Pursuant to local law passed in 2016 (a lifetime ago in these challenging COVID times), all buildings except those classified in occupancy group R-3 must have their gas piping inspected. Upon completion, the LMP submits to DOB a gas piping inspection certification signed and sealed by them.
Before you select your LMP, check their license status and disciplinary and voluntary surrender records using the tool. For professional assistance, contact NYC Gas Piping Inspection.
As a building owner, you rely on gas to power your heating systems and appliances. It’s an efficient and affordable power solution, but it can be dangerous if pipes corrode or if there are leaks or connections to the utility line that are improperly installed. To ensure that your tenants and employees are safe, it’s important to schedule regular inspections of the exposed gas piping at your property.
Fortunately, the Department of Buildings, or DOB, has made it easier than ever for building owners to comply with new gas piping safety rules. These rules, outlined in Local Law 152, require that all NYC buildings have their exposed gas piping systems inspected on a four-year schedule. Only a licensed master plumber (LMP) or certain individuals with the right qualifications working under an LMP may perform these inspections. Within 30 days of an inspection, the LMP must submit a GPS1 report to the building owner. Then, within 60 days of the inspection, the LMP must file a GPS2 certification with DOB.
These inspections are a crucial step to keeping your gas lines up to code, and you must follow the rules strictly in order to avoid costly fines. If your inspection finds unsafe conditions, the inspector will notify the building owner, the utility company, and DOB.
To avoid the stress of a failed inspection, it’s best to make the inspection a priority and schedule it ahead of time. However, you should never have an inspection conducted more than 60 days in advance of the official due date, which can be found on your certificate of occupancy.
Additionally, if you’re planning on moving into a new building, you’ll need to have the gas piping inspection completed before the DOB issues your temporary or final Certificate of Occupancy. If you have any questions about your inspection schedule or other compliance requirements, FirstService Residential can help! We have a team of experienced compliance specialists ready to assist you. Contact us today to get started.
Find a Licensed Master Plumber (LMP).
Local Law 152 requires all NYC buildings to have their gas piping systems inspected by a licensed master plumber (LMP) or by a qualified individual working under the direct supervision of an LMP. The inspections must be performed on a four-year schedule. The inspector will complete and deliver to the building owner a Gas Piping System Periodic Inspection Report (GPS1) after each inspection. The owner will then submit a GPS2 to DOB via the department’s online submission portal within 60 days of the LMP conducting the inspection.
When choosing a contractor, it is important to choose a company that is reputable and has been in business for at least a decade. It is also a good idea to review the company’s background and qualifications, including prior jobs, certifications, and licensing information. The Department of Buildings (DOB) offers a License Search tool that can help you find a company and see if they are properly licensed, have an active permit, and have no history of disciplinary action or voluntary surrender of a license.
If the inspection reveals any conditions requiring correction, the LMP must immediately notify the utility providing gas service to your building and DOB. The LMP must also provide a copy of the inspection report to each tenant whose space is affected by the unsafe condition(s) or if the condition(s) affect the safe operation of combustible appliances.
There are many companies that offer these services. We recommend using a reputable, established, and vetted LMP. If possible, use an LMP that has performed these inspections in your building before or at other buildings in your neighborhood.
A reputable LMP will also maintain an active, valid NYC plumbing license and be up-to-date on current knowledge of city code requirements, best practices, new rules and regulations, and industry developments. It is important to avoid companies that change their names frequently, as this may be a red flag of insolvency or shady business practices.
Note that a firm that covers other subsurface plumbing firms under the same or similar name is not considered a separate LMP and may not be eligible for the Local Law 152 discounted rate. This is important because the company covering other firms is not on the job sites, has no control over the work being done, and does not know the status of the subsurface plumbing in each building they are servicing.
Pay the inspection fee.
As the building owner, you are responsible for ensuring that your property’s gas piping is inspected and up to code by a qualified vendor. After the inspection is completed, you will receive an inspection certificate from the inspector that must be filed with the Department of Buildings within 60 days of the inspection date. If you don’t file the certificate within that timeframe, you will need to pay another fee for a new inspection, and your current certification will expire.
The inspection is required in buildings with exposed gas piping, including boiler rooms and other mechanical spaces, amenity and common areas, and any public-accessible space that contains a gas utilization appliance. The inspection includes a visual inspection of the gas piping for atmospheric corrosion and a test with a portable combustible gas detector to detect leaks of combustible gases. The inspection also requires that all combustible gas appliances be tested for safety.
You must hire a qualified vendor who is certified to conduct the inspection, including a licensed master plumber (LMP) or a qualified individual working under their direct supervision. The inspector will provide the building owner with a GPS1 report within 30 days of the inspection, which will include a list of unsafe conditions that need to be corrected, such as frayed or worn piping components that affect safe and reliable operation, non-code-compliant installations or illegal connections, the detection of combustible gas, and more.
After the GPS1 is complete, you will have 60 days to submit it to the DOB through a city portal. If there are any corrections that need to be made, you have 120 days to make them, and an additional 180-day extension can be requested if necessary.
Earlier this year, the New York City Council passed two bills that affected compliance with Local Law 152’s gas piping inspection requirement. The new laws give buildings with inspections due in 2021 a reprieve by extending the deadlines for filing and correcting deficiencies. The new rules also require that buildings without gas piping have a certified letter from a registered design professional stating that the building does not contain a gas piping system and must file this certificate every four years by the end of the applicable inspection window based on their community district.
Get the inspection report.
Pursuant to Local Law 152 of 2016 (a lifetime ago in these COVID-19 times), most buildings with gas piping systems must be inspected by a Licensed Master Plumber or a qualified individual working under the direct supervision of a LMP at least every four years. This includes all buildings with public spaces, hallways, corridors, and boiler rooms that contain gas piping or gas utilization equipment. However, it does not include piping within apartments.
During the inspection, your LMP will be looking for unsafe conditions like frayed or worn piping components that could affect the safe operation of the system, illegal connections, and non-code-compliant installations or repairs. Additionally, they’ll need to verify that portable combustible gas detectors are installed in the building.
After the inspection, your LMP will send you a Gas Piping System Periodic Inspection Report (GPS1) outlining any issues that need to be corrected. You have 30 days to provide these repairs and file a GPS2 report with the DOB or risk being fined by the city.
Once you have all of the necessary documentation in place, submit your GPS2 report to the DOB through their online submission portal located on their website. This report must be signed and sealed by the same LMP who performed the original inspection, even if you need to have additional work completed.
It is important to note that it is not acceptable to submit an inspection certification more than 60 days before the official due date, which will vary depending on your community district. You can determine your community district by visiting the Department of City Planning’s website and searching for your address.
The purpose of this requirement is to ensure that the gas piping in all buildings, including those with apartment tenants, is free from leaks and other safety hazards. By conducting a professional and thorough inspection, your building’s gas piping will remain safe for all its occupants.