New York City recently made over 600 major updates and thousands of smaller changes to its construction codes—the first such wholesale revamping since 2014.
The changes are “intended to improve safety for New Yorkers, and incorporate the latest in building technologies,” according to a statement from the city. “The new codes use the highest international standards for the design, construction, and maintenance of buildings as a baseline, while continuing our city’s proud tradition of implementing additional enhancements to ensure we have among the strongest building regulations anywhere in the world.”
Revisions include:
· Increased material choices available to builders by expanding the use of sustainable building materials such as cross-laminated timber and structural composite lumber.
· Expansion of the applicability of flood zone requirements of the 100-year flood hazard area to all critical facilities (including fire, rescue, ambulance, police stations, and designated emergency shelters) located in the 500-year flood zone.
· Policies to support the use of alternative energy production processes including hydrogen fuel cells.
· Clear compliance criteria for elevator systems to ensure greater accessibility and usability for building occupants with physical and intellectual/developmental disabilities.
· Reduction of the required 8-foot basement clearance height for two-family homes to 7 feet to increase affordable housing opportunities.
· Permission to use netting, low barriers, and chain link fencing in lieu of solid fencing that creates blind tunnels for pedestrians.
· Creation of a new license type for advanced crane technology, such as articulating boom cranes and roto-telehandlers.
The updated code requirements will go into effect next year, with some regulations taking effect on Jan. 1, 2022.
Related Stories
| Aug 28, 2013
IPMSC chooses members of committee for global property measurement standard
The International Property Measurement Standards Coalition (IPMSC) has selected 19 real estate experts from around the world to join its Standards Setting Committee to develop a global standard for measuring property.
| Aug 20, 2013
Code amendment in Dallas would limit building exterior reflectivity
The Dallas City Council is expected to vote soon on a proposed code amendment that would limit a building’s exterior reflectivity of “visible light” to 15%.
| Aug 20, 2013
Developers of Hollywood skyscraper will dig to see if earthquake fault is on site
New York-based Millennium Partners have agreed to dig a trench on a Hollywood, Calif., property to help determine whether an earthquake fault runs under it.
| Aug 20, 2013
Chinese-made resilient flooring products achieve FloorScore Indoor Air Quality certification
Five of China's leading manufacturers of resilient flooring recently received FloorScore Indoor Air Quality certification from SCS Global Services for their luxury vinyl tile (LVT) products.
| Aug 20, 2013
Florida to get $1 million federal grant to study sinkhole vulnerability
The Florida Geological Survey and the state’s emergency department will receive a $1.08 million federal grant to study sinkhole vulnerability.
| Aug 20, 2013
L.A. City Council approves plan for new $1 billion Watts development
Los Angeles city officials have voted to revitalize a notorious Watts housing project with shops, town homes, and green spaces.
| Aug 19, 2013
Baltimore City Council committee OKs taxpayer assistance for $1.8 billion Harbor Point mixed-use project
A Baltimore City Council committee approved a plan to give millions in taxpayer assistance to the $1.8 billion Harbor Point development.
| Aug 19, 2013
Philadelphia to enforce building energy benchmarking in October
The City of Philadelphia has begun to send out compliance notices regarding its Building Energy Benchmarking Law.
| Aug 19, 2013
Eliminating Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac part of Obama’s housing proposal
President Barack Obama this month outlined a series of policies he said would continue to boost the housing market, including a long-ignored legislative proposal that would allow more Americans to refinance at current low mortgage rates.
| Aug 19, 2013
HUD, New York City collaborate on research center to boost storm resilience
The U.S. Housing and Urban Development Department and New York City will collaborate on a project to create a new research institute and a city-federal park at Jamaica Bay, Queens.
