NYC underground parking garage highlights new inspection regulations
A 32-story residential high-rise in New York City had an underground parking garage badly in need of both structural repairs and waterproofing improvements. A common problem with underground garages is that down ramps leave the structure open to rainwater, melting snow and the damage and corrosion that result. This parking structure put a spotlight on these problems, and their resolutions.
The owners of this NYC residential facility knew that their garage structural issues needed to be fixed and reached out to Master® Builders Solutions and its contractors for restorations.
To compound the challenges that came with such a project, the owner demanded that all repairs and upgrades had to be completed within 72-hours so as not to inconvenience the residents more than necessary. A 10-year warranty for the work was also required. Master Builders Solutions met all those challenges to the complete satisfaction of the customer.
Looking beyond a single structure, all New York City garage facility owners now face a new challenge, and a new urgency. They not only need to respond to the demands of their customers and avoid the potential liabilities inherent in a much-used garage structure, they must now adhere to new government regulations. Effective January 1, 2022 owners of parking structures in New York City are required to undergo an inspection at least once every six years and file a report with the NYC DOB (Department of Buildings). Property owners must repair any unsafe conditions that have been identified by a licensed professional engineer within 90 days of those conditions having been reported.
The 32-story high-rise parking structure in Manhattan is but one example of why such a regulation is needed. * It had a large number of concrete deck, ramp, soffit, underslab concrete spalls and corrosion damage. However, this project also highlighted the comprehensive portfolio of products that Master Builder Solutions offers for a complete renovation package; including anti-corrosion coatings, patching mortars, sealing compounds, and waterproofing applications to extend the facility service life.
Putting off these types of repairs was never a wise option from the perspective of both safety and the potential for lawsuits. Now, it’s no longer an option, as New York City parking garage owners and operators must engage a professional engineer to complete a condition assessment before the end of 2022. This assessment will indicate whether a structure is unsafe, including the weakening, disintegration, corrosion, rust, or decay of any building detail, or component.
Master Builder Solutions manufactures the products you need to return your parking structure to a restored condition. Contact our parking and restorations experts for more information.
* The state of New York amended building codes for parking structures as the result of a (non-fatal) 2015 two-level parking garage collapse at a medical center outside of Binghamton, NY.