On October 7th, the NYC Department of Buildings voted to pass a holistic update to the city’s Construction Codes. The new changes include 600 major updates that are designed to improve safety for New Yorkers. This is the first comprehensive update to the entire set of NYC Administrative, Plumbing, Building, Mechanical and Fuel Gas Codes since 2014.
Some fire and life safety revisions to the codes include the expansion of the number of high-rise residential buildings that require emergency voice evacuation systems as well as requirements for FDNY access to exit stairways.
“The updated codes approved by the City Council are a product of outstanding work by FDNY members in our Bureau of Fire Prevention and their colleagues at the Department of Buildings,” said Fire Commissioner Daniel A. Nigro. “Thanks to their collaboration and expertise, we will see greater improvements to the city’s fire protection, emergency response, and construction regulations, helping to ensure the safety of all New Yorkers and our members who respond to thousands of emergencies each day.” To learn more about the new code updates, read the press release from the NYC DOB.
