Forum
« interior designer/decorator blue stone »
January 17, 2009
inspection challenge
On a building inspection, the inspector wants a fresh air vent to the meter, which is enclosed. It's not required because there's no flame, according to the gas company. i want to challenge this. Anyone ever done this and can tell me how to do it?
Comments
See if there is a law that requires you to have an air vent there. Ifthere isn't ask the judge to state the reasons for the request.
Posted by: hannible at January 18, 2009 9:44 AM
What was the occasion for the inspection, and did the DOB issue a violation?
If a violation, what is the deadline for correction? Depending on the answers,
it might be that the answers lie with your architect, engineer and/or expediter.
If your architect, etc., is not involved, ask your gas company to put their opinion
in writing and to include a citation of code supporting their opinion. Then visit the DOB's Brooklyn Borough Office and discuss the matter in person: 210 Joralemon St., 8th Fl. Brooklyn, NY 11201, (718) 802-3675.
Posted by: vinca at January 18, 2009 1:58 PM
National Grid has a walk-in office at One Metrotech Center (assuming they are your gas company, formerly Keyspan, formerly Brooklyn Union). You'll find a customer service number on the back of your bill. Call the number and ask to speak to a supervisor. Explain the issue and ask whether it will help to visit in person, or whether your call is sufficient for them to issue something in writing. I'm not assuring that any of this will solve your problem, but I've found one can get a long way by politely explaining your dilemma and asking for help. Once at Metrotech, you'll be close enough to visit DOB in person, and meet with a borough manager. In closing out our own CO issues, we found it extremely useful to have our architect present at the time of inspection, while we stood in the background. Alternatively, if your layout is similar to most, it seems it would not be too difficult or expensive to run a duct to same source that brings fresh air to boiler room.
Posted by: vinca at January 18, 2009 5:34 PM
vinca is right..just obey the dob, you are wasting your time fighting them..they sign off on the plans,not national grid ...if you piss off the inspector, he can find an endless number of violations and you will not get a c of o for years
Posted by: eman1234 at January 19, 2009 7:36 PM
The inspector is correct! I was involved in property mgt. for years. Although there is no flame, gas can leak at the pipe connections to the meter and elsewhere. Common sense dictates ventilation to avoid a gas build up should a tiny leak ensue.
Posted by: MarionG at January 20, 2009 12:26 AM
The inspector is correct! I was involved in property mgt. for years. Although there is no flame, gas can leak at the pipe connections to the meter and elsewhere. Common sense dictates ventilation to avoid a gas build up should a tiny leak ensue.
Posted by: MarionG at January 20, 2009 12:26 AM
Actually for 1 or 2 family residences, the DOB formerly accepted no vent for gas meters per TPPN #1/94. See link:
http://www.nyc.gov/html/dob/downloads/pdf/tppn194.pdf
However as a disclaimer, the new code may be different (read and proceed at your own risk). Also, there may be other conditions at play and an accurate assessment cannot be made blind on a forum.
My opinion is that if you can vent the area properly, without losing too much conditioned air and wasting energy, ventilation is actually good idea.
Hope that helps.
Posted by: rainmaker at January 22, 2009 5:11 PM
Post a comment
Please be patient while your comment is published. It may take a moment.