2015 LEONARD X. FARBMAN SCHOLARSHIP FUND

The Plumbing Industry Promotion Fund of New York City held an awards ceremony for its 2015 scholarship recipients. Each student was awarded an annual $2,000 scholarship. The Promotion Fund provides $80,000 in scholarships each year, to help defray higher education costs over four years of college.

The Plumbing Industry Promotion Fund of New York City has been awarding scholarships for over 30 years. To date, the Promotion fund has disbursed over $1,000,000 to more than 400 students. Participants in the Scholarship Program may attend any accredited college, university or approved technical institution in the United States and may select any course of study.

According to Ralph J. DeMartino, Chairman of the Promotion Fund’s Board of Trustees, the scholarship fund was created to aid the best and the brightest of the next generation in achieving their dream of a quality education at some of the finest colleges and universities in the country. With the costs of higher educations ever on the rise, the Promotion Fund hopes its scholarship fund can ease the financial burden for these families and keep that dream in reach for these incredible students. “It is a privilege for the Promotion Fund to give back to our own plumbing community through the Leonard X. Farbman Memorial Scholarship Fund,” said DeMartino.

This year’s scholarship committee consisted of three distinguished educators from various institutions of higher education who had to choose from over 33 impressive applicants based upon high school grades, standardized test scores and extra-curricular activities.

NEWS FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF BUILDINGS “INSPECTION READY”

Department of Building’s “Inspection Ready”

Inspection Ready will provide online schduling for virtually ALL inspections.

ONCE INSTITUTED ALL INSPECTION REQUESTS, INCLUDING PLUMBING, WILL BE MADE THROUGH THIS SYSTEM. TO USE THE SYSTEM LICENSED PLUMBERS MUST BE REGISTERED.

Make signing up for Inspection Ready easy: Update your email address, license and insurance information today!

Inspection Ready will make it easier to schedule inspection appointments, offer more precise inspection scheduling and improve inspection tracking and notifications. Plus, it will improve our service by standardizing our inspectors’ electronic checklists – and allow industry members to certify certain objections electronically, eliminating the cost of re-inspections.

To stay up-to-date on Inspection Ready, subscribe to Buildings News as well as regularly check this website for updates.

Service Notices

General Information Sessions

The Department of Buildings will host general information sessions throughout the month of October to familiarize licensees and owners with the new Inspection Ready system coming in late 2015. Due to space limitations, advance registration is mandatory for all attendees.

Inspection Ready: Industry Information Sessions

The Department of Buildings will host industry-specific information sessions throughout the month of November to demonstrate to industry professionals and licensees how to use the new Inspection Ready system coming in late 2015. Due to space limitations, advance registration is mandatory for all attendees.

Licensee & Owner Preparation

In accordance vvfth the technology enhancements outlined in our Building One City plan the Department of Buildings is preparing to launch lnspection Ready, our new online inspection request and routing system set to go live in late 2015.

“INSPECTION READY” FAQS

Frequently Asked Questions

What types of inspections will I be able to schedule using Inspection Ready?

Users will be able to schedule virtually all inspections through this service. These inspections include: Boilers; Builders Pavement Plans; Construction; Cranes & Derricks; Electrical; Elevators; House Connections; Plumbing; and Sustainability.

When Inspection Ready launches will I be able to request inspections like I do today?

No. You will be required to use the online Inspection Ready system to submit a request for an inspection to the Department.

How will I learn to use Inspection Ready?

Training materials, including a reference video and reference guides, will be posted on the Department’s website. Buildings staff will also provide assistance by phone and in each borough office.

Will inspections for jobs filed in the borough be scheduled through Inspection Ready?

Yes. After Inspection Ready launches, all inspections must be scheduled online through Inspection Ready regardless of how the job was first filed.

Will additional fees be charged to use Inspection Ready?

No. There are no additional fees to use Inspection Ready. Inspection Ready will provide expedited processing of your inspection request and more timely inspection results.

