{"data":{"id":"us-nyc/n.y.c.-admin.-code-bc-1403","jurisdiction":"us-nyc","citation":"N.Y.C. Admin. Code § BC 1403","heading":"Section BC 1403: Performance Requirements","body":"1403.1 General.\n\nThe provisions of this section shall apply to exterior walls, exterior wall coverings and components thereof.\n\n1403.2 Weather protection.\n\nExterior walls shall provide the building with a weather-resistant exterior wall envelope. The exterior wall envelope shall include flashing, as described in Section 1405.4. The exterior wall envelope shall be designed and constructed in such a manner as to prevent the accumulation of water within the wall assembly by providing a water-resistive barrier behind the exterior veneer, as described in Section 1404.2, and a means for draining water that enters the assembly to the exterior. Protection against condensation shall be provided as required.\n\nExceptions:\n\n1. A weather-resistant exterior wall envelope shall not be required over concrete and masonry walls designed to resist water penetration and detrimental effects from freeze/thaw cycling and in accordance with Chapters 19 and 21 of this code, as applicable.\n\n2. Compliance with the requirements for a means of drainage, and the requirements of Sections 1404.2 and 1405.4 of this code, shall not be required for an exterior wall envelope that has been demonstrated through testing to resist wind-driven rain, including joints, penetrations and intersections with dissimilar materials, in accordance with ASTM E 331 under the following conditions:\n\n2.1. Exterior wall envelope test assemblies shall include at least one opening, one control joint, and where required one wall/eave interface and one wall sill. Tested openings and penetrations shall be representative of the intended end-use configuration.\n\n2.2. Exterior wall envelope test assemblies shall be at least 4 feet by 8 feet (1220 mm by 2438.4 mm) in size.\n\n2.3. Exterior wall envelope assemblies shall be tested at a minimum differential pressure of 6.24 pounds per square foot (psf) (0.297 kN/m\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t2\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t) for a duration of 2 hours. The exterior wall envelope assemblies shall also be tested at a minimum differential pressure not less than 20 percent of the positive design wind load as calculated per Chapter 16, or 15 pounds per square foot (psf) (0.718 kN/m\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t2\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t for a duration of 15 minutes.\n\n2.4. The exterior wall envelope design shall be considered to resist wind-driven rain where the results of testing indicate that water did not penetrate the test assembly including control joints in the exterior wall envelope, joints at the perimeter of openings or intersections of terminations with dissimilar materials.\n\n3. Exterior insulation and finish systems (EIFS) complying with Section 1408.4.1.\n\n1403.3 Structural.\n\nExterior wall envelope, and the associated openings, shall be designed and constructed to resist safely the superimposed loads required by Chapter 16.\n\n1403.4 Fire resistance.\n\nExterior wall envelope shall be fire-resistance rated as required by other sections of this code with opening protection as required by Chapter 7.\n\n1403.5 Vertical and lateral flame propagation.\n\nExterior walls that contain foam plastic insulation including exterior insulation and finish systems (EIFS), metal composite material (MCM) systems, high-pressure decorative exterior-grade compact laminates (HPL), and fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) shall be tested in accordance with and comply with the acceptance criteria of NFPA 285. Foam plastic insulation assemblies and FRP shall be tested in accordance with Section 2603.5.5. MCM systems shall be tested in accordance with Section 1407.11. HPL systems shall be tested in accordance with Section 1409.11. Approved NFPA 285 tested assembly design documentation shall be included on the submitted construction documents complying with Section 1401.2. Deviation from the NFPA 285 tested design shall be approved by the registered design professional and additional documentation shall be provided if requested by the department. Combustible exterior wall coverings shall comply with Section 1406 of this code.\n\nException: Fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) where permitted by Section 2613.5 not to be tested.\n\n1403.5.1 Exterior walls with water-resistive barriers.