2012 LICENSE RENEWAL COURSE
SIGN – UP NOW!
The Construction Trades License Training Corporation’s (CTLTC) last course in 2012 will be:
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2012
Anyone seeking to renew their license in 2012 or early 2013 should register for this course. Please use the CTLTC’s website to sign up.
REMINDER – Completion of this 7-hour course satisfies the requirement for both Licensed Master Plumbers and Fire Suppression Contractors seeking to renew their license(s) which, under the 2008 Administrative section of the Building Code, is a three year license period. Licensees are required to take the 7-hour course within 24 months prior to the expiration of the license.
NEW PLUMBING CODE
On August 8th 2012, Mayor Bloomberg signed intro 807-A into law (Local Law 41/2012). Local Law 41 amends the Plumbing Code Section of the Building Code. The Foundation was well represented on the Department of Buildings Plumbing Code Revision Committee and its members spent hundreds of hours developing and reviewing the Plumbing Code update. It is important to note that the Plumbing Code will not take effect until the remaining sections of the Building Code (Administrative Code, Fuel Gas Code, Mechanical Code, etc.) are enacted. In all likelihood the new Building Code will not be in effect until mid-2013, therefore there are no changes to the existing 2008 New York City Plumbing Code at this time.
(Stewart O’Brien, Plumbing Foundation Executive Director and Plumbing Code
Review Technical Board Chairman, Robert Benazzi.)
On May 21, 2012 the Foundation’s Executive Director, Stewart O’Brien, testified in support of the collaborative revision process of Intro.807. He noted, “While there will always be varying viewpoints and some disagreement when updating a Code of this size, the process was inclusive and the prime issue of the participants was the safety of New Yorkers. Accordingly, the Foundation supports this bill.”
DOB NEWS: UPCOMING CHANGES
Listed below are excerpts from DOB Memo Inspection Services Upcoming Organizational Changes dated July 13, 2012.
One of the Department’s core duties is to facilitate compliant development and we have expanded the NYC Development Hub to meet this responsibility, accelerating inspections for construction, plumbing and electrical work. Our Inspection Services wi/I enable us to perform these development inspections within 10 days of an inspection request, a goal that Mayor Bloomberg highlighted in his State of the City address in January…
…Timothy Hogan, Deputy Commissioner of Enforcement oversees the Enforcement Bureau, including the following divisions: Regulatory Policy and Investigations, Administrative Policy & Enforcement, Engineering & Safety Operations, Engineering & Emergency Operations, and Borough Enforcement Inspections.
…Dmitri Dits continues to serve as Assistant Commissioner, Borough Enforcement Inspections, which includes Citywide Enforcement. Quality of Life – QOL, and Emergency Response Team (ERT)/Emergency Operations Center (EOC). As part of this role, Mr. Dits will focus on maintaining standards of enforcement inspections and Agency emergency response.
…Late Summer: Construction and Plumbing Reorganization
Construction Inspections Unit reorganizes into Construction Development and Construction Enforcement
Plumbing Inspections Unit reorganizes into Plumbing Development and Plumbing Enforcement
Construction Development and Plumbing Development Chiefs report to Mr. Connors
Construction Enforcement and Plumbing Enforcement Chiefs report to Mr. Dits
This reorganization will have minimal impact on our other inspectorial units. For example, while all development inspection staff wJ11 report to Mr. Connors, our development presence in the borough offices is unchanged, and the majority of development inspectors will not be relocated to other offices. In addition, there will be no change to Centralized Inspection Units, including the Boilers and Elevators divisions, at this time.
Thomas Connors has been promoted to Executive Director of Inspection Services. Based out of our offices at 1 Centre Street he will oversee citywide development inspections, including management of inspection services for our NYC Development Hub clients, as well as citywide inspection service levels. As Mr. Connors moves from his previous role as Executive Director of Construction Site Safety, he will transition his prior responsibilities, including management and technical support for the Buildings Enforcement Safety Team (BEST). During the transition period, Mr. Connors will provide support to BEST until a replacement for his prior role has been named…
…Eyal Amos, Chief Inspector of BEST; is overseeing day-to-day operations during the transition. BEST will continue to report to Christopher Santulli, Acting Assistant Commissioner, Engineering and Safety Operations.
…Arthur Cordes continues to serve as the Executive Technical Director of Plumbing & Fire Suppression Operations, overseeing the Central Plumbing Unit.
NEW FOUNDATION PUBLIC EDUCATION CAMPAIGN
Following is one of the Foundation’s four new educational advertisements which are being published in a variety of construction, real estate, and news reporting outlets such as websites, blogs, and magazines over the next 3 months. For all Plumbing Foundation advocacy advertisements please visit
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 lessening the City’s wasteful water consumption.
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, Irwin Brenner, Marc Breslaw, Raymond Cardoza, Lawrence J. Levine, Scott Lyons, Robert Ricco, John Scarpinito