Service Update: SIA’s Responsibilites for Reporting Discrepanciess and Hazardous Conditions
As per 1 RCNY 101-06 Section (b) (9), Special Inspection Agencies are compelled to report hazardous conditions and inspection discrepancies.
Reporting Discrepancies
Discrepancies that are duly noted must be reported to the contractor. If necessary, any correction or corrections should also be noted to the superintendent of construction and/or site safety manager/coordinator.
If no corrections were done, such discrepancies should be made known to the owner and the registered design professional before any phase of that work is completed.
Reporting Hazardous Conditions
The contractor or any relevant site personnel should find immediate remedial measures for any hazardous conditions and discrepancies found or reported that may cause imminent danger to life, safety or health of all involved.
If such hazardous conditions remain uncorrected, it should be reported to the Department immediately. This can be done by calling the Emergency Operations Center.
Hazardous conditions may happen during construction work. In accordance with BC1704.20, work covered by special inspections for structural stability includes the following:
- 1704.20.1 Structural stability of existing structures
- 1704.20.2 Excavations
- 1704.20.3 Underpinning
- 1704.20.4 Demolition
- 1704.20.5 Raising and moving of a building
Monitoring
Requisites for documenting and monitoring of the structural stability of structures under construction including adjacent structures has been introduced in the 2014 Building Code (1704.20.7.1). A suitable monitoring plan will contain data for reporting uncorrected hazardous conditions to the Emergency Operations Center or to 311 as necessary.
Reporting of hazardous conditions and discrepancies is a responsibility SIA’s need not take lightly. It is an important step to ensure that construction projects are code compliant and that buildings are safe before, during and after construction. You can check out the DOB website and more specifically 1 RCNY 101-06 to learn more about Special Inspection Agency and Special Inspector responsibilities.