A major update to New York City’s construction and building regulations includes more than 600 “major” changes and thousands of smaller ones as the city looks to improve safety and adapt to new technologies.
The City Council passed the legislation updating the codes Oct. 7. Construction safety updates include allowing the use of netting, low barriers and chain link fencing instead of requiring solid fencing that can create “blind tunnels” for pedestrians; the creation of a new type of license for advanced crane technology, to ensure that equipment such as articulating boom cranes and roto-telehandlers are operated safety; and improved consistency for underpinning existing buildings.