N.Y.C. Admin. Code § EBC 708: Section EBC 708: Remediation Work

708.1 General.

Remediation work shall be performed within the work area as required by Section 708.1.1 and for conditions identified during the course of work independent of work area as required by Section 708.1.2.

708.1.1 Requirements within the work area.

Where during the project structural elements and systems within the work area are exposed by the removal of finishes from walls or floors and applicable structural elements, the following shall be verified and remedied within the work area:

1.

Ceilings, flooring or sub-floor removals in unreinforced masonry structures. In structures with unreinforced masonry bearing walls and wood-framed or cold-formed joist floors, where ceilings or floorings are removed and the connection of the joist to the wall is exposed, or where anchors are added to party walls as required by Section 703.7, it shall be verified that there are connections of the wood framed or cold-formed joist floor to the wall including to the unreinforced masonry walls parallel to joists. Where no connections are present, connections shall be installed that comply with the requirements of the New York City Building Code, or Chapter A1 of Appendix A of this code.

2.

Ceilings or sheathing removals in wood-framed structures. Where ceilings or sheathing are removed in wood-framed structures, it shall be verified that there is fastening of the wood-framed floor to the wall, including walls parallel to joists. Where no fastening is present, connections shall be made to comply with Chapter 23 of the New York City Building Code.

3.

Sill plates in light-frame construction. Where a sill plate in light-frame construction is exposed, it shall be verified that the sill plate is connected to the foundation in conformance with the New York City Building Code. Where the condition does not conform to the New York City Building Code, connections shall be installed to provide 200 plf tension and shear capacity, or in accordance with Chapter A3 of Appendix A of this code.

4.

Cripple walls in light-frame construction. Where the work on a light-frame building exposes the cripple wall, it shall be verified that the cripple wall is in conformance with Chapter 23 of the New York City Building Code. Where the condition does not conform to the New York City Building Code, it shall be made to conform, or a connection shall be installed in accordance with Chapter A3 of Appendix A of this code.

5.

Headers and trimmers in stair openings. Where headers and trimmers around existing stair openings within the work area have deteriorated or have deflected 2 inches (50.8 mm), they shall be reviewed for compliance with the strength provisions of the New York City Building Code, and brought into compliance if required.

6.

Soft stories in unreinforced masonry structures. Where a first floor exterior street or rear wall in an unreinforced masonry bearing wall structure is found to not be present, or if this street or rear masonry wall has been removed in the past, the structure shall be reinforced as required at the soft story to provide adequate gravity and lateral capacity. The altered structure shall be designed for wind loads of Section 705, or be made to conform with Chapter A4 of Appendix A of this code.

7.

Existing openings in masonry bearing walls. Where existing openings in masonry bearing walls located at the lot line are exposed by architectural removals in the course of the work, the openings shall be checked for compliance with the structural provisions of the New York City Building Code. If found non-compliant, the conditions shall be addressed.

8.

Areas with water piping. Where areas with existing water piping exist within the work area, and the structure is wood framed, the joists and deck beneath the area shall be reviewed for moisture-related or plumbing-related damage, and repaired as required.

9.

Bearing of wood structural elements including beams, stair headers, joists and trusses. Where the wood structural element ends that are bearing in masonry pockets are exposed during the project, the condition of the structural elements that are bearing shall be verified, and repaired as required.

10.

Sills at foundations. Where sills at foundations are exposed within the work area by removals during the project, the sill conditions shall be verified, and repaired, in accordance with the New York City Building Code, or Chapter A3 of Appendix A of this code.

11.

Brick nogging walls. Where a brick nogging wall is exposed while opening the siding or interior finishes of a building and rot or other deterioration is found, that stud, or header as applicable, shall be replaced or sistered. Remedial work shall include all studs or headers placed within 2 feet of a deteriorated wood stud or header. The remediation shall continue until non-deteriorated studs or headers are found. All observed deteriorated mortar between nogging bricks or bricks and wood stud shall be pointed in a manner sufficient to prevent smoke or fire transmission. Facades of wood shingles shall not be covered with other materials without an examination of the condition of underlying studs.

708.1.2 Requirements independent of work area.

The following remediation work shall occur subject to the requirements and conditions of each item:

1.

Roof sheathing removals in unreinforced masonry structures. In unreinforced masonry bearing wall and wood-framed floor structures where the sheathing of the roof is removed and the connection of the joist to the wall is exposed, or where anchors are added to party walls as required by Section 703.7, it shall be verified that there are connections of the roof to the wall including to the unreinforced masonry walls parallel to joists. Where no connections are present, connections shall be installed within the area of roof sheathing removal that comply with the requirements of the New York City Building Code, or are installed in accordance with Chapter A1 of Appendix A of this code.

2.

Sheathing removals in wood-framed structures. Where sheathing is removed in wood-framed structures, it shall be verified that there is connection of the roof to the wall including walls parallel to joists. Where no connection is present, connections within the area of roof sheathing removal shall be made to comply with Chapter 23 of the New York City Building Code.

3.

Bracing of unreinforced masonry parapets. Where a permit is issued for reroofing or roof replacement of more than 25 percent of the roof area, or the repair of a parapet, on a building that has parapets constructed of unreinforced masonry greater than 24” high above the roof plane, the remediation work shall include installation of parapet reinforcing on all such parapets to resist the lateral forces as specified in Sections 703.5 and 703.6 unless an evaluation demonstrates compliance with such requirements. The remediation shall be based on calculations using loads and methods indicated in Chapter 16 of the New York City Building Code, or prescriptive methods in Chapter A1 of Appendix A of this code.

Exceptions:

1. Parapets abutting an existing building wall.

2. The parapet abuts an adjacent roof not greater than 6 feet lower than the base of the parapet.

4.

Bond-breaking flashing in masonry parapets. Where horizontal thru-wall flashing is exposed by removals in masonry parapets greater than 24” high above the roof plane, the bond-breaking effect of existing or new horizontal flashing within the parapet shall be structurally evaluated, and if found insufficient, the parapets within the area of removals shall be remediated.

5.

Brick chimneys. Where reroofing includes more than 50 percent of area of the roof, the portions of all chimneys above the roof plane shall be examined and repaired or repointed as necessary in accordance with the New York City Building Code, or Chapter A1 of Appendix A of this code.

6.

Cornices framed with wood. Where roofing is removed at wood-framed cornices with sheet metal or wood enclosure, it shall be verified that the wood or sheet metal enclosure has not decayed or deteriorated and fasteners are adequate and in good condition. If bracing for the portion above the top of the facade wall is found not present or adequate, it shall be installed within the area of roofing removal unless it can be demonstrated that it is not needed.

7.

Bowstring wood trusses. Where a building with bowstring wood trusses is undergoing an alteration, the tension demand-capacity ratio of bottom chord and web members shall be confirmed for all bowstring trusses in the building using wood allowable values in accordance with Chapter 23 of the New York City Building Code, even when the loads are the same or decreased. It shall be confirmed that no damage exists at end bearing or other connections. It shall be confirmed that a continuous, structurally sound lateral bracing of trusses is secured and in place. The structure shall be repaired or strengthened as required.

Exception: Where bowstring trusses have already been previously evaluated and reports accepted by the department, the tension demand-capacity ratio of bottom chord and web members need not be re-evaluated as long as no new loads are added to the truss.