Best Practices in High-Rise

Construction
Tom Connors
April 23, 2012 Times Square Marriott Marquis

TheNYCDepartmentofBuildingsisaregisteredProviderwithThe
AmericanInstituteofArchitectsContinuingEducationSystems(AIA/CES).
CreditearnedoncompletionofthisprogramwillbereportedtoAIA/CES
forAIAmembers.CertificatesofCompletionforbothmembersandnon
AIAmembersareavailableuponrequest.
ThisprogramisregisteredwiththeAIA/CESforcontinuingprofessional
education.Assuch,itdoesnotincludecontentthatmaybedeemedor
constructedtobeanapprovalorendorsementbytheAIAofanymaterial
ofconstructionoranymethodormannerofhandling,using,distributing,
ordealinginanymaterialorproduct.
Questionsrelatedtospecificmaterials,methods,andserviceswillbe
addressedattheconclusionofthispresentation.

Copyright Materials
ThispresentationisprotectedbyUSandInternational
Copyrightlaws.Reproduction,distribution,displayanduseof
thepresentationwithoutwrittenpermissionofthespeakeris
prohibited.
NYCDepartmentofBuildings

Course Description
ThiscoursewillgiveanoverviewofsafeconstructioninNewYork
City,whichisregulatedbythe2008NYCConstructionCodes to
ensurethatregulationsremainuptodatewithevolvingsafe
practices. TheDepartmentofBuildingsisattheforefrontof
approvingnewmaterialsandtechnology,enablingittoadvancesafe
practicesthrougheducationandspecializedonsiteinspectionswith
ownershipandcontractors.
Electronicvisualexampleswillprovideanunderstandingforthebest
andworstpracticesfoundonconstructionsitesacrosstheCity.This
presentationwillallowparticipantstoincorporatebestpracticesin
futureprojects whilebetterenablingthemtoidentifyandmitigate
risksthatcouldposesafetythreatstothepublic.

Learning Objectives
Attheendofthisprogram,participantswillhavelearned:
TheprovisionsforconstructionhighrisesitesafetyfromChapter33ofthe
2008NYCBuildingCode
Thebestandnewpracticesbeingusedtoprotectthepublicduring
constructionthroughtheuseof visualexamplesofstateoftheart
cocoonsandverticalprotectiontechnology
Howtoidentifyprocessesthatposeapotentialrisktothepublicduring
constructionandtomitigateoverheadhazardsinhighrisesitesafety
Properdemolitionpracticescriticaltoconductingasafehighrise
constructionproject

BEST Practices in High-Rise

Construction
PrimaryStrategies
AlternativeStrategies
DemolitionStrategies
MajorProjectsInitiative

Major Building Projects Filings Progression

758
800
700

600

600
500

368
306

400
300

196

200
100
0
2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

Current Major Building Filing Types

398

17
NewBuildings
Alt1Conversions
FaadeRepair
Demolitions
140

22

Primary Strategies for Safe

High-Rise Construction
Standpipes
SidewalkSheds
JerseyBarriers
VerticalNetting
HorizontalNetting

Standpipe Systems (3308.8.11)

Alt2Filing
DedicatedPowerSupply
CheckValves
Locks&Caps
ManualAirRelease
Signage
AudibleAlarmRange:
15dBaAboveAmbient
Noise<110dBa

Standpipe Systems
AirGaugeatHighestPoint

AlarmBellatGuardhouse

Sidewalk Shed Requirements

300lb.LiveLoad:Buildings>100ft
150lb.LiveLoad:Buildings<100ft

Sidewalk Shed = Overhead

Protection for the Public
(3307.3.1)

Lightingat8Feet

Lane Closure Utilizing

Jersey Barriers

DOT
Compliant
Lane Closure
(3307.4.3)

Highly Visible Barriers

= Safe Site

60 Code Compliant
Vertical Netting (3308.1.1)

Supported Scaffold with Full

Height Debris Netting (3308.1)

Horizontal
Netting
(3308.1.2)

Examples of Good Practices

HorizontalNetting
InteriorClimbing
Crane
WorkPlatforms

Good and Bad Netting

Good
Bad
Ugly

Poor Scaffold Netting Maintenance

Alternative Strategies
FullHeightVertical
Netting
RigidVertical
Protection
StaticHorizontal
Netting
PartialCocoonsystems
FullCocoonsystems

Full Height Vertical

Perimeter Netting

Rigid Vertical
Perimeter Protection

60 Rigid Vertical
Perimeter Protection

Added Protection Afforded

by Static Horizontal Netting

Static
Horizontal
& Vertical
Safety
Netting

Requirements for Cocoons

CompliancewithBuildingsBulletin#2010019
AlterationType2Application
CCD1SubmittaltoEngineeringandSafety
OperationsDivision
ReviewofApplication

Partial Cocoon

Cocoons of Solid Material

Full Cocoon with Full

Height Vertical Netting

Cocoons Loading
Platform

Screen Cocoon with

Full Height Netting

Conventional Top Deck

Full Cocoon Protection

on Top Deck

Cocoon =
Comfort & Safety

Cocoon Being Raised

Shear Wall Forming

Behind a Cocoon

Full Public Protection

SlabtoSlab
VerticalNets
StaticHorizontal
Nets
CocoonSystem
SidewalkShed

Safe High-Rise
Construction
=
A Long Life

Safe Demolitions of
Major Buildings

Sidewalk Sheds

Steel & Concrete

Demolition

Full Mechanical
Demolition

Dust Control (3306.9.3)

Common Interior Demolition Hazards

Unsafe Storage of
Demolition Debris

Major Projects Initiative

Benefits of the Major Projects Initiative

Education

Communication

Cooperation

Innovation

Technology

Expectations

 Share Information
DOB Point Person
On Site Meetings
Joint Inspections
Address Challenges

Results of the Major Projects Initiative

100
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
2009

2010

2011

2012

AmountofFullStopWorkOrdersforMajorBuildings

Become a Partner in the

Major Projects Initiative
27CurrentParticipants
ContactEngineering&Safety
Operations

Questions?
ThisconcludestheAmericanInstituteofArchitects
ContinuingEducationSystemsCourse

NYCDepartmentofBuildings
BuildingsUniversity
AIAPointofContact:
AllisonGinsburg
allisongo@buildings.nyc.gov
2125664415