The city’s firefighter unions are sounding the alarm over an Adams administration plan to transfer some structure inspections from the FDNY to the Buildings Department — and even allow certain “self-certification” by landlords.
The draft plan, a copy of which was obtained by The Post, would “transfer examination, permitting, and inspections” from FDNY to DOB for “construction-related work,” while mostly limiting FDNY inspections to fire safety compliance.
Construction-related permits are required for fire alarms, fire suppression and fire protection.
The plan discusses exploring steps “where self certification of inspections is facilitated” and the notion of using “third parties” to conduct inspections instead of city government inspectors.
Union leaders claim such a plan to allow building owners to “self-certify” their facilities as safe would lead to safety lapses and corruption.
The plan comes amid turmoil in the Buildings Department. Former Commissioner Eric Ulrich resigned last week after it was revealed that he was under investigation as part of a criminal gambling probe.
“There’s absolutely no reason to go this route — we’re against it,” Andy Ansbro, president of the United Firefighters Association, told The Post of the administration’s proposal.
“The former commissioner had been going around saying he had the support of the unions [for the plan] – he did not,” Ansbro said.
“Self-certification often in the past has been proven to be faulty. It led to the death of firefighters and led to the death of civilians. The fire commissioner, Laura Kavanugh, has done a great job, and to pull this out from her within the first month of her officially being commissioner is a disgrace,” the union chief said.
He suggested that the dangerous move was only being considered because the pandemic created a back-up of inspections and approvals.
“This is a COVID-related grab that now that things have gotten back to normal, they have a backlog they’re working on,” Anbros said.
Developers have indeed complained about a backlog of FDNY inspections, said sources familiar with the situation.
The administration’s proposal discusses legal options to implement the transfer of inspections from FDNY to DOB.
It says the mayor can “facilitate the transfer” with an executive order but adds that ultimately, a law would need to be passed by the City Council or the voters through a charter amendment.
Jim McCarthy, president of the Uniformed Fire Officers Association, told The Post, “The reason we are opposed to this is because of the inclusion of self-certification.
“We have inspectors that look at the plans of every project,” he said.
“If we allow the architect or the building contractor to self certify, it could lead to the example we always point to: the deaths of Howard Carpluk and Michael Reilly, who were killed because of self-certification.”
He was referring to the 2006 tragedy when the two FDNY firefighters died in the line of duty after inspections weren’t previously done properly on the building they perished in.
Darryl Chalmers, a deputy chief fire inspector and union official with Local 2507, which reps inspectors and EMTs and paramedics, said self-certification is a crazy idea.
“Self-certification never works. It’s very dangerous. Our job is to make sure people and firefighters don’t get killed,” Chalmers said.
Adams’ office did not dispute that the inspection swticheroo is under consideration.
“Mayor Adams has made cutting red tape and getting small businesses open core priorities of his administration, without ever sacrificing public safety – and he has taken significant steps to advance those goals over the last 10 months,” City Hall spokesman Charles Lutvak told The Post.
“But as the mayor has said, we have more work to do so new businesses open and our city’s comeback can continue. The administration is continuing to evaluate which agency is best positioned to expedite fire alarm filings and related inspections while always prioritizing safety. The only interest group we’ll consider during this process is New Yorkers.”
