Q: Are there any new regulations I have to worry about for the new year?

JA: I’m glad you asked. Because what would a new year be without new regulations, right?

So here are some new laws you have to worry about for 2024.

1. New Parapet Inspections
2. New Penalties for Failure to File a Statement of Registration
3. New XRF Inspections – Okay, this one is technically not new for 2024, but with a deadline in 2025, you better start worrying about these inspections NOW.

Which brings me to something else that is new for 2024!

New regulations also mean new services from the Jaffa team. So, now we are providing the following services, helping you stay compliant no matter what the new year brings.

1. XRF Inspections
2. Parapet Inspections
3. TPP Inspections

For a quick review of everything new (and old) in 2024, check out our compliance calendar, which includes a list of all your deadlines, a to-do list of compliance tasks, and a synopsis of all your new requirements. You can view it online or download and print it as a reference throughout the year.

Q: Is it true that I have to inspect my parapets?

JA: Great question, and right on time. Starting in January 2024, all buildings with parapets fronting the public right-of-way, regardless of height, must have their parapets inspected to identify and correct hazards. 

The only exceptions to this new law are detached 1- or 2-family homes or buildings with a fence or other barrier preventing access to the exterior wall.

The good news? Jaffa Permit Service will be offering Parapet inspections under the supervision of our in-house architect, Jeff Akerman. You can reach out to the head of our Permit Services, Chase, with any questions or to schedule your inspection.

Q: What are the differences in my requirements for a low vs. high-pressure boiler?

JA: Great Question.

The short answer? There are a lot of differences. Low-pressure and high-pressure boilers should NEVER be treated the same. As per the NYC, they are different entities and therefore, have very different requirements.

But before you get all HEATED up, check out this blog by our DOB Supervisor, Alexandra Schwab for a clear breakdown of the different requirements for each type of boiler.

Q: I received a lead violation. Has anything changed since the new lead legislation?

JA: Do you want the good news or the bad news?

The bad news? The new legislation will require you to provide critical records, including your annual notice and investigations from the past year, within 45 days of getting a violation. Plus, after August 2025, these records must also include the reports for your XRF inspection as per LL31. You may also be required to provide up to 10 years of records. And that, my friends, is exactly why I always say, “Having an excellent record-keeping system is GOLD!”

Insert shameless plug for the Jaffa deFINEd app here, which allows you to track, manage, record, and create reports directly from your phone. But we’re not bragging or anything.

So what’s the good news? This legislation is only going into effect in September of 2024. So, for now, you’re good. However, with this law affecting more than just your record production, you may want to review the law carefully and ensure that you’re all set up for absolute compliance when it goes into effect.

You can check out Nate Weinberg’s (our Director of Lead Investigation) blog for everything you need to know about this new Lead Legislation (try saying that ten times quickly) 

Q:  What are the different deadlines for my Safety Mailings?

JA:  I’m glad to see that safety mailings are not only on our team’s minds. There is a reason that come the end of September/beginning of October, we start receiving questions about this NYC requirement. Taking care of safety mailings is a big job with many parts and deadlines, and keeping track of it is hard. Because it also comes at a busy season, it’s smart to start thinking about it earlier rather than later.

The deadlines you need to know are as follows:

Notices sent with Rent Bill: December 15th – January 16th

Notice sent via mail: January 1st – 15th

Receive Tenant Responses: February 15^th

For more information about your requirements, you can download our Jaffa minute on the topic.

Q: I’m trying to be organized and start thinking about my annual Safety Mailings. I know the city keeps changing the requirements, and I can’t seem to keep up with all the changes. What forms do I need to include?

JA: Great question.

But before I answer, can I ask, why are you not using the Jaffa Safety Mailing Services instead of doing it on your own and wasting time, energy, and frustration, increasing your possibility of being non-compliant and receiving fines and penalties?

You can find out more information about our annual mailing service here or sign up for the service before it’s too late here and not have to worry about a thing.

