New York Regulartory Inspections & Engineering
Preserving New York City heritage with environmental responsibility.
We Are A Certified B Corp™
Using Business as a Force for Good.
We are committed to promoting environmental responsibility through the conscientious maintenance of existing buildings.
The New York Metropolitan area, renowned for its historic and diverse architectural landscape, provides a unique opportunity for us to excel in our passion for sustainable building practices. With a team of experienced professionals, we are well-positioned to conduct thorough and efficient engineering assessments on all structural and enclosure components of buildings. Owners, managers, and stakeholders can confidently rely on our expertise to provide accurate information regarding the history, condition, and compliance status of their assets in accordance with local regulations.
Our Expertise
Local knowledge is a must! Nova's team of engineers, architects, and construction specialists have been in, on, under, and around the buildings that make up New York City for decades. As a result, there is hardly any issue that has not crossed our desks. This knowledge of all building practices, from initial planning, investigation, design, and construction through to repair, is vital for any engineering consultant. Our wide-ranging collective experience on each project ensures no stone is left unturned.
Our Services
NYC parking structure evaluations and Local Law 126 compliance
NYC Façade Inspection and Safety Program (FISP) requirements, and façade evaluation
Roofing Assessment
Building structure and envelope repair design
NYC DOB-ECB violation resolution
Forensic evaluations and reporting
Construction oversight
Owner's representation
Special inspections
Historic structures
Local Law 126: Parking Garage Maintenance & Repair
LL 126 requires owners of parking structures to have their garages inspected every six years, and to file a report with inspection results to the Department of Buildings (DOB).
Inspections and reports must be conducted by a Qualified Parking Structures Inspector (QPSI). QPSI’s create an annual observation checklist during the initial assessment, listing items that need to be checked every year, or more often if needed.
What type of parking structures require inspection and reporting?
Buildings or portions of a building used for parking or storing motor vehicles, including space inside or under a building.
Open parking garages and enclosed parking garages.
What’s Involved?
Nova’s New York State Professional Engineer (NYS PE) conducts an inspection for evidence of deterioration.
The NYS PE files a report within 60 days of inspection.
Garages are classified as:
Safe
Minimal deterioration
Subsequent report within six years
Safe with repair and engineering monitoring
Potential danger
No immediate action required
Conditions monitored by PE
File amended report within three years
Must repair before next cycle
Must repair before next cycle
Unsafe
Immediate danger to safety
Must notify the owner and Department of Buildings, and file a compliance report
Immediately remove unsafe conditions or safeguard the area
Must repair the unsafe conditions within 90 days
File amended report within two weeks
Local Law 11: Building Façade Maintenance & Repair
In New York City, the Façade Inspection Safety Program (FISP), also known as Local Law 11, mandates that buildings exceeding six stories must undergo inspections and necessary repairs to their façades every five years.
These inspections are to be carried out by a Qualified Exterior Wall Inspector (QEWI) and the report must be filed with the Department of Building Permits.
The primary goal of FISP is to guarantee the regular and proper maintenance of building façades, ultimately lowering the risk of potential hazards from falling debris to the public.
FISP Examination & Report
The FISP report examines all exterior walls, with an additional close-up examination of at least one representative full-height section of a street-facing façade. The report includes all balconies, railings, fire escape stairs, and other appurtenances on the building’s façades.
Common violations found:
Cracks on exterior walls
Damaged or missing facade elements
Unsafe conditions near building entrances
Based on the findings of the examination, the QEWI’s report classifies a building’s façades into one of three categories:
Safe
The building’s façades do not have any conditions that would cause them to be classified as unsafe during the next five years.
Safe with repair and engineering monitoring
The building's façades exhibit at least one condition that, while deemed safe at the time of inspection, could become unsafe if not repaired within the specified timeframe outlined by the QEWI. Failure to address a SWARMP condition before filing the subsequent cycle's report automatically categorizes it as an unsafe condition in that subsequent cycle.
Unsafe
The building's façades have at least one condition that either poses an immediate threat to public safety or, if not addressed within 12 months, will become a hazard to the public. If an unsafe condition presenting an immediate risk during the inspection is identified, the QEWI is required to notify the New York City Department of Buildings and the building owner.
The owner must immediately install protective measures, such as a sidewalk shed, upon identification of unsafe conditions. Repairs are required to be remediated within 90 days of filing the inspection report.
Account Manager | NY Engineering Director
James Napoli, PE
(631) 387-3170
Contact
Vice President, Construction Services Group Leader
Joseph DiBernardo
(732) 674-2288
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