\n\nExterior walls on buildings of Type I, II, III, or IV construction that are greater than 40 feet (12 192 mm) in height above grade plane and contain a combustible water-resistive barrier shall be tested in accordance with and comply with the acceptance criteria of NFPA 285. For the purposes of this section, fenestration products and flashing of fenestration products and water-resistive barrier flashing and accessories at other locations, including through wall flashings and attachment accessories, shall not be considered part of the water-resistive barrier.\n\nExceptions:\n\n1. Walls in which the water-resistive barrier is the only combustible component and the exterior wall has a wall covering of brick, concrete, stone, terra cotta, stucco or steel with minimum thicknesses in accordance with Table 1405.2 of this code.\n\n2. Walls in which the water-resistive barrier is the only combustible component and the water-resistive barrier has a peak heat release rate of less than 150 kW/m2 (203.9 hp/m\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t2\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t), a total heat release of less than 20 MJ/m2 (18 956 BTU/m\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t2\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t) and an effective heat of combustion of less than 18 MJ/kg (17 060 BTU/lb) as determined in accordance with ASTM E 1354 and has a flame spread index of 25 or less and a smoke-developed index of 450 or less as determined in accordance with ASTM E 84 or UL 723. The ASTM E 1354 test shall be conducted on specimens at the thickness intended for use, in the horizontal orientation and at an incident radiant heat flux of 50 kW/m\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t2\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t.\n\n1403.6 Flood resistance.\n\nFor buildings in flood hazard areas, the exterior wall envelope extending below the design flood elevation shall be resistant to water damage and shall comply with Appendix G.\n\n1403.7 Thermal and condensation resistance.\n\nThe exterior wall envelope shall be designed and constructed for thermal and condensation resistance as necessary to meet the requirements of the New York City Energy Conservation Code.\n\n1403.8 Bird friendly materials.\n\nBird friendly materials shall be required in accordance with Sections 1403.8.1 through 1403.8.4.\n\n(L.L. 2020/015, 1/10/2020, eff. 1/10/2021)\n\n1403.8.1 Exterior wall envelope.\n\nThe exterior wall envelope, and any associated openings, shall be constructed with bird friendly materials up to 75 feet (22 860 mm) above grade. Materials other than bird friendly materials shall not exceed an aggregate of 10 square feet (0.93 m\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t2\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t) within any 10 feet (3048 mm) by 10 feet (3048 mm) square area of exterior wall below 75 feet (22 860 mm) above grade.\n\nExceptions:\n\n1. Where ground floor transparency is required by the New York City Zoning Resolution, transparent bird friendly material with a UV-reflective pattern and a maximum threat factor of 27 shall be provided.\n\n2. In areas of special flood hazard and shaded X-Zones where flood resistant glazing is proposed and ground floor transparency is required by the New York City Zoning Resolution, transparent bird friendly material with a UV-reflective pattern and a maximum threat factor of 36 shall be provided.\n\n(L.L. 2020/015, 1/10/2020, eff. 1/10/2021)\n\n1403.8.2 Bird hazard installations.\n\nBird hazard installations shall be constructed of bird friendly materials regardless of their height above grade.\n\n(L.L. 2020/015, 1/10/2020, eff. 1/10/2021)\n\n1403.8.3 Fly-through conditions.\n\nFly-through conditions located 75 feet (22 860 mm) or less above grade shall be constructed with bird friendly materials.\n\n(L.L. 2020/015, 1/10/2020, eff. 1/10/2021)\n\n1403.8.4 Adjacency to green roofs.\n\nThe exterior wall envelope, and any associated openings, installed adjacent to a green roof system on the same building shall be constructed with bird friendly materials up to 12 feet (3657.6 mm) above the walking surface.\n\n(L.L. 2020/015, 1/10/2020, eff. 1/10/2021)\n\n1403.9 Air barrier.\n\nThe exterior wall envelope shall be designed and constructed with an air barrier as necessary to meet the requirements of the New York City Energy Conservation Code and this code.","path":["New York City Administrative Code","Title 28","Chapter 7: New York City Building Code"],"source_url":"https://files.amlegal.com/pdffiles/NewYorkCity/Admin/XML.zip","current_through":"Local Law 2026/135 (enacted August 31, 2026)","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-09-06T02:48:57Z","sha256":"6362629076445d34595fe77ae5c1d87a726e040e50991a77f9ef5746dc2867d8","source_id":"us-nyc","stale":false,"prev":"us-nyc/n.y.c.-admin.-code-bc-1402","next":"us-nyc/n.y.c.-admin.-code-bc-1404"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}