New York City shuts down 322 construction sites for unsafe conditions

New York City inspectors shut down 322 building construction sites due to unsafe conditions in June during a safety crackdown.

The city’s Department of Buildings issued over 1,129 violations for safety issues and non-compliance issues at those sites during a “zero tolerance” safety sweep. The department issued both full and partial stop work orders.

Inspectors visited more than 2,100 of the city’s larger, more complex building construction sites during the recent initiative. The zero-tolerance sweeps followed three worker deaths in recent weeks, two of which were the result of falls.

In a related development, the Department of Buildings released a new building construction safety report that showed declines in 2019 and 2020 in building construction-related incidents and injuries.

Effective January 1, 2022, New York City requires garage owners to retain a specially designated professional engineer to conduct an assessment and file a report at least once every six years. Hoffmann Architects + Engineers offers tips and best practices on how to comply with NYC Local Law 126 parking garage inspection rules.

Mixed-Use | Oct 20, 2022

ROI on resilient multifamily construction can be as high as 72%

A new study that measured the economic value of using FORTIFIED Multifamily, a voluntary beyond-code construction and re-roofing method developed by the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS), found the return can be as high as 72%.

Building Team | Oct 18, 2022

Brasfield & Gorrie chairman’s home vandalized by anti-development activists

Activists vandalized the home and vehicles of Miller Gorrie, chairman of Birmingham-based Brasfield & Gorrie, in protest of a planned $90 million, 85-acre police, fire and public safety training center in Atlanta.

Codes and Standards | Oct 17, 2022

Ambitious state EV adoption goals put pressure on multifamily owners to provide chargers

California’s recently announced ban on the sale of new gas-powered vehicles starting in 2035—and New York’s recent decision to follow suit—are putting pressure on multifamily property owners to install charging stations for tenants.

| Oct 13, 2022

Boston’s proposed net-zero emissions code has developers concerned

Developers have raised serious concerns over a proposed new energy code by the City of Boston that would require newly constructed buildings over 20,000 sf to immediately hit net-zero emissions goals.