- Pieces of brick, stone, or concrete are falling from the building Emergency
Keep people out of the area below right away, and call 911 if anyone is hurt or material is actively falling. Many cities also want unsafe facade...
- Cracks in brick, stone, or the facade Address promptly
Cracks can come from normal movement, corroding steel behind the masonry, failed ties, or water getting in. Diagonal, widening, or stepped cracks, or...
- Spalling concrete or brick (pieces flaking off) Address promptly
Spalling usually means water has got into the material and frozen, or steel inside has corroded and expanded. It tends to get worse every winter.
- Parapet leaning, cracked, or coping stones loose Address promptly
Parapets are exposed on both sides, so they deteriorate faster than the walls below. Leaning, cracked mortar, or loose coping stones can fall to the street.
- Balcony, fire escape, or railing is loose or rusted Address promptly
Loose railings and corroded balconies or fire escapes are fall hazards and a common cause of serious injuries.
- Water leaking in through exterior walls or windows Have it checked
Leaks through walls often come from failed sealant, flashing, or mortar joints. Left alone, water corrodes steel and causes spalling and cracks.
- Facade inspection (FISP / Local Law 11 or local ordinance) is due Have it checked
Many cities require tall buildings to have periodic facade inspections by a qualified professional, with a report filed and unsafe conditions fixed....
- Parapet observation (Local Law 126) is due Have it checked
In NYC, buildings with parapets facing a public right-of-way need an annual observation by a qualified person and records kept on file. Other cities...
Describe it in your own words
Not sure which one it is? The interactive Problem Solver can match a plain description to the likely problem and show the local rules for your building.
Open the Problem Solver