NY City "Existing" Building Code. Is there such a thing? 2

[LobstaEata]

We've been researching provisions in the NY City Building Code relating to structural requirements relative to alteration of existing buildings. Although we have discovered that the NY State Existing Building Code makes allowances to permit existing buildings to undergo limited alterations without an entire building system analysis, the NY City Building Code (no existing bldg. code) doesn't appear to allow that and just points to the 1968 NYC building code, which seems to have been heavily revised since it's original issue to include seismic provisions that are based on somewhat modern approaches. (I can't believe that the original 1968 NYC code contained seismic provisions)

My question is whether there is a engineer in this forum with experience designing buildings in NY City. If so, are there provisions for existing buildings, to limit the level of structural analysis to accommodate minor building alterations (similar to the NYS code) without having to fully comply with the current seismic requirements. As it stands, an entire structural building system would have to be analyzed regardless of the level of alteration, which seems a bit onerous compared to NY State code provisions.

 

[bookowski]

There is effectively no existing buildings code for NYC. The current construction code (2008) is adopted from IBC but you will find that the existing buildings chapter has been removed. The DoB is effectively remaining silent on the issue and leaving it up to the engineer (I have asked the DoB and that was their response).

You are allowed to file renovations under the 1968 code for structural work. I'm not sure what you are referring to when you say that it is heavily modified for seismic. There are seimsic provisions, basically UBC.

There is a flow chart that was issued at a bulletin or technical report... or something, that flow chart dictates when you need to do a seismic upgrade. It is very forgiving, and if you are doing minor alterations you most likely won't need to do anything. It usually boils down to anything that does not add 20% seismic weight or footing reinforcement is exempt. It doesn't mentions anything about reducing capacity of existing systems. A lot of the NYC code consists of technical bulletins that are issued over time, they are on the DoB website although not incredibly easy to sort through.

 

[bookowski]

See here:

http://www.nyc.gov/html/dob/downloads/pdf/tppn496.pdf

 

[Triangled]

assuming the ICC site is up to date, you might try this...
1)

http://www.iccsafe.org/gr/Documents/jurisdictionadoptions.pdf

Scroll down to NYC which refernces IBC2003 as accepted.
2) use IBC chapter 34 if you can, though not sure if it'll get you where you want to do....

http://publicecodes.cyberregs.com/icod/ibc/2003/icod_ibc_2003_34_par005.htm

 

[Triangled]

go with bookowski

 

[LobstaEata]

Thank you guys!

 

[dhengr]

LobstaEata:
Why don’t you give the NYC Bldg. Dept. a call on this, you know, that phone thingy, since it sounds like you will be getting to know them anyway, if you take the job. There is plenty of older bldg. alteration going on out there, so this shouldn’t be a new or neglected issue. And, I’ll bet, like most codes, that every bldg. does not have to be completely redesigned to affect some reasonable alterations. I would assume that they are as worried about what damage you might do to adjacent bldgs. if you don’t handle yours correctly, as they are about your modifications being handled properly. I’ve never worked out there on bldg. design or alterations, but rather on products and equipment for use out there. But, from what I’ve read and heard, re: bldgs., they have some fairly knowledgeable people on the subject because of all of their experience, some of it disastrous. Particularly, row houses, old masonry bearing walls, deep foundations, underpinning foundations, utilities in the way and the like. I can’t imagine that they don’t have a City Bldg. Code, although they may be being dragged, kicking and screaming as they always do, to come under the State Codes, with specific exceptions. Maybe start with the State Code people and ask who to talk to in the NYC Dept.

 

[LobstaEata]

@dhengr You know....that sounds like a good idea. Who would have thought about that audiophonic relic under all those rolls of plans? Thanks!