Fire-Proofing Inspection Follies
At long last, at the end of my renovation, I am told I am supposed to have a fire-proofing inspection to be sure that any fire breaking out in the garden apartment will not spread to the rest of the house quickly. Apparently, hardly anyone does these type inspections because some laws were changed recently. My contractor says that my architect is supposed to take care of this. My architect is pleading ignorance, and stepping away from any responsibility, although he filed the TR-1. The one price we’ve been able to get is $4,000\. Other companes do not want to do this inspection on a 2-family. Anyone have an idea of what is happening here, what next steps I should take, what I should expect? Thanks, SWR
SewardWasRight
in Inspection 12 years and 10 months ago
8
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8 replies
brooklynexpediter | 12 years and 10 months ago
Lets get the record straight as from the comments we see that the problem of comprehending the mess results because some are written by professionals and some by complete novices without the intermediate experience. 1\. When an architect/engineer files for a permit a TR1/TR8 form needs to be filled out indicating which special/progress inspection items need to be done and need also to be listed on the ddrawings as well. 2\. The plan examiner or in the case of self certification by the design profssional will enter these items in the lise of required items and are mandated to be filed by the special/progress inspector prior to obtaining the work permit. 3\. A new TR1/TR8 has be filed by the s[ecia/progress inspector before pulling the permit by the peron who will actually do these inspections and are NOT done by DOB and rather by separate contracted professional which may or may not be the architect/engineer that did the plans. 4\. Prior to submitting the signoff documents the special/progress inspections must be CERTIFIED as completed by the special/progress inspectior which is also done with te TR1/TR8 forms and date of inspectios are entered on a different column 5\. Special inpection agency requirements are coming up mid-November at which point certian ispection will not be able to be done by architects or engineers that are not registered as an inspection agency. Till that date any registrered architect or engineer can do it by law as long he has proper insurance mandated for these inspections. 6\. If you are coming after the fact a new inspector may be required and a superseding of old TR1/TR8 inspector with boro commissioner’s approval may be required prior to authorization of such and only afterwards wil the job be able to be signed off
SewardWasRight | 12 years and 10 months ago
OK. I appreciate everyone’s input here. It is leading to further questions, though. 🙂 So, I went to the DOB website and located a few docs that support, and expand upon, what several of you are saying. One, “Statement of Substantial Need for Earlier Implementation,” from 2008, which, while it regulates and expands who can do these inspections, specifically special inspection agencies, it also lays out who else can do this work – R.A.’s being one class. The other document, a Buildings Bulletin from 2010, that “clarifies the types of fire-resistance-rated construction that are subject to progress inspection, special inspection, or both,” points out the rules on progress inspections and secondary inspections, noting that, where both inspections are to be performed by the same person, “(t)he progress/special inspector shall fill out sections 3 and 4 of the TR-1 form,” and where these two inspections will be carried out by different people, “(t)he special inspector shall fill out section 3 of the TR-1 form, while the progress inspector shall fill out section 4 of the TR-1 form.” My R.A. filled out both sections. So, my two questions now are, first of all, does this law apply to a 2-family home? and secondly, if so, can, and should, my R.A. do this inspection?
woodlouse | 12 years and 10 months ago
AFAIK the law only applies to 3-family homes and above. Single family homes and 2-fams are exempt. Also, according to the new law only FDNY can write you tickets (HPD and DOB have no jurisdiction). I’d just leave it and see what happens. You might be able to get the architect or contractor to self-certify if it is in fact fireproof (it should be, or you can sue your architect). I looked at the form and it says it can be certified by an RA (Registered Architect)
karhu | 12 years and 10 months ago
Actually I meant November 13, 2012\. So the job can be inspected by RA or PE, doesn’t becessary registered inspection agency.
SewardWasRight | 12 years and 10 months ago
Karhu, thanks for the input. I’ll check these two docs to be sure. The permits were issued after 13 November. Zampano, sorry, but I didn’t understand your first sentence. The architect did self-cert, by the way. DOB is not involved at this point. I am told by my contractor that this is a part of the number of things that must be done to finish the project. We are just doing due diligence now to get this taken care of.
zampano | 12 years and 10 months ago
You weren’t supposed to be able to get a permit with the inspector signed up to do the inspection and your architect and plan examiner missed identifying the inspection. Of course, that’s only if your architect didn’t self-cert and you are now getting hit by a DOB audit at sign-off. If this came after the fact, are you sure that this isn’t just an overactive construction inspector who doesn’t know the code?
karhu | 12 years and 10 months ago
The architect will sign as design applicant on TR-1\. Inspection applicant can be the different person, who is responsible for the inspection. You should check the your TR-1 form to see if your architect also signed as inspection applicant. You should also review your contract to see if inspections are in his scope of service. By the way, the new inspection rules are for projects permitted after November 13\. Also 4,000 is high.
jockdeboeraia | 12 years and 10 months ago
This is not new. The contractor is supposed to call the architect to inspect if you did not hire him/her to do weekly inspections. It is very hard to do after the fact.