Local Law 11 (LL11)

In a layperson’s eyes, Local Law 11 might be an excruciating task to undertake given all the paper works and technical expertise to do the job. This is why at New York Engineers, we give you an overall guide on the workflow of Local Law 11, so you can better prepare your building facility for a safer façade condition.

Below is an exhaustive list of priority items for façade safety inspection, including but not limited to:

• Determine whether your building needs to comply with Façade Inspection Safety Program (FISP)
• Review your building’s report from the previous cycle
• Repair buildings evaluated with SWARMP conditions
• Find out when you need to file the FISP report for your building
• Hire a qualified exterior wall inspector (QEWI) and conduct the critical examination
• Report and rectify buildings with unsafe conditions
• File the FISP report

Overall, this gives you a macro viewpoint of Local Law 11 regarding its technical requirements. As you can see, New York City aims for each erected building higher than six stories to be as watertight as possible, so as to mitigate risks and liabilities on pedestrian hazards and injuries. Restrictive as it may be, New York City’s Local Law 11 or FISP currently serves as a role model for other large cities to imitate, and our engineers are here to pioneer the urban façade inspection for the greater safety of everyone.

Department of Buildings Perform Quality Control on Local Law 11

Materials used in facade such as stone, brick, concrete or glass usually deteriorate over time due to excessive moisture, substandard construction, inferior value, or any other structural-related factors that can impair the beauty, function and durability of your building's facade.

Once your hired QEWI tags your building facade as unsafe, Department of Buildings (DOB) will enter the scene to verify the unsafe locations and impose safety measures for public protection.

Our engineers who are well-versed in implementing Local Law 11 give you the trade secrets on when DOB inspections are required, such as:

• Submission of amended report after confirming that the unsafe conditions in the initial report were already rectified
• Intake inspection after submission of initial report to verify conditions
• Examination of the facade's general condition after the owner's failure to file report
• Executing the general audit of location
• Request of shed removal
• Certificate of Occupancy does not correctly identify the building structure

As a building owner, it is your utmost responsibility to develop and implement a corrective action plan once your facade's deemed unsafe or SWARMP by QEWI in the initial report.

Below are only some, but not all, of the guidelines provided per NYC DOB:

• Erect sidewalk sheds, safety nets, fences and any other appropriate public safety measures once repair work commences
• Unsafe conditions shall be repaired within 30 days after submitting critical examination report and can be extended to 90 days upon Commissioner's granted permission of extension application with due requirements
• QEWI must inspect the premises within two weeks after repair completion to identify if unsafe conditions were rectified, then file an amended report stating the revised status of the facade
• SWARMP conditions on all accounts can't be present on two consecutive report filing cycles since any negligence on repair work before the upcoming cycle will consequently equate to unsafe conditions

New York City imposes such restrictive guidelines on facade inspection, but at New York Engineers, we welcome the challenge and advocate such cause for public safety.

We Keep Your Building Façade Safe with Local Law 11

Jumpstart your code compliance on Local Law 11 by investing in our efficient expertise on Facade Inspection Safety Program (FISP). Learn more of how New York Engineers can serve as your QEWI so you are better equipped in transforming your facade from hazard-prone to watertight.