The New York City Department of Buildings is piloting a remote video inspection program using standard digital video technology so inspectors will not need to be physically present, according to www.constructiondive.com. The city has continued to use in-person inspections during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The voluntary program will replace in-person visits for some construction inspections in Staten Island and Brooklyn. If it is successful, it will expand to the rest of the city.
The six-week program, which involves inspectors viewing sites via a phone or other mobile device, will end April 30. DOB personnel then will identify operational challenges and address new processes for how virtual inspections in the city could work.
Remote inspections of construction projects have become much more common during the pandemic, and inspectors from various states have indicated the practice could continue in the future. The availability of tools such as Skype, Zoom and Microsoft Teams offer building inspectors an accessible way to view and inspect job sites from a safe distance.
However, the International Code Council found about 60% of building departments surveyed said they did not yet have the capacity to perform remote inspections. The ICC published a series of guidelines and recommendations for agencies to follow and rapidly adopt the practice while maintaining COVID-19 guidelines.
The New York City DOB outlined numerous requirements for the program, including a strong, reliable internet connection on the entire property; device with a camera that can easily move through the facility, such as a phone or tablet; adequate lighting for good picture quality; a separate light source, such as a flashlight, for darker areas; and an authorized attendee with a tape measure for measuring certain dimensions.
If the DOB inspector observes elements unsuitable for virtual inspection, the department will require a physical inspection. Contractors can submit a request to take part in the pilot by visiting www.nyc.gov.
