N.Y.C. Admin. Code § BC 1618: Section BC 1618: Structural Peer Review

1618.1 General.

The provisions of this section specify where structural peer review is required, how and by whom it is to be performed.

1618.2 Where required.

A structural peer review of the primary structure shall be performed and a report provided for the following buildings:

1. Buildings included in Risk Category IV as defined in this chapter and more than 50,000 square feet (4645.2 m

2

) of framed area

2. Buildings with aspect ratios of seven or greater.

3. Buildings greater than 600 feet (183 m) in height or more than 1,000,000 square feet (92 903 m

2

) in gross floor area. Rooftop structures may be excluded from building height in accordance with Section 504.3.

4. Buildings taller than seven stories where any element, except for walls greater than 10 feet (3.048 meters) in length, supports in aggregate more than 15 percent of the building area.

5. Buildings designed using nonlinear time history analysis or with special seismic energy dissipation systems.

6. Buildings designed for areas with 3,000 or more occupants in one area in close proximity, including fixed seating and grandstand areas.

7. Buildings where a structural peer review is requested by the commissioner.

8. Buildings designed by performance-based methods.

1618.3 Structural peer review.

It shall be verified that the structural design is in general conformance with the requirements of this code.

1618.4 Geotechnical peer review.

Geotechnical peer reviews are required to be performed in accordance with Section 1815.

1618.5 Structural peer reviewer.

The structural peer review shall be performed by a qualified independent structural engineer who has been retained by or on behalf of the owner. A structural peer reviewer shall meet the requirements of the rules of the department.

1618.5.1 Independence.

In order to satisfy the requirement that the peer reviewer be independent, the department requires that the peer reviewer must not engage in any activities that may conflict with their objective judgment and integrity, including but not limited to having a financial and/or other interest in the design, construction, installation, manufacture or maintenance of structures or components that they are reviewing.

1618.6 Extent of the structural peer review.

The structural peer review shall comply with Sections 1618.6.1 and 1618.6.2.

1618.6.1 Scope.

The structural peer reviewer shall review the plans and specifications submitted with the permit application for general compliance with the structural and foundation design provisions of this code. The reviewing engineer shall perform the following tasks at a minimum:

1. Confirm that the design loads conform to this code.

2. Confirm that other structural design criteria and design assumptions conform to this code and are in accordance with generally accepted engineering practice.

3. Review geotechnical and other engineering investigations that are related to the foundation and structural design and confirm that the design properly incorporates the results and recommendations of the investigations.

4. Review the structural frame and the load supporting parts of floors, roofs, walls, shallow foundation elements, deep foundation caps, connection of deep foundation elements to deep foundation caps, and permanent rock or soil anchor connection to the structural elements. Cladding, cladding framing, stairs, equipment supports, ceiling supports, non-loadbearing partitions, railings and guards, and other secondary structural items shall be excluded.

5. Confirm that the structure has a complete load path.

6. Perform independent calculations for a representative fraction of systems, members, and details to check their adequacy. The number of representative systems, members, and details verified shall be sufficient to form a basis for the reviewer's conclusions.

7. Verify that performance-specified structural components (such as certain precast concrete elements) have been appropriately specified and coordinated with the primary building structure.

8. Verify that the design engineer of record complied with the structural integrity provisions of the code.

9. Review the structural and architectural plans for the building. Confirm that the structural plans are in general conformance with the architectural plans regarding loads and other conditions that may affect the structural design.

10. Confirm that major mechanical items are accommodated in the structural plans.

11. Attest to the general completeness of the structural plans and specifications.

12. Review performance based design.

1618.6.2 Structural design criteria.

If the design criteria and design assumptions are not shown on the drawings or in the computations, the structural engineer of record shall provide a statement of these criteria and assumptions for the reviewer. In addition, the design engineer shall provide information and/or calculations, if requested by the peer reviewer.

1618.7 Structural peer review report.

The structural peer review report shall comply with Sections 1618.7.1 through 1618.7.3.

1618.7.1 General.

The reviewing engineer shall submit a report to the department stating whether or not the structural design shown on the plans and specifications generally conforms to the structural and foundation requirements of this code.

1618.7.2 Contents.

The report shall demonstrate, at a minimum, compliance with Items 1 through 12 of Section 1618.6.1. In addition, the report shall also include the following:

1. A list of construction documents, including the latest revision dates submitted to the department for approval, as well as geotechnical reports, wind tunnel studies and other reports utilized in the design.

2. The codes and standards used in the structural design of the project.

3. The structural design criteria, including loads and performance requirements.

4. The basis for design criteria that are not specified directly in applicable codes and standards. This should include reports by specialty consultants such as wind tunnel study reports and geotechnical reports. Generally, the report should confirm that existing conditions at the site have been investigated as appropriate and that the design of the proposed structure is in general conformance with these conditions.

5. The basis of performance-based design and its appropriateness of use.

6. A statement that the qualification and independence of the peer reviewer is in accordance with Section 1618.5.

7. Peer review reports shall provide an unconditional statement that must be either an acceptance or rejection of code compliance of the structural design required to be reviewed by this section.

8. The structural peer review reports shall contain a statement that geotechnical peer review reports and/or wind tunnel peer review reports, when required, have been received with an unconditional statement of acceptance by the authors of those reports.

1618.7.3 Phased submission.

If an application is submitted for a permit for the construction of foundations or any other part of a building before the construction documents for the whole building have been submitted, then the structural peer review and report shall be phased. The structural peer reviewer shall be provided with sufficient information on which to make a structural peer review of the phased submission. In addition to the requirements of this section, phased submission of the report shall include any changes made to the initial structural peer review evaluation. The geotechnical peer review report need not be submitted concurrently with the structural peer review report.

1618.8 Responsibility.

The responsibilities of the engineer of record and peer reviewer shall be as laid out in Sections 1618.8.1 through 1618.8.4.

1618.8.1 Structural engineer of record.

The structural engineer of record shall retain sole responsibility for the structural design. The activities and reports of the structural peer reviewer shall not relieve the structural engineer of record of this responsibility.

1618.8.2 Structural peer reviewer.

The structural peer reviewer's report states his or her opinion regarding the design by the engineer of record. The standard of care to which the structural peer reviewer shall be held in the performance of the structural peer review and report is that the level of skill and care consistent with structural peer review services performed by professional engineers licensed in the State of New York for similar types of projects. The structural peer reviewer shall not be responsible for the conclusions of the wind and geotechnical peer review reports.

1618.8.3 Revisions of design.

The structural engineer of record shall identify that a new review is required based upon changes to the design documents relevant to the scope of the peer review. The structural peer reviewer shall review the items that have been affected and shall revise the structural peer review report.

1618.8.4 Disputes.

When a dispute arises between the applicant of record and the peer reviewer regarding compliance with Section 1618 that cannot be resolved by these parties, such dispute shall be reported to the department in the form of a letter from the applicant of record. The department may make a final decision or may accept a change of the peer reviewer.

1618.9 Change to peer reviewer.

The peer reviewer cannot be changed without the express consent of the department. The current peer reviewer must submit both a written letter to the borough commissioner detailing the reason for the withdrawal request and a report of the structural peer review findings to date. If a change of peer reviewer is approved, a revised submission indicating the replacement peer reviewer shall be filed with the department.