NEW YORK-- According to a statement released Nov. 7, FDNY Fire Commissioner Nicholas Scoppetta plans to implement several changes to the department's building inspection program.
The statement states the changes will greatly improve safety for firefighters and the public. The changes are a result of a review of the FDNY's inspection program, which was ordered by Mayor Michael Bloomberg on Aug. 27 following the deaths of two firefighters.
Joseph Graffagnino and Robert Beddia where killed battling a blaze at the former Dutche Bank building near the World Trade Center site on Aug. 18.
"This is going to allow us to make better use of our resources with technology, getting information in real time and increased fire prevention training," Scoppetta said in the statement.
The following changes have been added, including the change in name from Apparatus Field Inspection Duty to Building Inspection Safety Program:
Implementation of a third inspection period each week for every field unit, increasing the amount of time - six to nine hours -- units will be scheduled for weekly building inspections. (Less than half of the scheduled inspection time for field units actually gets spent inspecting buildings due to emergency responses, inclement weather, etc.)
Creation of a new computer software program which indexes all buildings - more than 75 feet high that are under construction or demolition - for each individual field unit according to their particular area. This program is now tracking inspections and electronically reminds units when their next inspection is due.
Added oversight of field inspections by or at the Borough Command level, and additional oversight with compliance measures implemented at FDNY headquarters in Brooklyn.
The City's Department of Buildings now notifies the FDNY of new building or demolition permits issued. That information will be given to field units, which were previously instructed to canvass their areas to learn this information.
The FDNY is currently working with the City's Department of Information Technology and Telecommunications in planning an integration of all of our building inspection information, as well as improved information-sharing with the Department of Buildings and other City agencies.
The FDNY and DOB are partnering on a number of information-sharing initiatives, including the Fast-Track Pilot Program which enables chief officers to enter critical information about buildings directly into the DOB's Buildings Information System. This drastically reduces the notification and action time required for DOB officials to address structural concerns that could endanger our members or the public. A pilot program in Divisions 6 and 7 in the Bronx was successful, and soon, it will be expanded to other boroughs.
With the expansion of proby school at the Fire Academy, additional material on fire prevention and inspections has been added to the curriculum. Newly promoted officers at every level also will receive additional training on building inspections in their promotional courses, and a new course is being developed for fire prevention coordinators.
