When it comes to compliance and safety, we are prepared to deliver prompt and effective solutions to building owners’ needs. Our experienced and responsive QEWI-led team will guide you through the Façade Inspection Safety Program (FISP) from New York City Department of Buildings.
FISP Cycle 10 Has Started.
What is a QEWI? What do they help with?
A Qualified Exterior Wall Inspector (QEWI) is a registered design professional (ex. Registered Architect or Professional Engineer) that meets a certain level of experience and qualifications, set by the New York City Department of Buildings (DOB), to inspect a building and assess the condition. Obtained through the New York City Department of Buildings Facades Unit, each QEWI is approved by the DOB to perform the façade inspection and complete the façade report filing for the NYC FISP.
While many design professionals may be experienced with both designing and assessing various façade assemblies across the country, the QEWI certification from the City of New York requires local professionals to submit documentation of at least 7 years of professional experience in performing New York City façade inspections. Also, it requires a working knowledge of numerous types of existing historic and modern masonry and other exterior enclosures to ensure that unsafe and deteriorated façade conditions are correctly identified, prioritized, and repaired.
Walker’s QEWI is Your Guide
Sara Holcomb, PE, a QEWI, in our New York City office, has worked on numerous façade inspection and restoration projects across the five boroughs of New York City. Catering to commercial, residential, hospitality, and historic properties, she is well-equipped to offer strategic advice, detailed project management, and expert oversight. Our QEWI’s expertise can help your building’s exterior comply with DOB standards.
The History of the Façade Inspection Safety Program
The Façade Inspection Safety Program (FISP) façade ordinance originated out of NYC legislation intended to protect the public health and safety from the risks of falling and deteriorated façade materials, due to aging building stock in New York City.
The New York City Department of Buildings (DOB) first instituted a façade-related inspection ordinance, referred to as Local Law 10 in 1980, when a piece of masonry debris fell and killed a pedestrian on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. Later amended and known as “Local Law 11”, the ordinance mandated maintenance and necessitated buildings to be classified as either “Safe”, “Safe with a Repair and Maintenance Plan (SWARMP)” or Unsafe. Over the last 44 years, well-publicized façade failures and resulting tragedies involving fatalities or injuries have expanded the complexity and strictness of these inspections and report filing requirements surrounding the NYC façade ordinance.
Exceptional Client Responsiveness on Critical Life Safety Issues
Our QEWI, together with our team of building enclosure experts, offers technical expertise to assist with projects that may arise from a New York City FISP filing:
- Immediate repair design and protection recommendations related to addressing unsafe conditions per NYC DOB requirements.
- Repair prioritization and façade project feasibility and phasing studies
- Compliance with historic preservation
- Bidding and construction administration services
For a comprehensive understanding of FISP requirements and their impact on your properties, visit our detailed FISP page.
For property owners and managers, safeguarding the structural integrity and compliance of your buildings is paramount. By partnering with Walker’s QEWI led team, you gain more than just compliance assurance—you receive a strategic ally dedicated to the longevity and safety of your property portfolio. Let our expertise in building envelope consultation enhance your property management strategy, supporting every aspect of your building exterior so that it is not only compliant but also optimized for future resilience and efficiency.
