Revision Highlights after Introducing New Construction Safety Legislation-converted

1. Revision Highlights after Introducing New Construction Safety Legislation After issuing five purposed construction safety bills, the new measures to the present Administrative, Plumbing, Building, Mechanical, and Fuel Gas Codes would be the first thorough adjustments to the present codes since 2014. Engineers, architects, attorneys, planners, craftsmen, construction industry representatives, labor, real estate industry representatives, utility corporations, as well as DOB and interagency stakeholders, prepared the amendments. A total of 627 new or extended amendments to existing codes, as well as thousands of minor adjustments, are suggested. Since the last revision cycle, the committee modifications, general construction have been led by enhanced national safety requirements and technology breakthroughs. They would take effect the next year if passed. Emergency Response Enhancements among the Highlights of the Revision Increases the elevator emergency hatch's minimum necessary size. Allows for the use of batteries as a backup power source for the FDNY-approved Auxiliary Radio Communication System (ARCS). Increases the amount of high-rise residential structures that need to have emergency voice communication systems installed. Enhancements to Fire Safety FDNY access to the escape stairs must be available either from the protected area or within a minimal distance of it where exits discharge straight outdoors and not through a protected area or vestibule. Advancements to Vertical Connectivity and Availability Offers defined elevator compliance requirements to enable increased liveability for building users with physical and intellectual/developmental impairments. To reduce the danger of persons and things being trapped, all Limited Use/Limited Application lifts (LULA) must include door locking monitoring. Enhancements to Elevator Safety

2. •To shorten building evacuation periods in the case of an emergency, all levels must have the same elevator in readiness. •Change elevator and boiler inspection deadlines to expedite their return to operation. •Tenant Protection, Building Occupancy Streamlining, and Affordable Housing Promotion •To safeguard the safety of renters, new specific inspections of buildings under construction are required. •Clarifies which construction documents are necessary for a new Certificate of Occupancy to be issued (CO). •To expand affordable housing options, the necessary basement clearance height for two-family dwellings is reduced from 8 feet to 7 feet. Enhancements to Construction Safety •Instead of mandating only solid fence that provides blind tunnels for pedestrians, this bill allows the use of netting, low obstacles, and chain link fence. •To guarantee that modern crane technologies, such as articulating boom cranes and roto-telehandlers, are handled safely, a new Licensed and Fully Insured Company type is created. •Improves the safety and uniformity of existing building foundations. •Improvements to the construction and inspection of building systems •To guarantee the safety of building occupants, require smoke testing for unique gas vents. •Require compliance with the appropriate reference safety standard for all pipes, tubing, and fittings in the mechanical system. •The parking structure maintenance, condition evaluation, and accounting standards are codified. Improvements to Sustainable Management All important facilities (including fire, rescue, ambulance, police stations, and designated emergency shelters) located in the 500-year flood zone are now subject to the flood zone standards of the 100-year flood danger area. In the presence of a specific inspection agency, annual visual inspections of dry floodproofing systems and triennial full-scale deployment of dry floodproofing are required.

3. Allows and encourages the use of alternative energy technologies, such as hydrogen fuel cells. Expands the usage of sustainable construction materials including cross-laminated wood and structural composite lumber, giving builders more material options. DOB will perform training and awareness on the new standards, as well as alter our internal procedures as appropriate, to assist the execution of the code revisions. “During this whole code assessment plan, the FDNY – in terms of direction, the committed members of our Bureau of Fire Prevention – worked closely with the Ministry of Buildings with the important shared target of decreasing death and injuries at construction sites and further improving security in our city,” Fire Commissioner Daniel A. Nigro said. “These amendments will bring substantial improvements to the city's fire protection, disaster response, and building laws, helping to safeguard the safety of New Yorkers and our members who react to thousands of crises each day, thanks to the tremendous work of those involved.” "Code modification is a complex and complicated process that impacts multiple stakeholders throughout the city, and the Department of Construction handled it in a comprehensive, well- organized, and integrative way," said DEP Commissioner Vincent Sapienza. "To enhance safety and security in the five boroughs, important modifications to the plumbing code, green infrastructure safeguards, and building practices have been made." “These ideas would make the public and employees safer while also sustaining the construction sector and the essential projects that the city relies on,” said Jamie Torres- Springer, Commissioner of the NYC Department of Design and Construction. SCA President and CEO Nina Kubota remarked, "The School Construction Authority is completely supportive of these improvements that will keep the NYC Building code up to date and aligned with new and better construction processes that are focused on keeping our workers safe." “As we construct and develop state-of-the-art buildings for our students, the code amendments also contain sustainability and resiliency features that we will include into the SCA's continuous efforts to lessen our carbon footprint.” Commissioner Victor Calise of the Mayor's Office for People with Disabilities remarked, "It is a joy to Chair the Accessibility Technical Committee for the new New York City Building Code."

