What’s New
In accordance with 1RCNY §5000-01, applicants filing New Building or Alteration applications in NYC on or after September 7th will be required to identify progress inspections in the construction drawings. More information is available online.
Recent Projects
- Consultation regarding the safety requirements for a sidewalk vault hatch door in Brooklyn, NY
- Analysis of the cause of facade & interior wall efflorescence and water intrusion at a new school addition in Long Island, NY
- Retained to investigate the safety of a playground in Brooklyn, NY
Spit, Glue and Maybe Even
Chewing Gum
On August 29, 2010, The New York Times published a slideshow in which they commented on “America’s infrastructure, a Colossus often held together by spit and glue.” While “the causes may be small…the consequences can be grand: national commerce, essential utilities, and the homes of thousands can be threatened if these antiquated systems suddenly give out.” The article then provides short profiles on a half-dozen recent or ongoing infrastructure issues, such as rotting tree stumps and rusting pipes in levees around California’s Central Valley, “a tiny electrical fire” that started in “a single 1920s-era signaling machine” and crippled the Long Island Rail Road last week, and the aging water systems in Alaska and Washington State, some of which “depend on wood pipes dating back to pioneer days.” The latter example, however, has an upside. “What we’ve found, kind of unbelievably, is that the wooden water mains wrapped in that wire actually perform better than ductile iron,” a state official said.
Yarmus Engineering, P.C. is available to consult regarding the infrastructure conditions and needs of structures, facilities, and developments. In fact, our firm President, Andrew R. Yarmus, P.E., has taken a leadership role within the local chapters of both the American Society of Civil Engineers and the National Society of Professional Engineers in their studies and presentations regarding this very issue. Please contact our office if we can be of assistance to you or your clients.
DOE Providing Incentives for States to Meet Building Codes
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is seeking proposals to support activities to promote adoption and implementation of the most current building energy codes. ASHRAE Standard 90.1-2007 is included in the target codes. DOE has allocated a total of $5 million to be awarded in increments up to $250,000 for a single project in as many as 20 states. As of June 2010, the building codes of 14 states and four territories do not meet the requirements of Standard 90.1-2007.
Yarmus Engineering, P.C. is available to assist building owners and property managers with meeting the requirements of these new energy codes. Our firm President, Andrew R. Yarmus, P.E., is a member of ASHRAE, and, as reported in our May 2010 newsletter, was selected to be a pilot member of the New York State ICC/BCAP Energy Code Ambassador program. Please contact our office if we can be of assistance to you or your clients.