Local Law 152 Gas Inspection
Local Law 152
Local Law 152 is part of a larger package of regulations concerning gas line safety, requiring periodic inspections for gas piping systems.
All building owners except those in occupancy group R-3 (2 families or less). This will affect approximately 280,000 buildings in New York City.
When Is This Due?
The rules implementing LL152 breakdown the inspection cycle by community districts within boroughs.
January 1, 2021 – December 31, 2021 | Districts: 2, 5, 7, 13, and 18 in all boroughs
January 1, 2022 – December 31, 2022 | Districts: 4, 6, 8, 9, and 16 in all boroughs
January 1, 2023 – December 31, 2023 | Districts: 11, 12, 14, 15, and 17 in all boroughs
What Are The Penalties For Noncompliance?
A building owner who fails to submit a certification required to be submitted…on or before the filing due date specified…will be liable for a civil penalty of ten thousand dollars ($10,000). Penalties can be challenged by submitting satisfactory proof of a timely and acceptable filing. These must be filed within 30 days from the date of violation.
Local Law 152 Gas Inspections in Brooklyn: Everything You Need to Know
In 2016, New York City legislature introduced Local Law 152 to the Department of buildings. The law, which is part of a bigger legal overhaul to make gas lines as safe as possible, has made it so that all gas lines in buildings undergo requisite periodic inspections. Although it took several years for this law to be passed, the rules are now set in stone and are in full motion.
If you are concerned about how this law may affect you, read on for all you will need to know about local Law 152 gas inspections. In this article we will tell you what qualifications the gas inspectors need to have, what the inspections actually entail, and how you can stay compliant with the new regulations and rules.
How Does Local Law 152 Gas Inspection Affect Citizens of Brooklyn?
The goal of Local Law 152 is to be sure that all gas piping systems receive regular inspections. This is being done to be sure that all of these gas piping systems are working up to the government’s highest environmentally sound safety standards. If you are living in Brooklyn, you are considered a resident of New York City. Local Law 152 is in place to ensure that all gas piping systems in all buildings of all five boroughs are running safely and smoothly. By having all gas lines inspected so regularly, your safety and well being is being protected with a greater urgency than it has before.
Is Every Building in New York City Required to Comply with Local Law 152?
The goal of Local Law 152 was to achieve compliance with most of the buildings that are located in New York City. However, there is a small exception to this. There is an occupancy group classification that evades Local Law 152. Occupancy group R-3 does not have to comply with Local Law 152 because buildings such as these only contain two individual dwelling units or less, and less than twenty people living in it altogether. Occupancy Group R-3 usually applies to group homes or single and dual family apartments. If you would like to know if your Brooklyn building is exempt from Local Law 152, take a look at your building’s Certificate of Occupancy. There you will see whether or not your building is of the correct occupancy group classification.
How Often Will New Inspections be Performed Under Local Law 152?
The goal of Local Law 152 was to achieve compliance with most of the buildings that are located in New York City. However, there is a small exception to this. There is an occupancy group classification that evades Local Law 152. Occupancy group R-3 does not have to comply with Local Law 152 because buildings such as these only contain two individual dwelling units or less, and less than twenty people living in it altogether. Occupancy Group R-3 usually applies to group homes or single and dual family apartments. If you would like to know if your Brooklyn building is exempt from Local Law 152, take a look at your building’s Certificate of Occupancy. There you will see whether or not your building is of the correct occupancy group classification.
Will All New Buildings in Brooklyn Require Piping System Inspections?
Any Brooklyn building that has received approval for occupancy any time after the end of 2018 will be required to have its gas piping system inspected ten years after it has received its Certificate of Occupancy. In other words, if the building received its certificate in 2023, it will need its first Local Law 152 Inspection performed in 2033, then again in 2037 and so on. It all depends on whether or not the building meets the criteria for more than two dwelling units.
Will Brooklyn Buildings Without Gas Piping be Affected by Local Law 152?