4. “I don't believe that construction fatalities are unavoidable. Buildings should not explode due to gas leaks, and elevator incidents should not result in death. We must aim for safety by enacting intelligent legislation that takes into account the views of a diverse group of stakeholders. Council Member Robert E. Cornegy, Jr., Chair of the Committee on Housing and Buildings, stated, "This comprehensive legislation and code amendment puts us on the way to a healthier, more sustainable city." "It also incorporates cost-cutting measures to boost affordability. For example, it lowers the basement clearance height for two-family structures to boost the availability of inexpensive housing. I'm also glad that it acknowledges the fact of climate change by better preparing our city for flooding and promoting environmentally friendly building materials. Bravo to everyone who put in the effort to make these suggestions a reality." “Today's bills represent a huge step forward towards our effort to defend New York residents. “I am very happy to serve legislation that strengthens renter rights while their apartments are being renovated,” said Council Member Helen Rosenthal. “Construction abuse is a persistent problem in my neighborhood, resulting in evictions and the loss of affordable housing. I'm glad the Department of Buildings is taking the lead in protecting renters from fraudulent landlords.” “And for too long, employees have been subjected to deplorable working conditions, which have resulted in injuries and, in the worst-case scenario, death. The efforts of the Department of Buildings, in conjunction with this package of laws, will enhance regulations to guarantee that building sites have safety plans and procedures in place, as well as experienced and licensed workers,” said Council Member Francisco Moya. “For the safety of public and employees, this is the technique through which we hold consultants accountable”. “Since 2017, Local Law 196 has played a critical role in keeping construction workers safe at building sites across the five boroughs,” said Gary LaBarbera, President of the Building and Construction Trades Council of Greater New York. “This slew of new building safety measures, as well as the planned extension of the building safety regulations, are both extremely positive developments that build on and reinforce the current law. We look forward to continuing to collaborate with the New York City Department of Buildings to ensure that safety is always a top priority in the construction industry.” “The consultant organization, in collaboration with the Department of Buildings, keeps creating world-class conditions in which craft professionals across the boroughs can do their

5. jobs well and in a safe, supportive environment,” said Brian Sampson, President of the Empire State Chapter of Associated Builders & Contractors. “With this new set of safety measures, we will continue to ensure that New York City has the best standards in the construction sector for experts and safety practices.” “The Safety Management Advisory Panel of New York congratulates the Department of Buildings for close collaboration with building industry interested parties and licensed site safety experts to craft new legislation that supports employees and tries to protect workers and the general public," said Jim Bifulco, CSACNY President. “These proposed development code changes relating to helping to improve public safety, specifically demanding site safety professionals on buildings 7 stories and above, will go a long way to make job sites safer and protect workers, especially when combined with the Site Safety Training required by Local Law 196. We appreciate DOB's collaborative approach and for prioritizing employees and the general public. "Amy J. Blankenbiller, Executive Director of the National Elevator Industry, Inc., remarked, "NEII is glad to have been a part of the New York City code modification process" (NEII). “We look forward to working with the Administration and City Council on these and other critical safety measures in the future. Today is National Volunteer Week, thus introducing the code update package is fitting. I'd want to express my gratitude to the volunteers from our member companies who volunteered their time and skills to guarantee that the NYC elevator code update represents the greatest degree of safety for industry professionals and the general public."