NYC Existing Building Code § EBC 601 General
Section EBC 601: General
601.1 Scope.
The provisions of this chapter shall be used in conjunction with Chapter 3 and Chapters 7 through 14 and shall apply to the alteration, addition and change of occupancy of existing structures, including relocated, moved or raised buildings, as referenced in Sections 301.1.3 and 301.1.5. Work performed on an existing building shall be classified in accordance with this chapter.
601.1.1 Compliance with other chapters.
Where elected by the registered design professional of record in accordance with Section 301.1.4, Chapter 13 may be used simultaneously with Chapters 8 through 11 and 14 for alterations, additions and changes of occupancy made to existing buildings.
601.2 Work area.
The work area, as defined in Chapter 2, shall be identified on the construction documents by the registered design professional of record for the purpose of determining the applicability of the requirements of Chapters 8 and 9. For the purpose of calculating work area as a percentage of building area, building area shall be calculated in accordance with the definition of such term in Chapter 2.
601.2.1 Permit applications that have not been signed off.
For the purpose of calculating the total work area, alteration applications that have not been signed off shall be cumulatively considered in accordance with Sections 601.2.1.1 and 601.2.1.2.
601.2.1.1 Cumulative work area.
For the purpose of determining the level of alteration for a newly filed application, the total work area shall include, on a cumulative basis, all applications filed after the effective date of the local law that added this section that have not been signed off.
601.2.1.2 Project specific work area.
For the purpose of determining total work area for Level 2 alterations exceeding 75 percent of building area, the total work area shall include related applications filed after the effective date of the local law that added this section that are associated with the project scope and are not yet signed off.
601.2.2 Minor alterations, ordinary repairs and limited alterations.
Where minor alterations, ordinary repairs and limited alterations, as described in Chapter 5, are included as part of the same scope of a Level 1 or Level 2 alteration, all such work shall be included for the purpose of determining the work area to the extent such work contributes to work area pursuant to Section 601.2.3.
601.2.3 Determination of work area.
Work areas shall be determined in accordance with Sections 601.2.3.1 through 601.2.3.3.
601.2.3.1 Interior work.
Work area shall be the entire horizontal area of the room or space being reconfigured. Reconfiguration shall include, but not be limited to, the items listed below, or as otherwise determined by the department to secure the beneficial purposes of this code:
1. Removal, relocation or installation of interior partitions, walls, doors, or ceilings.
2. Construction, removal, or relocation of stairs, ramps, or stair or ramp enclosures.
3. Construction, removal, reduction, or extension of a mezzanine level in compliance with Section 505 of the New York City Building Code.
4. Increase or decrease in the clear ceiling height of a space or a floor.
5. Creation of openings between levels, stories, or spaces. The work area shall include the opening and the area of the rooms or spaces impacted by the alteration.
6. Sealing or creation of operable skylights that are required for ventilation in roofs. The work area shall include the interior space impacted by such alteration to the roof. For the purposes of applying the requirements of Chapter 9 and requirements in Chapter 8 for work areas greater than 50 percent of the floor area, the work area shall be calculated as 10 times the area of the skylight where such skylight is 10 percent or less of the area of the room or space.
7. Sealing or creation of operable windows that are required for ventilation and doors in exterior walls. The work area shall include the interior space impacted by such alteration to the building exterior walls. For the purposes of applying the requirements of Chapter 9 and requirements in Chapter 8 for work areas greater than 50 percent of the floor area, the work area shall be calculated as 10 times the area of the exterior wall opening where such opening is 10 percent or less of the area of the room or space.
8. Creation or enclosure of vertical openings and shafts.
9. Construction or enlargement of elevator hoistways. The work area shall include the hoistway being constructed or enlarged and the rooms or spaces impacted by the alteration.
Exceptions:
1. Incidental work made to existing walls, shafts and ceilings associated with the installation of plumbing, mechanical, fuel gas, electrical and fire protection systems shall not be included in the determination of work area.
2. Where the space being reconfigured constitutes 10 percent or less of the total area of a room or floor that the reconfigured space is a part of, the work area shall be limited to the space being reconfigured. This exception does not apply to items 6 and 7 of this section.
601.2.3.2 Exterior work (Building envelope).
Alteration of the exterior walls and roof shall not be considered as work area in determining Level 1 and Level 2 alterations. However, where the alteration of the building exterior impacts the interior spaces of the building by creating or sealing of operable windows, skylights or doors, work area shall be determined in accordance with Section 601.2.3.1.
601.2.3.2.1 Changing the size of windows, skylights or doors that are required for natural light or ventilation.
Where the exterior work includes changing the size of windows, skylights or doors that are required for natural light or ventilation and no interior work occurs, the interior spaces impacted by such work shall not be considered as work area. Such work shall comply with Section 803.7.
601.2.3.3 Stand-alone systems.
Work area shall not include the installation of, alteration of or additions to plumbing, mechanical, electrical, vertical transportation systems, fuel gas, or fire protection systems.
Exception: The construction of or alterations made to create toilet rooms, mechanical equipment rooms and floors, boiler rooms and similar spaces, shall be counted as work areas in accordance with Section 601.2.3.1.