PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by April McIver, Executive Director of the Plumbing Foundation
1:43:41
·
3 min
April McIver, representing the Plumbing Foundation, testified in support of Intro 429, focusing on revisions to Local Law 152 regarding gas piping inspections. She addressed concerns raised by the Department of Buildings and clarified several points about the proposed changes.
- McIver emphasized that the bill would streamline the process for building owners to obtain certifications related to gas piping.
- She explained that the 5-year experience requirement for inspectors aligns with existing DOB rules.
- McIver clarified that the bill would allow inspections of commercial tenant spaces while excluding residential dwelling spaces.
- She urged the council to pass the legislation, noting that the next cycle for Local Law 152 begins on January 1st.
April McIver
1:43:41
Thank you.
1:43:44
So my name is April McEiber.
1:43:45
I'm the Executive Director of the Plumbing Foundation, a nonprofit trade association representing both large and small union and non union licensed master plumbers, engineers, manufacturers, and supply houses.
1:43:57
First, I just want to get my sincere condolences
AnnMarie Santiago
1:44:01
to
April McIver
1:44:01
the families affected by the the faulty radiators spoke today.
1:44:06
Given our limited time, my focus and my oral testimony is going to be on the local law 152 revisions.
1:44:13
In intro 429.
1:44:15
I did submit written testimony in support of of all the provisions of the bill.
1:44:20
Thank you, chair Sanchez, and all the co sponsors for your support on this legislation.
1:44:24
I also wanted to mention that the local ON 52 changes that are part of 429.
1:44:29
We actually worked with the department at length, so I was surprised to hear some of their comments today.
1:44:37
I'd like to highlight a few points in response to those comments.
1:44:42
First, the bill clarifies and streamlines the process for owners to obtain certification of no gas piping or if they're building gas pipe has piping certification, it is not being supplied with gas.
1:44:52
And I think you you were kind of asking the right questions there, but they weren't really explaining.
1:44:56
So we work closely with Con Edison And National Grid as part of an industry wide gas working group, and this process to get a utility letter is not something they wanted to do.
1:45:08
I do believe they are forced to do it.
1:45:11
But the provisions in this bill would make that process a lot easier.
1:45:16
In addition, I wanted to clarify the 5 year experience requirement.
1:45:21
Again, I think you are trying to make that connection for them.
1:45:25
But, of course, in DOB rule, they actually instituted a 5 year requirement.
1:45:31
So having a 5 year journeyman card requirement in the law makes the most sense to comply with their own rule.
1:45:39
And I'd also like to clarify the scope of the inspection.
1:45:44
What this bill does is actually allows commercial tenant spaces to be inspected.
1:45:50
As of right now, it could be restaurants, day cares.
1:45:52
Those are considered tenant spaces.
1:45:55
So what the revisions actually do is make it clear that it's residential dwelling spaces that that are not part of the inspection.
1:46:01
It's not actually being expanded to go into those residential tenant spaces.
1:46:05
It seems maybe the department was under under some sort of confusion.
1:46:11
And, you know, lastly, I just wanted to mention regarding the the coder vision process.
1:46:17
You know, we we are part of the coder vision process.
1:46:19
I appreciate the opportunity.
1:46:21
But when it comes down to it, the department has the ultimate say and what gets sent to the city council, a lot of our proposals get rejected.
1:46:30
And as you know, that process is very lengthy, including the existing building code, which we were told supposed to be done a while ago, and it still hasn't been sent.
1:46:37
So we urge the council to pass this legislation, given that the cycle for local long 52 begins January 1, the next cycle.
1:46:45
I think I'm good.
1:46:46
I'll try to get onto the meds there.
