DOB Issues Elevator and Boiler Inspection Updates

The DOB recently updated the rules for periodic elevator and boiler inspections. The new requirements alter the timing for submitting test and inspection reports for both elevators and boilers in New York City. We’ll go over the basic requirements and cover the changes the recent updates made to the requirements.

Boiler Requirements

The boiler inspection cycle is Jan. 1 to Dec. 31. Internal and external inspections for low-pressure boiler and high-pressure boilers must be performed and filed with the DOB during this cycle.

Low-pressure boilers. Low-pressure boiler inspections can be performed only by authorized boiler inspectors licensed by the DOB or an authorized insurance company. Low-pressure boilers in residential buildings with six or more families must be inspected and filed with the DOB annually, as well as H-stamp domestic hot water heaters with over 350,000 BTUs in residential, mixed-use, and commercial buildings; low-pressure boilers in any residential buildings classified as a single room occupancy dwellings; low-pressure boilers in commercial buildings; and low-pressure boilers in mixed-used buildings.

Conversely, low-pressure boilers in residential buildings with five families or fewer; H-stamp domestic hot water heaters in residential buildings with five families or fewer; individual boilers heating individual residential units (including residential portions of mixed-use buildings); and low-pressure boilers with an input of 100,000 BTUs or less don’t require an annual inspection.

• A boiler inspection report must be filed online in DOB NOW: Safety (https://a810-dobnow.nyc.gov/publish/Index.html#!/);
• If defects are found during an inspection, they must be corrected and a subsequent inspection report must be filed online in DOB NOW: Safety. Reports aren’t considered complete until the subsequent inspection is filed to affirm correction of defects.
• An owner or licensee may request an extension of the subsequent inspection filing deadline based on the criteria outlined in 1 RCNY 103-01. The Extension Request can be submitted online in DOB NOW: Safety.

High-pressure boilers. High-pressure boilers must have two inspections—an internal inspection and an external inspection. These inspections must be conducted within the same cycle but should be performed approximately six months apart. Inspections can be performed only by an authorized insurance company. Owners must hire a qualified boiler inspector employed by an authorized insurance company to perform annual high-pressure boiler inspections.

• A Boiler Inspection Report must be filed online in DOB NOW: Safety for each inspection type.
• Inspectors must notify the DOB at least 10 days before performing the internal inspection.
• An owner or licensee may request an extension of the subsequent inspection filing deadline based on the criteria outlined in 1 RCNY 103-05. The Extension Request can be submitted online in DOB NOW: Safety.

New boiler requirements. According to the DOB, as of Jan. 1, owners of boilers must comply with the following new annual boiler inspection requirements:

• Electric high-pressure boilers must be annually inspected as high-pressure boilers in accordance with Article 303 of Title 28 of the NYC Administrative Code.
• The annual report must now be filed with the DOB within 14 days (not 45 days) after the annual inspection.
• All defects identified in the annual boiler inspection report must now be corrected within 90 days after the date of the initial inspection (not 120 days after the filing of the inspection report).
• An affirmation of correction must now be filed within 14 days of correction.
• Owners may request up to two 45-day extensions of the filing deadlines.

It’s important to note that the current inspection cycle of Jan. 1 through Dec. 31 won’t change.

Elevator Inspection Changes

Two recent DOB service updates regarding elevator inspections highlight changes to the code. The changes include defining more specifically who’s able to do inspections, as well as the timing and type of inspections.

As of Jan. 1, the DOB will no longer subcontract “Periodic Inspections” to what were previously known as “PVT Agencies," but rather, the annual inspections become the responsibility of the building owner. Other changes to the periodic inspection requirements include:

• Periodic inspections must be performed by an approved elevator agency that’s not affiliated with the agency performing the maintenance;
• Periodic inspections must be performed between Jan. 1 and Dec. 31 of each year, at least 90 days from the date of any Category 1 testing or previous periodic inspection;
• Initial periodic inspections on new installations must be performed in the calendar year following the final acceptance test; and
• Witnessing agencies aren’t required to witness the periodic inspections.

There are also changes to the time frames for filing Category 1 and 5 inspection reports as well as the correction of deficiencies and filing of affirmation of correction affidavits—all of which were reduced significantly.

Periodic inspections. Periodic inspections must be performed between Jan. 1 and Dec. 31 of each year at a minimum of three months from the date of any Category 1 testing or previous periodic inspection. Initial periodic inspections on new installations must be performed in the calendar year following the final acceptance test.

• Periodic elevator inspection report submission deadline to DOB: Within 14 days of the date of the periodic inspection;
• Deadline for correcting defects identified in the periodic elevator inspection report: Within 90 days of the date of the periodic inspection;
• Deadline for submitting affirmation of correction to DOB: Within 14 days of the date the corrections were made

The DOB may grant an extension of 45 days upon the owner’s submission of an application demonstrating a practical difficulty in complying within the 90-day time frame. In no case will more than two such extensions be granted for a specific defect.

Category 1 and 5 inspections. Category 1 tests must be performed and submitted to the DOB by Dec. 31 every year. The Category 5 test must be performed every five years from date of installation. According to the recent service update, here are the new requirements for category testing of elevators beginning Jan. 1:

• The agency performing the category test must notify the DOB at least five (not seven) days prior to the Category 1 testing of escalators, Category 3 testing of water hydraulic elevators, and Category 5 testing of elevators.
• If a witnessing agency is required, the category test report is no longer required to include the signature of the witnessing agency inspector. But the report must still include the signature of the witnessing agency director.

The completed reports, with all applicable signatures, must be filed within 21 days (instead of the previous 60 days) after the date of the test. All defects as found in the category test report must be corrected within 90 days (not 120) after the date of test. Owners may request up to two 45-day extensions. And an Affirmation of Correction must be filed within 14 days (not 60 days) of the date of correction.