In New York City, the Façade Inspection & Safety Program (Local Law 11) sets requirements for inspecting buildings over six stories. These inspections operate on a schedule. The FISP Cycle determines when inspection reports are due for which buildings.
FISP Cycle 8
In NYC, FISP Cycle 8 began on February 21st, 2015, and closed on February 20th, 2020. Any buildings that did not file their Cycle 8 FISP report (including all sub-cycles: 8A, 8B, and 8C) are late and are subject to penalties from the NYC Department of Buildings.
If you did not file your FISP Cycle 8, you must file as soon as possible to get your building compliant. You can file in the current cycle but will most likely face penalties at the DOB for not filing in the previous cycle.
I am Jorge Fontan, an architect in New York and owner of Manhattan-based architecture firm Fontan Architecture. At our office, we work on various project types, including Local Law 11 FISP Reports and restoration. If you want to read more about Local Law 11, you can see another post we wrote on the Façade Inspection Safety Program.
Past Dues FISP Reports
All of Cycle 8 is past due and has been for several years.
FISP Cycle 8A
Buildings on a block whose Block Number ends in 4, 5, 6, or 9 were in cycle 8A. The FISP Reports for Cycle 8A were due on February 21st, 2017, and have been past due since then.
FISP Cycle 8B
Buildings on a block whose Block Number ends in 0, 7, or 8 were in cycle 8B. The FISP Reports for Cycle 8B were due on February 21st, 2018, and have been past due since then.
FISP Cycle 8C
Buildings on a block whose Block Number ends in 1, 2, or 3 were in cycle 8C. The FISP Reports for Cycle 8C were due on February 21st, 2019, and have been past due since then.
FISP Reports
FISP Reports are filed by a Qualified Exterior Wall Inspector (QEWI). The QEWI is an architect or engineer whom the NYC DOB has granted status as a Qualified Exterior Wall Inspector. They perform inspections of the building facades and appurtenances and assign the building one of three ratings. Safe, SWARP, or Unsafe.
Safe: This means the building is safe; currently, no repairs or maintenance are required.
SWARMP: This means the building requires a safety and maintenance program.
Unsafe: This means the building is unsafe and requires immediate repairs.
FISP Cycles
The Façade Inspections & Safety Program protects the public from the potential of falling debris from deteriorated buildings. Building owners must hire an architect or engineer who is also a QEWI to submit these reports and oversee any necessary repairs. This process keeps the public safe. Late filings or failure to file can incur violations and financial penalties.
Thank You for Reading Our Blog Post on FISP Cycle 8.
I hope this was helpful. If you want to speak with an architect about a potential project, contact us at Fontan Architecture directly.
This post was written by Jorge Fontan AIA a Registered Architect and owner of New York City architecture firm Fontan Architecture. Jorge Fontan has earned 3 degrees in the study of architecture including two degrees from the City University of New York and a Masters Degree in Advanced Architectural Design from Columbia University. Jorge has a background in construction and has been practicing architecture for 20 years where he has designed renovations and new developments of various building types.
