N.Y.C. Admin. Code § EBC 704: Section EBC 704: Condition Assessment

704.1 General.

Condition assessments shall be performed in accordance with Section 704 for all structural alterations.

704.1.1 Area of structural condition assessment.

The condition assessment shall include the area where structural work is being performed and all structural elements that may be affected by the alteration as required by Section 703.

704.1.2 Visual assessment.

For all buildings 7 stories or less, a visual assessment from the exterior of the building shall be performed. Such visual assessment may be performed from the adjacent ground and need not require the use of magnifying devices.

704.2 Structural alterations requiring data collection and an initial condition assessment.

An initial structural condition assessment shall be performed for all structural alterations, where an increase in the demand capacity ratio is introduced to an existing structure, or where required by Sections 907.2, 1007.2 or 1103.3, by the registered design professional of record prior to the submission of the application for construction document approval. During the initial structural condition assessment, the registered design professional of record shall collect and verify accessible data needed for performing the design.

704.2.1 Data collection and initial structural condition assessment.

The initial structural condition assessment shall cover the readily accessible and visible portions of the area of structural assessment specified in Section 704.1.1. The registered design professional of record shall identify the existing elements and verify if the available information sufficiently describes the existing structure and shall supplement such information with accessible observations. The initial structural condition assessment shall document any deteriorations, deficiencies, or potentially unsafe conditions that may have to be addressed during the development of the application for construction document approval. Where required information for the design is inaccessible, assumptions shall be included on the drawings required by Section 702.2. All assumptions are required to be confirmed during the detailed structural condition assessment required by Section 704.3.

704.2.2 Initial structural condition assessment.

The registered design professional of record shall produce a document that includes the following at a minimum, as applicable:

1. Material types of structural elements and strength.

2. Size, spacing and geometry of the structural elements within the area of the structural condition assessment.

3. Continuity of load paths with observations to the lowest level of the building.

4. The physical condition of the existing primary and secondary structural elements in the load path of the alteration where accessible and visibly observable.

5. Any deterioration of structural elements, including but not limited to rot, corrosion, loss of cohesion, displacement and cracking, plumbness, alignment and displacement.

6. Signs of moisture infiltration and related damage, or deformations due to possible overloading.

7. Presence of bowing; or building lean or deflections in excess of 1 percent.

8. Elements with significant unbraced lengths.

9. The remediation items enumerated in Section 708 that are potentially relevant to the building and work in question and a plan to investigate such conditions.

10. Indications of settlement in the building.

11. A list of documents consulted during the course of the condition assessment.

12. Notation of any assumption to be verified during performance of the detailed structural condition assessment in accordance with Section 704.3. Such assumptions shall also be noted on the drawings required by Section 702.2 and filed with the department.

13. Identification of the need for any further testing, surveying or monitoring.

The document shall be maintained at the site for the duration of the job and made available to the commissioner upon request.

704.3 Structural alterations requiring detailed structural condition assessment.

A detailed structural condition assessment shall be performed by the registered design professional of record for all structural alterations where existing structural elements are to be altered or an increase in the demand capacity ratio is introduced to an existing structure.

704.3.1 Detailed structural condition assessment.

The detailed structural condition assessment shall include the area of assessment specified in Section 704.1.1 or other elements as specified in Section 702.2 that are to be identified in the submittal to the department. The detailed condition assessment shall confirm all design assumptions including those of the initial structural condition assessment. The detailed structural condition assessment shall be performed and filed in accordance with Section 704.3.2 at a point before, and revised as needed during, the construction phase of the project, when structural elements or support systems are exposed such that they are accessible for detailed assessment. Structural elements shall be exposed where indicated on the drawings and as needed to satisfy the requirements of Section 703.

704.3.2 Investigation and detailed condition assessment.

The registered design professional of record shall submit a document containing the detailed structural condition assessment to the department after the relevant structural elements or support systems are exposed for detailed assessment but before the structural alterations are begun. The document shall be amended if required by the registered design professional of record after the completion of the construction phase. Where during the alteration process any immediate life/safety condition of concern is observed, such condition shall be communicated to the department as required by Section 28-301.1 of the Administrative Code. Such immediately hazardous condition shall also be conveyed to the owner of the building and shall be immediately remedied. The document shall include:

1. Description of structure and materials.

2. Identification of structural elements reviewed.

3. Description of physical condition of structural elements, including the location of deterioration.

4. Identification of methods used for the condition assessment, such as but not limited to visual observations, probing, borings, test pits, nondestructive testing and laboratory testing of materials.

4.1. Any documentation produced as a result of the investigation described in item 4 shall be included in the document.

5. Identification of deficiencies and causes of deficiencies.

6. Identification of elements and conditions different from the assumptions used in the design.

7. Life/safety conditions of concern should be addressed immediately. The timing of all other repairs should be discussed.

8. The remediation items enumerated in Section 708 that were investigated and the determinations of such investigation.

9. List of all design assumptions previously made from Sections 702.2 and 704.2 with confirmation or change to plans as required.

10. Any information from the initial condition assessment required by Section 704.2 not otherwise included.

704.3.2.1 Observed deficiencies outside the scope of work.

Where, in the course of the alteration, deficiencies not related to the scope of work are observed, the detailed document shall provide a discussion of the severity of any observed deficiencies.

704.4 Use of assessment.

The results of the condition assessments shall be used in the design of the work. Deterioration of structural elements shall be analyzed for conformance with this code and repaired as required. A revised document shall be filed with the department when structural changes or observations differ from the originally submitted documents.