What’s New
NYS Department of State, Division of Building Standards and Codes, has issued a document to clarify several commonly misunderstood provisions related to the applicability of Codes regarding Agricultural Buildings that are converted to Assembly Occupancy, commonly referred to as “Wedding Barns”. Such conversions have become quite popular north of NYC, and we have consulted on a number of such project sites. Please feel free to Contact Us with any questions you may have on how such conversions, or any other codes or regulations, may impact any projects or properties you may have or be contemplating.
Recent Projects
- Forensic engineering consultation regarding plumbing leaks which caused a ceiling to collapse onto a resident of a multiple dwelling structure in Bronx, NY in violation of NYS Multiple Dwelling Law §78 and the Housing Maintenance Code of the City of New York §§27-2005(a), §27-2005(b), and §27-2026
- Building code compliance evaluation of alterations, change of use, and construction at a single family residential property in Rockland County, NY
- Forensic engineering consultation regarding a pedestrian that was struck by a motor vehicle while passing by a New York City construction site
Withstanding the Storms: Why Building Codes Matter
On September 26th Construction Business Owner reported that “around the U.S., millions of homes and businesses are at risk of severe weather or wildfire. In 2023, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) reported that severe weather and climate disasters caused $95.1 billion in damages. Reducing the impact of these weather events on our communities such that we have resilient infrastructure instead of disastrous damage requires a change. A key focus area to mitigating risk and protecting communities is strengthening the built environment. Building codes are a critical component to making our homes and businesses resilient to risks they face”.
Yarmus Engineering, P.C. makes it a priority to remain aware and knowledgeable of ongoing building code and industry standards updates, as well as other similar regulatory changes, so that we can inform our clientele of such new regulations which might affect their properties and projects. Firm President, Andrew R. Yarmus, P.E., F.NSPE, maintains his certification as a NYS Code Enforcement Official to ensure same. Please contact our office if we can be of assistance to you or your clients regarding this new regulation or any other such site safety related matters.
Design and Construction Strategies for Challenging Moisture Conditions
On August 21st Building Design + Construction reported that “buckling of wood structural panel sheathing such as plywood or oriented strand board (OSB) occasionally results when increased moisture conditions cause the wood to expand. Such buckling may occur between supports or between nails along supports. Although structural properties are unaffected, the waviness affects the building’s appearance and may lead to complaints. Builders and designers can significantly reduce the potential for buckling by ensuring minimal moisture-content increase and/or providing for its natural effects.
All wood-based products absorb moisture from — or give up moisture to — the environment until they reach a moisture content in equilibrium with their surroundings. This results in swelling or shrinking of the wood. For solid wood, this expansion is 20 to 40 times as great across the grain as along it. Structural panels have good dimensional stability because the tendency of individual veneers or strands to swell or shrink crosswise is greatly restricted by the adjacent veneers or strands”.
Yarmus Engineering, P.C. is available to consult with property owners, those involved in the purchase or sale of properties, property managers, contractors, inspectors, and other related parties regarding the inspection, repair, maintenance, and construction of their buildings. Please contact our office if we can be of assistance to you or your clients regarding such matters.