The Future of NYC’s Local Law 11

Local Law 11, also known as the Facade Inspection Safety Program (FISP), is a critical regulation in New York City that requires periodic inspections of exterior building facades on structures six stories and taller. Its main goal is to prevent accidents caused by falling debris or structural failures by ensuring building exteriors are regularly assessed and properly maintained. This law plays a vital role in protecting public safety, preserving property value, and avoiding costly emergency repairs or liability issues.

• Five-Year Inspection Cycle: Buildings must undergo a thorough exterior facade inspection every five years to identify any unsafe or deteriorated conditions.
• Qualified Exterior Wall Inspector (QEWI): Inspections must be conducted or overseen by a licensed professional engineer or registered architect certified as a QEWI.
• Condition Classifications: Inspectors classify facade conditions as SAFE, SAFE WITH A REPAIR AND MAINTENANCE PROGRAM (SWARMP), or UNSAFE, which dictates the urgency and scope of repairs.
• Mandatory Filing: Detailed reports and repair plans must be submitted electronically to NYC DOB within deadlines to ensure compliance.
• Enforcement and Penalties: Failure to comply can result in fines, violations, or legal action, emphasizing the importance of timely inspections and repairs.

The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed countless systemic and infrastructure flaws. From an overtaxed health care system, to an ever widening wealth and education gap, and countless other challenges, there is another dangerous side effect of the pandemic.

In the last year, there’s been an unfortunate uptick in the number of facade related accidents in New York City. Architect Erica Tishman was killed in December 2019 when a chunk of building facade fell off a Midtown tower and struck her. In July alone, within a span of a week, there were two serious accidents, one of which was deadly. A massive wall of bricks collapsed on East 38th Street, injuring a bystander, and just 7 days later, a few blocks away, a construction worker died and at least three other people were hurt in a horrendous chain reaction accident when part of a building facade collapsed onto scaffolding.

These dangerous accidents keep happening even though New York City has one of the most extensive Facade Safety Inspection Programs in the country, known as Local Law 11, which has even been “toughened up” this year to respond to the increase in accidents. Some of the new requirements, which took effect in late February, include an increase in physical inspections, or “drops”, an increase in the cost of penalties and fines for non-compliance, and, Qualified Exterior Wall Inspectors (QEWIs) must now have at least seven years of relevant experience. Before, inspections could be made by anyone with at least one year of relevant experience. This change is dramatic, as there are only so many QEWIs in New York City, and the stricter requirements greatly reduces the pool of qualified professionals able to certify an NYC Facade Inspection, potentially creating a bottleneck process.

While many of the new additions are common-sense and understandable, especially with the increase of facade accidents, they will undoubtedly increase the cost of an inspection for a property owner. So what is a solution? The answer: investment in drone inspections. AeroSpect is an innovative drone based data company, revolutionizing the way facade inspections are done. Using the combination of highly skilled drone pilots and a cutting-edge online inspection portal to achieve 100% façade coverage, AeroSpect’s drone inspection makes a practice that typically can take days, weeks, or even months to complete, achievable in just hours.

For one of AeroSpect’s founders, the mission for safer and more efficient building facade inspections is personal. Edward Kostakis and his brother were driving to New Jersey together when a brick from an overpass near the George Washington Bridge came loose from the wall above, and crashed through the windshield of the car, nearly costing Edward and his brother their lives.

AeroSpect’s drone inspection system gives QEWIs a massive productivity boost by creating a full “map” of each facade that needs to be filed, completely cutting out the most-time consuming part of facade documentation, and making the entire process drastically more efficient without compromising safety.

One of the other new Local Law 11 requirements, as mentioned earlier, is the increase in “physical drops”, like scaffolding, every 60 feet for a QEWI to perform a “hands on” inspection. While they’re an important part of the process, they can become incredibly costly. A QEWI would need to determine where along the 60 feet the physical drop should be planned, and often, the QEWI will request more drops out of caution, which drives up the price of the inspection.

To stay compliant with Local Law 11 and ensure the safety and longevity of your building’s facade, it’s important to take proactive steps:

• Know Your Inspection Cycle and Deadlines: Verify your building’s inspection schedule and upcoming filing deadlines to avoid penalties.
• Plan Early for Inspections and Repairs: Schedule inspections well in advance to allow time for thorough assessments and any necessary repairs, minimizing disruptions.
• Embrace Modern Inspection Technologies: Consider incorporating drone inspections and high-resolution imaging to enhance data accuracy, improve safety, and reduce inspection time.
• Work with Experienced Professionals: Partner with qualified inspectors and service providers familiar with Local Law 11 requirements to ensure thorough compliance and smooth project execution.
• Budget for Repairs and Maintenance: Anticipate potential repair costs and plan financially to address issues before they become urgent or costly emergencies.

By taking these steps, building owners can protect residents and pedestrians, maintain property value, and avoid costly fines or legal complications.