.
Block numbers ending in 1, 2, or 3:
Reports must be filed between February 21, 2022, and February 21, 2024.
Physical inspections must be performed every 60 linear feet along a building’s facade. The regulation also requires performing probes by removing small portions at buildings with cavity wall construction for a more in-depth structural close-up examination.
UNDERSTANDING FISP REPORT CONDITION CLASSIFICATIONS:
Upon completion of the assessment, the QEWI will file a report with the DOB and place the building in one of three categories.
SAFE: The conditions of the walls and appurtenances do not require repair or maintenance to sustain structural integrity and will not become unsafe in the next five (5) years.
SWARMP: The conditions of the walls and/or appurtenances were safe at the time of the last inspection, but require repairs or maintenance during the next five (5) years.
UNSAFE: The conditions of the wall or any appurtenances are hazardous to persons or property and require repair within one (1) year of completion of critical examinations.
FEES AND PENALTIES RELATED TO FISP
Unsafe conditions must be corrected within 90 days of filing a report with an Unsafe status. An amended report must then be filed within two weeks of completing the repairs.
Initial Report $425.00
Amended/Subsequent Report $425.00
Extension Request $305.00
PENALTIES
Penalties apply after the filing period ends.
Late Filing (initial report) $1,000 per month
Failure to File (initial report) $5,000 per year.
Failure to correct unsafe conditions. See schedule in 1 RCNY 103-04
Failure to correct SWARMP conditions $2,000