Heating systems regulations in NYC are designed to make sure your home or business is safe no matter how long ago it was built. New York’s historic nature means a lot of residents and business owners are using heating systems that use boilers, and all boiler systems require inspections to ensure they are running safely.
In this quick guide, we will cover all of the NYC boiler inspection requirements, and what buildings are subject to them.
NYC Boiler Inspection Requirements
Single-family and multi-unit residences in New York typically use low-pressure boilers. The regulations for inspection are different depending on the type of boiler you have, but if you own a house or townhouse in a duplex or triplex, you likely have a low-pressure boiler heating your home.
If you live in a larger apartment building and you are not the owner, you likely are not responsible for your boiler inspection as a resident. For the sake of property owners, though, we will break down the regulations for both low-pressure and high-pressure boilers.
Low-Pressure Boiler Regulations
Low-pressure boilers in NYC must be inspected by a licensed professional annually. The inspector must be qualified and licensed by the Department of Buildings (DOB) or an authorized boiler insurance company.
These regulations apply to H-stamped (heating oil) and E-stamped (electric) boilers in the following types of properties:
- Residential buildings with six or more families
- All commercial and mixed-use buildings (buildings with commercial space and 1-5 residential units)
- Any residential buildings classified as Single Room Occupancy (SRO) dwellings
After inspection, property owners need to file the proper reporting paperwork with the Department of Buildings to verify that the inspections were done, but Skaggs-Walsh is ready to both inspect your boiler and file the necessary paperwork to ensure that you are 100% ready to go.
Annual boiler inspection isn’t required for the following properties:
- Boilers in residential buildings with five families or fewer
- Single dwelling units with a boiler supplying heat only to that unit
An additional note provided by the Department of Business:
| NOTE: Low-pressure boilers with a heating input of 100,000 BTUs or less are subject to inspection when located anywhere outside a single apartment within a six or more residential occupancy, commercial, or mixed-use (commercial plus 1-5 residential occupancy) property, without regard to the number of dwelling units served. |
High-Pressure Boiler Regulations
High-pressure boilers require two inspections: internal and external. These inspections have to be done within the same annual cycle, and they have to be completed by an authorized insurance company hired by the owner.
New Boiler Regulations
All new or replaced boilers must be inspected by the DOB before use, and these are called “First Test Inspections.” After this inspection is done, the DOB will file an approval and signoff on the boiler’s safety and installation to NYC code. The property owner will not have to file an annual inspection during that annual cycle for as long as there is an active work permit on file in the Department of Buildings.
Reporting Requirements
Boiler inspection reports for every inspection (which means two forms for external and internal inspections, if applicable) must be filed in the DOB NOW: Safety portal within 14 days of performing each inspection. Inspectors must notify DOB at least 10 days before performing the internal inspection. These inspection notifications must be filed in DOB NOW: Safety.
Any inspection reports submitted after the 14-day filing deadline, but no later than January 14 of the calendar year after the inspection cycle are considered late filings. Late filings will incur a civil penalty of $50 per month, per boiler, per inspection type, starting on the day after the filing deadline. Any reports submitted after this late filing period will be considered expired and incur a failure-to-file civil penalty of $1,000 per boiler, per inspection type.
If an inspection reveals any dangerous condition in a boiler that requires the boiler to be shut down immediately, the inspector must notify DOB’s Boiler Unit by email within 24 hours after discovery. If defects are found, they need to be corrected within 90 days of the initial inspection date. A subsequent inspection report must be filed in DOB NOW: Safety within 14 days of that inspection’s date. An affirmation of correction filed in DOB NOW: Safety over 104 calendar days from the initial inspection date will be considered expired, and the report will be rejected.
If the subsequent inspection report is filed after the due date, it will incur a failure-to-file Affirmation of Correction civil penalty of $1,000 per boiler, per inspection type. An additional late filing civil penalty of $50 per month, per boiler, per inspection type, starting on the day following the correction due date up to the filing date of the subsequent inspection report, will also be imposed. These are subject to a $600 maximum per boiler.
A property owner or licensee may request up to two 45-day extensions so long as they do so by the correction deadline. They can also request a waiver of failure-to-file penalties by submitting a request in DOB NOW: Safety under the “Violations” tab.
When Skaggs-Walsh performs your inspections, we handle all of the relevant paperwork to make sure you don’t have to worry about all of the extra headache.
FAQs
| Q: What is the annual inspection cycle? |
| A: January 1 to December 31st |
| Q: Do I need to worry about boiler inspections as a renter? |
| A: As a renter, you aren’t responsible for boiler inspections, the property owner is, unless stated in your lease agreement. |
| Q: Are commercial buildings subject to any additional boiler inspection regulations? |
| A: All commercial buildings must get annual inspections, regardless of their boiler’s BTU capacity or what energy/fuel they use. |
For any questions we may have missed, refer to the NYC Buildings page on boiler inspection requirements, where we sourced and double-checked all of this information.
Skaggs-Walsh Boiler Inspections in NYC & Long Island
Have you ever wondered, “Is there a boiler inspection near me?” If so, you are in luck. Skaggs-Walsh operates in NYC and Long Island, and we’re your one-stop-shop for all your boiler needs.
To cater to customers in different areas, Skaggs-Walsh has local expert teams that specialize in the equipment our customers need. The team assigned to your service needs may vary based on your location, utilities, and current demand. You can expect the same great service from all of our boiler inspection teams, including:
For exceptional comfort and unparalleled customer service, contact Skaggs-Walsh today!
The current boiler inspection cycle began January 1 and ends December 31.
To schedule your boiler inspection and comply with NYC boiler inspection requirements, please give us a call.
