Happy New Year
from the staff of Yarmus Engineering, P.C.
We hope that you had a wonderful Holiday Season,
and we look forward to continuing to assist you with
your engineering and inspection needs
in the new year.
We are grateful for your patronage of our firm.
What’s New
Beginning on January 1, 2024, every building owner in New York City must have an observation of the parapet on their building(s) performed in accordance with the requirements of Section 28-301.1.1 of the New York City Administrative Code. This requirement applies to all buildings with parapets fronting the public right-of-way, regardless of height. EXCEPT: Detached 1- or 2- family homes or buildings with a fence or other barrier preventing access to the exterior wall…The observation must include close-up inspections of the entire parapet which could be conducted from a fire escape or roof. See 1 RCNY §103-15 for more information on observation and report requirements…Owners must maintain the observation reports for at least six (6) years and must make such reports available to the Department upon request. Please contact our office if we can be of assistance to you or your clients regarding this new regulation.
Recent Projects
- Forensic engineering evaluation of a trip and fall incident which occurred at a landing of a rental property staircase in Orange County, NY
- Civil and structural engineering design services for support of excavation for new construction in Orange County, NY
- Forensic engineering consultation regarding a claim involving a scaffold located on a public sidewalk in New York County, NY
The Importance of Building and Code Enforcement Collaboration
On December 14th The International Code Council’s Building Safety Journal Weekly reported that “understanding how codes relate to each other, and how industry professionals can work together to improve standards and regulations is crucial for the continuous improvement of building and property maintenance codes…It is crucial that code enforcement officers maintain a collaborative mindset in order for their community to benefit as a whole…Wearing many hats, code enforcement officers are typically able to identify and understand the important key players and departments required to quickly bring resolution to a concern. Working a case with a collaborative, coordinated mindset is the key to lasting compliance”.
Andrew R. Yarmus, P.E., F.NSPE, our firm President, as a licensed Professional Engineer, State Certified Code Enforcement Official, and OSHA certified construction site safety professional, is qualified and credentialed to wear several of these “hats”, and therefore typically able to readily identify and coordinate with the applicable key players on your project site. Yarmus Engineering, P.C. is available to consult with business owners, operations managers, property managers, real estate developers, builders, attorneys, contractors, insurance professionals, adjusters, and other related parties regarding their project needs. Please contact our office if we can be of assistance to you or your clients regarding such matters.
OSHA staff switch to safety helmets from hard hats
On December 11th National Safety Council’s Safety+Health reported that “OSHA personnel will now wear safety helmets instead of traditional hard hats to “protect them better when they are on inspection sites.”…The agency notes that traditional hard hats have “minimal” side-impact protection and lack chin straps. “Without the straps,” an OSHA press release states, “traditional hard hats can fall off a worker’s head if they slip or trip, leaving them unprotected. In addition, traditional hard hats lacked vents and trapped heat inside.”…“OSHA wants employers to make safety and health a core value in their workplaces and is committed to doing the same by leading by example and embracing the evolution of head protection,” the release states”.
Andrew R. Yarmus, P.E., F.NSPE, as an OSHA certified Forensic Engineering consultant, and as a Past Chair and Current Director of the National Society of Professional Engineers PE’s in Construction Interest Group, has helped to facilitate discussions between Professional Engineers across the country on important matters such as safety in both industry and construction. As a licensed Professional Engineer, State Certified Code Enforcement Official, and OSHA certified professional, Mr. Yarmus is credentialed to consult on site safety and incident investigation matters. Please contact our office if we can be of assistance to you or your clients regarding such matters.