If a building has no gas piping at all, it will not need to complete a Local Law 152 gas inspection. However, the building will be required to prove that it has no gas piping in order to be exempt. The building can receive exemption by having a certificate drafted that confirms the building’s lack of gas piping. If the building in Brooklyn receives such a certificate, it will have to be reinstated every four years, the same way it would receive its regular Local Law 152 gas inspections.
How Can a Brooklyn Building Owner Schedule a Local Law 152 Gas Inspection?
All buildings in Brooklyn, except the ones that are exempt due to minimal occupancy, will need to comply with Local Law 152 gas inspections every four years. In order to achieve this, the Brooklyn building’s owner will need to schedule the gas inspection with a licensed master plumber, their apprentice, or a professional from EZ Runer Construction Corp. Any of these professionals will be able to help the building owner carry out the necessary gas inspection and meet the requirements of Local Law 152. If you are a Brooklyn building owner, and need more information on Local Law 152 compliance and gas inspection scheduling, please call us today!
After My Inspection, How Do I Submit My Certificate?
After your Brooklyn building’s gas piping system inspection has been properly carried out, your Heating Engineer will mail you an inspection certificate. This is usually done around thirty days after the inspection is performed. Once you receive the certificate, you must make sure that it is sent to the Department of Buildings. You will probably have around thirty days to get that done. If you do not submit your certificate to the Department of Buildings within that time frame, you will be required to get another Local Law 152 gas piping inspection performed. This will enable you to receive a new certificate.
If There are Errors During Inspection, What Will Happen?
It is important that your master plumber, Heating Engineer, or professional from EZ Runer Construction Corp in Brooklyn carry out the Local Law 152 gas inspection with complete dexterity. However, mistakes may be made, and errors in the inspection could possibly occur. If this happens, you will need to schedule another Local Law 152 gas inspection. You will need to get this done within 120 days of your building’s initial inspection. If there are specific circumstances that prevent this, you will be able to apply for an extension of 60 days. After you receive your new Inspection Certificate, be sure to keep a copy of it in your files for at least ten years. It is important that you maintain your records, as the Department of Buildings may request it at any time.
What are the Consequences of Non Compliance with Local Law 152?
If you are a Brooklyn building owner, and do not comply with the requisites of Local Law 152, you could be in for some serious financial liabilities. A fine of up to $10,000 could be imposed upon you. If this happens, and you feel that it is unjust, you have the right to challenge this civil penalty. However, you will be required to submit substantial proof of that to the Department of Buildings. If this happens to you, you will have thirty days to try and fight the civil penalty.
What if Your Brooklyn Building Fails Local Law 152 Gas Inspection?
If your Brooklyn building gets its gas pipelines inspected, and the results are negative, your tenants could be in some grave danger. Hazardous gasses such as carbon monoxide could be leaking into their homes. If your building’s pipelines receive a Local Law 152 gas inspection, and fail, the first thing that happens is that all relevant parties will be notified. This will include the Brooklyn building owner, the utility company that supplies that gas to the piping system, and the Department of Buildings. After the failed inspection, the building owner must take the necessary steps to bring the gas piping system up to its proper code. As frustrating as that may seem, be aware that the safety of all of your building’s occupants are at stake, and that this is a very serious matter. Local Law 152 is in place to ensure the safety of Brooklyn building owners and residents alike.
EZ Runer Can Help You Stay Up to Code!
Although Local Law 152 may seem complex, and that it is just another item to add to your to do list as a Brooklyn building owner, we are here to help you. The team at EZ Runer Construction Corp has been helping Brooklyn building owners with gas inspections for over 35 years. With this new law in place, we are prepared to help you and your tenants stay safe in the event of a gas leak. We will do this by making sure that you are always aware of when your Local Law 152 gas inspection needs to be performed. We are here to ensure that you stay safely up to code this year, and for many years to come! If you have any questions about Local Law gas inspection in Brooklyn, please contact us today.
