With the heavy amount of snowfall this winter, there’s no doubt our buildings took a hit. As Building Owners & Property Managers endeavor to ensure the overall safety and integrity of their buildings, it is critical that they are also proficient in the ever-changing rules and updates that affect their building envelopes.

Retaining Walls

Following the collapse of a retaining wall at the site of Castle Village onto the Henry Hudson Parkway, Local Law 37 of 2008 was enacted by the New York City Council, establishing new inspection and reporting requirements for retaining walls that are 10 feet or more in height and front a public right-of-way. It is crucial that building Owners and Property Managers have their retaining walls inspected following the Spring thaw to check for any damage and specify any required repairs.

Sidewalks & Plazas
Insurance providers are now conducting inspections of building sidewalks, plazas, courtyards and parking lots to check for conditions that could present possible trip hazards. If such conditions are noted, they must be corrected within an allotted time frame. Insurance providers are now requesting that building owners retain an engineer to assess the conditions and prepare the necessary documents to remedy trip hazards.

Façades

Winter conditions and freeze-thaw cycles can exact a heavy toll on building façades, leading to the development of cracks and bulges in the exterior masonry, deterioration of mortar joints, and splitting of caulked joints. One way in which the NYC Department of Buildings (DOB) has worked to protect against unsafe façade conditions is through the enforcement of Local Law 11 of 1998, which requires that the exterior façades of buildings greater than six stories be inspected every five years by a qualified professional.

The first two sub-cycles, A and B, of Local Law 11/98 Cycle 7 are already underway. Read More

Chris Krepcio, Senior Project Engineer at Merritt Engineering, answers a few questions regarding the recently completed restoration project at 3800 Waldo Avenue, Bronx, NY (see Featured Project above).

In addition to the structural repairs and overall aesthetic improvements, were there any other additional benefits gained by building tenants as a result of the restoration project?

Yes, there were many. Since the previous roofing system allowed significant amounts of moisture to penetrate the roof, ultimately staining the walls and damaging cars below, the newly installed roof deck ensured that tenants’ vehicles were no longer exposed to unnecessary damage. In addition, the restoration project provided new public areas for tenants to utilize and enjoy. Concrete pavers were installed over the surface of the new roofing system, which not only serve as protection for the roofing membrane below but also provide a functional outdoor space for tenants. The board has since installed benches and chairs for roof-top gatherings.

Upon completing the project, were there any recommendations you made regarding regular building maintenance to ensure the new-and-improved conditions are sustained?

Yes. Merritt recommended that regular landscaping maintenance be conducted to prevent shrubbery from growing up against the fence, which previously caused fence damage. Prior to the project, all of the existing chain link fencing on the property was in disrepair and needed to be replaced. The fence posts were chopped out of the existing concrete, new posts were embedded into the retaining wall, and the new chain link fence was rolled into place. With proper landscaping maintenance, the damage will not reoccur.