The purpose of this bulletin is to clarify the conditions in which the 2008 Construction Codes or the 2014 Construction Codes apply to new buildings, alterations, partial demolitions and full demolitions.
I. New Buildings and Alterations to Existing Buildings
With the exception of Sections III, IV, and V of this bulletin, the 2008 Construction Codes apply to applications for a New Building (NB), Alteration Type 1 (ALT-1), Alteration Type 2 (ALT-2), and Alteration Type 3 (ALT-3), including alteration work consisting of partial demolition work, when the application for construction document approval is submitted before October 1, 2014 and has a BIS Job Status Code of “D” and an Online Code “A/P Entire,” provided:
- The construction documents submitted meet the minimum requirements for completeness under the Department’s “Plan Examination Guidelines - Minimum Requirement for Review of Design Drawings”
- The application thereafter is diligently prosecuted to completion
In order for the application to be subject to the 2008 Construction Codes, reviews and approvals from other agencies need not be submitted prior to October 1, 2014.
- Alterations submitted prior to October 1, 2014, Section AC 28-101.4 of the 2008 Construction Codes apply (AC 28-101.4.3 and AC 28-101.4.4).
- Alterations submitted on or after October 1, 2014, Section AC 28-101.4 of the 2014 Construction Codes will apply (AC 28-101.4.3, AC 28-101.4.4, and AC 28-101.4.5).
- The 2008 Construction Codes shall apply to the entire NB, including any additional filings related to the NB such as fire alarms or mechanical filings submitted on or after October 1, 2014, provided that construction documents are submitted prior to October 1, 2014 that include all necessary architectural, foundation and structural plans.
Any alteration or NB filing following the 2008 Construction Codes with a substantial increase in work scope related to the overall size or footprint of such building must fully comply in its entirety with the 2014 Construction Codes, unless otherwise reviewed and authorized by the appropriate borough office.
II. Chapter 33 Provisions – Full Demolitions
- Full demolition work permits issued prior to October 1, 2014, shall comply with the 2008 Code BC Chapter 33 for the duration and for all aspects of the demolition, including any subsequent filings related to BC Chapter 33.
- When a full demolition permit is issued on or after October 1, 2014, the requirements of the 2014 Construction Codes update of BC Chapter 33 shall apply for the duration and for all aspects of the demolition, including any subsequent filings related to BC Chapter 33.
III. Chapter 33 Provisions – other than Full Demolitions
BC Chapter 33 requires a site safety plan to be filed for certain work performed as part of a “major building” project.
- When a site safety plan is approved on or after October 1, 2014, the requirements of the 2014 Construction Codes BC Chapter 33 shall apply for the duration of the project and for all aspects regarding the safety of public and property during construction operations, including any subsequent filings related to BC Chapter 33.
- For projects where the site safety plan was approved prior to October 1, 2014, the requirements of 2008 Code BC Chapter 33 shall apply for the duration of the project and for all aspects regarding the safety of public and property during construction operations, including any subsequent filings related to BC Chapter 33.
- When a site safety plan is not required, the provisions of BC Chapter 33 shall follow the same Construction Codes (2008 or 2014) applicable to the underlying construction documents in accordance with Section II of this bulletin.
IV. Exception - Additional Exit Stairway Effective Date
Section BC 403.5.2 (Additional Exit Stairway) of the 2014 Construction Codes shall not apply to applications until June 30, 2015 at the earliest. Thus, the provisions of BC 403.5.2 of the 2014 Construction Codes shall apply to NB and alteration applications filed on or after the later of June 30, 2015 or the effective date of an associated zoning resolution amendment, as described above; however, other filing requirements of such applications shall be subject to the conditions outlined for NB and alteration applications in section II of this bulletin.