Building Safety Performance and Scoring Method

NYC Admin. Code tit. 28, ch. 12, art. The New York City Existing Building Code, ch. 13

in effect

NYC Existing Building Code § EBC 1301 General

Section EBC 1301: General 1301.1 Scope. The provisions of this chapter shall apply to the alterations, additions and changes of occupancy of existing buildings built prior to July 1, 2008, including moved structures, as referenced in Section 301.1.4 when elected by the design professional of record, as an alternative to the life safety requirements of Chapters 8 through 11 and Chapter 14. The provisions of this chapter are intended to maintain or increase the current degree of public safety in existing buildings while permitting alterations, additions, and changes of occupancy of these buildings. 1301.1.1 Compliance with other provisions of this code. When this chapter is elected as an alternative to compliance with the life safety provisions of Chapters 8 through 11 as referenced by Section 301.1.3, alterations, additions, and changes of occupancy to existing structures shall comply with all other applicable provisions of Chapters 8 through 11 and Chapter 3 related to use of material, accessibility, structural, plumbing, mechanical, electrical, fuel gas, and energy conservation, including all other requirements of this code not covered by this chapter. 1301.1.1.1 Increase in floor surface area by more than 110 percent. Where the proposed addition and/or alteration made to an existing building causes an increase in the building floor surface area, over the amount of existing floor surface area, by more than 110 percent, such building shall comply with the New York City Building Code as hereafter erected and this chapter shall not apply, pursuant to Section 302.7.

NYC Existing Building Code § EBC 1302 Applicability

Section EBC 1302: Applicability 1302.1 Applicability. Buildings existing prior to July 1, 2008, in which there is work involving additions, alterations, or changes of occupancy shall be made to conform to the requirements of this chapter, when elected by the design professional of record as an alternative to the fire and life safety provisions of Chapters 8 through 11. The provisions of Sections 1302.1.1 through 1302.1.3 shall apply to existing occupancies that will continue to be, or are proposed to be, in Groups A, B, E, F, I-2, M, R, and S. These provisions shall not apply to buildings with occupancies in Groups H, I-1, I-3, or I-4. Registered design professionals evaluating buildings classified in Groups R-1 and R-2 shall not violate the requirements of Appendix D in their application of this chapter. 1302.1.1 Change in use or occupancy. Where an existing building or portion thereof is changed to a new use or occupancy classification, the requirements of Chapters 3 or 10, as applicable, shall apply except as indicated in this chapter and Table 301.1.4. 1302.1.2 Additions. Additions to existing buildings shall comply with the requirements of Chapters 3 or 11 as applicable, except as indicated in this chapter and Table 301.1.4. 1302.1.3 Alterations. Alterations to existing buildings or portions thereof shall comply with the requirements of Chapters 3, 8, or 9, as applicable, except as indicated in this chapter and Table 301.1.4.

NYC Existing Building Code § EBC 1303 Acceptance

Section EBC 1303: Acceptance 1303.1 Acceptance. For alterations, additions, and changes of occupancy to existing buildings that are evaluated in accordance with this chapter as permitted by Section 301.1.4, compliance with this chapter shall be reviewed and accepted by the department. 1303.1.1 Compliance with other codes. Buildings that are evaluated in accordance with this chapter shall comply with the New York City Construction Codes as applicable.

NYC Existing Building Code § EBC 1304 Investigation and Evaluation

Section EBC 1304: Investigation and Evaluation 1304.1 Investigation and evaluation. For proposed work covered by this chapter, the building owner shall cause the existing building to be investigated and evaluated by a registered design professional in accordance with the provisions of Section 1304. 1304.1.1 Submittal. The results of the investigation and evaluation as required in Sections 1304.2 and 1304.3 along with proposed compliance alternatives, shall be submitted to the department for review and consideration. 1304.1.2 Determination of compliance. The department shall determine whether the existing building, with the proposed addition, alteration, or change of occupancy, complies with the provisions of this chapter in accordance with the evaluation process in Section 1304.3. 1304.2 Evaluation. The evaluation shall be comprised of 3 categories: fire safety, means of egress, and general safety, as described in this section and Section 1304.3. 1304.2.1 Fire safety. Included within the fire safety category are passive fire protection and active fire protection features of the building. 1304.2.2 Means of egress. Included within the means of egress category are the configuration, characteristics, and support features for means of egress in the building. 1304.2.3 General safety. Included within the general safety category are the fire safety parameters and the means of egress parameters. 1304.3 Evaluation and scoring process. The department shall promulgate rules to determine the building elements and systems within the 3 categories of Sections 1304.2.1 through 1304.2.3 subject to the investigation and evaluation process. The rules shall also determine the value of each element or system contributing to the overall building score.

Source: City of New York, Charter, Administrative Code and Rules (American Legal Publishing XML export, codelibrary.amlegal.com)URL: https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/newyorkcity/latest/NYCadmin/0-0-0-244480Fetched: 10/24/2026