For more in-depth information regarding Inspection Ready, please see the Inspection Ready General Information Presentation at:

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

THE DEPARTMENT OF BUILDINGS JOINT VENTURE PROCEDURE AND FACTS

To clarify the procedure for filing a Joint Venture application for Licensed Plumbers and Licensed Fire Suppression Contractors, the Department of Buildings has issued the following procedure:

The administrative code states:

§ 28-408.6.5 Joint Ventures. Nothing contained in this section 28-408.6 shall be construed to prevent a master plumber business from entering into a joint venture of limited duration for a particular project with another master plumber business. The terms of a joint venture must be in writing, and documentation of the joint venture must be submitted to the department for approval prior to the initiation of work under such venture.

§ 28-410.8.5 Joint Ventures. Nothing contained in this section 28-410.8 shall be construed to prevent a master fire suppression piping contractor business from entering into a joint venture of limited duration for a particular project with another master fire suppression piping contractor business. The terms of a joint venture must be in writing, and documentation of the joint venture must be submitted to the department for approval prior to the initiation of work under such venture.

Procedure

• Both licensees shall submit a letter to the Department of Buildings (DOB) at:
  NYC Department of Buildings
  Technical Affairs, 7th Floor, Attn Artie Cordes
  280 Broadway
  New York City, N.Y. 10007
• Submit letters as a PDF file in an email, (Acordes@buildings.nyc.gov) this way DOB can start working on the filing and should have completed the process by the time we receive this letter.

Each letter shall be on the licensee’s letterhead and state:

• The projects address and all permit numbers.
• A statement, that the project is being filed as a Joint Venture, state both companies names and both licensees names and license numbers and that both licensees agree.
• The name, company and license number of the contractor holding the Permit, Insurance and/or Bond
• Both companies e-mail addresses.
• That all work will be under the direct supervision from both companies and licensees.
• To request that, all inspections and tests may be conducted by either company.
• To request that, if Self Certifications are performed either licensee may sign the OP-98 providing the words Joint Venture and both company names appear in the Additional Information/ Comments Line on the OP-98
• Then Licensees must sign and seal the letters. No Joint Venture will be accepted until the hard copies of the letters are received by the DOB.

When Accepted

• Both companies will be notified by e-mail.
• All Borough Plumbing Chiefs will be notified of the Joint Venture approval.

THE DEP’S 2014 ANNUAL WATER SUPPLY AND QUALITY REPORT

The 2014 Annual Water Supply and Quality Report is now available for viewing at: www.nyc.gov/dep/2014waterquality

This report contains important information about your water supply and the quality of your drinking water. Water quality test results from the drinking water supply are summarized in the tables in this report. Please go to www.nyc.gov/dep/2014waterquality to view the report and learn more about your drinking water. For a translation of the report, or to speak with someone about the information in the report, please call 311. If you would like a paper copy of the report mailed to your home, please call 311 and DEP will mail you a paper copy.

For more information about the New York City Water Supply and to view previous year’s reports, go to www.nyc.gov/dep.

 

THE PIPECASTER is published by The Plumbing Foundation City of New York, 44 West 28th Street., 12th Floor. New York, New York; (212) 481-9740; Fax:(212) 481-7185. Lawrence J. Levine, Chairman; Thomas Maniuszko, Vice Chairman; Louis J. Buttermark, Treasurer; Stewart O’Brien, Executive Director; Terence O’Brien, Editor. Board of Directors: George Bassolino, Paul Belli, Peter Bisso, Marc Breslaw, Louis J. Buttermark, Harris Clark, Angelo Lemodetis, Lawrence J. Levine, Adam Levy, Scott Lyons, Thomas Maniuszko, Andrew Moran

FOUNDATION’S ENVIRONMENTAL STATEMENT

Since its establishment in 1986 the Plumbing Foundation has worked diligently to ensure that the plumbing industry has as little a “carbon footprint” on New York City as possible. The plumbing industry has historically utilized environmentally friendly materials like recycled cast-iron and copper piping/fittings. The Foundation will continue its role of protecting New York City as well as being an advocate for the environment by strengthening its water/sanitary regulations thereby reducing the City’s wasteful water consumption.