Okay, I had to do a quick plug for our service, but if you are insistent on doing it on your own, our team has created a quick checklist of those forms that must be included.  You can download and print this checklist for yourself by visiting our resource page.

New to 2023, the FDNY now requires an FDNY safety guide warning about fires caused by e-bike batteries. For more information about this requirement, you can check out my LinkedIn Post on the topic.

Q: Help, I’ve been audited by the HPD, now what?

JA: Great question. Firstly, take a deep breath. Unfortunately, our team has recently seen an escalation in HPD’s COTA/Record Audits.  If your building has been audited, it’s important to remain calm and organized.

Most importantly, remember, an audit doesn’t necessarily mean you’ve done something wrong. It’s a routine procedure to ensure compliance with housing regulations. Stay calm, organized, transparent, and seek professional advice when needed. For more information on how going digital can help with your compliance, check out our BLOG.

Q: Now that summer is here, anything specific I should be aware of in terms of my cooling towers’ compliance?

JA: Great question! During these summer months, it’s especially important to keep on top of your cooling towers inspections, maintenance, and compliance in order to prevent the spread of Legionnaires Disease.

As per LL 77, owners of buildings with cooling towers are required to:

• Register any equipment
• Implement a maintenance system
• Get annual certification
• Conduct quarterly inspections
• Disinfect equipment
• Keep records of inspections for three years

Performing inspections digitally, such as with the Jaffa deFINEd app (downloadable HERE) makes staying compliant with these regulations simple and hassle-free. Plus, you can digitally store those records so they are easily accessible, downloadable, and ready to be reviewed in case of an audit, without taking up space in your office.

For a quick review of all your cooling tower requirements, you can check out our Jaffa Minute cheat sheet.

Here’s to staying cool (and cool-headed), compliant (without complaints from your staff), and healthy (including eliminating the headaches of performing these regulations manually)!

Q: How do I comply with energy conservation regulations while keeping residents comfortably cool in the heat?

JA: Balancing energy conservation and residents’ comfort can be a real juggling act! Here are some ideas to help with this Catch-22. First of all, make sure your HVAC systems are properly maintained and cleaned, replacing filters regularly and inspecting ductwork. This goes a long way in energy conservation. Another thing that can help is being energy efficient by using programmable thermostats, and encouraging energy-conscious behavior among residents. Educating them on energy-saving tips or even implementing an energy-reduction campaign can help with that. You may want to consider conducting energy audits to pinpoint where you can improve and cut down on energy use. And of course, it’s important to stay updated with the latest energy conservation regulations and guidelines from Con Ed and the DOB.

Q: I recently installed a pool in one of my buildings. Now that summer is coming, we’ll be opening it to our tenants. What inspections and obligations do we need to fulfill to meet safety and health standards?

JA: Firstly, good for you for putting a pool in your building, and even better that you’re being proactive about its compliance!

Pools are a great addition to any building, but they do require proper maintenance and inspections. Therefore, you will want to be sure to do regular water quality testing and proper maintenance of pool equipment.

You should also make sure to comply with fencing and barrier requirements and adhere to safety standards for pool operations and local health department regulations.

And more importantly, you’ll want to perform regular inspections of your pool.

If you’re already using our Jaffa deFINEd app, then you can use our pool inspection template and tweak it to your specific requirements. The easy-to-use inspection portal for all preventative inspections such as pool inspections coupled with the ability to customize inspections, makes the task of inspections as easy as clicking some buttons. Now if only everything in your life was this simple, you might actually be able to enjoy a few laps in your building’s pool yourself.

If you want more information about how the inspection portal works, you can check out our tutorial video on our PREdeFINEd module here.

And if you’re not using our app yet?
It’s worth a try, especially for all your inspections. Our clients are loving how easy it is to manage their compliance but are especially blown away by the inspection options. Trust us, it will revolutionize the way you stay compliant and help you to ensure your entire building, including your pool is always safe & compliant.

Try it out today.