RAND’s 2026 NYC Building Compliance Calendar is live! As we head through Q4, now’s the time to prepare for next year’s filings, inspections, and repair work. Our latest article breaks down the key dates, from PIPS Cycle 1C on January 1 to FISP Cycle 10B on February 21, LL97 annual carbon emissions reporting and LL84 Benchmarking on May 1, and the year-end cluster for boilers, elevators, parapets, LL152, LL87, and the PIPS annual checklist.
Read the full guide, download the 2026 checklist, and subscribe to our NYC Compliance Google Calendar to keep your building on track for a smooth year of compliance: /blog/local-law-deadlines-2026/
Can drones be used for FISP inspections in NYC?
Yes, as a supplemental tool.
Drone surveys can support facade evaluation, documentation, and access planning, especially on buildings with large exterior wall areas, setbacks, chimneys, roof structures, or areas that are difficult to evaluate from the ground.
They do not replace the close-up inspections required under FISP, but they can be a valuable part of a broader QEWI-led inspection strategy.
Read more at the link in bio.
/drones-fisp-inspections-nyc/
#FISP #LocalLaw11 #FacadeInspection #NYCBuildings #DroneSurvey BuildingEnvelope RopeAccess NYCCompliance
Getting hands-on with the materials that help keep building envelopes watertight.
RAND staff recently took part in an in-house seminar with PROSOCO focused on their R-Guard air and water barrier system, including Cat 5, FastFlash, and Joint & Seam Filler.
The session gave our team the opportunity to work directly with the materials, ask technical questions, and take a closer look at how these products are applied in the field. For our building envelope, architectural, and construction administration teams, sessions like this strengthen the connection between product knowledge, detailing, constructability, and long-term building performance.
It’s also part of how we continue to support technical growth across the firm: learning from manufacturers, sharing knowledge across disciplines, and giving our staff direct exposure to the materials and systems they specify, review, and observe on site.
Thank you to PROSOCO for joining us and leading a valuable hands-on session.
#BuildingEnvelope #ConstructionAdministration #FacadeRestoration #Waterproofing #ProfessionalDevelopment
BTS: What a drone survey looks like from the ground up.
For a recent facade evaluation of a 30+ story tower in Brooklyn, RAND’s field team included Project Architect Robert Tochterman, RA as project manager, with RAND Drone Team members Patty Lozoya piloting the drone and Novel Chowdhury serving as visual observer to help monitor the aircraft and surrounding conditions throughout the flight.
On the ground, the team ran through pre-flight checks, coordinated the survey areas, and confirmed the flight approach. From there, the drone helped capture roof-level and facade conditions that would be difficult to document from the ground.
Learn more about RAND’s drone survey services: /drone
#DroneSurvey #DroneInspection #BuildingEnvelope #FacadeInspection #RANDatWork
The problem: 14 inches of water in an electrical room, rising from below.
The repair required re-supporting the cellar walls on steel shoring, demolishing the slab, excavating to bedrock, and installing a reinforced concrete pressure slab designed to resist groundwater pressure from below.
RAND developed the repair solution as Engineer of Record, with mechanical systems kept operational throughout construction in a fully occupied building.
Strong execution by Jepol Construction Inc on a challenging project involving bedrock removal, thousands of feet of rebar, and truckload after truckload of concrete placed just inches below active building systems.
Photos by Jepol Construction. Pictured: RAND Principal and Forensics Team Leader Eugene Gurevich, PE, AIA, LEED AP on site during construction.
May is here, and for many NYC buildings, Local Law 97 reporting should already be in motion.
Covered buildings are required to submit annual greenhouse gas emissions reports, with a 60-day grace period through June 30, 2026. Owners may also need to file an extension request by June 30 if more time is needed.
That makes the next two months critical. Now is the time to confirm:
• Whether your building is covered
• Which LL97 compliance pathway applies
• Whether energy data and benchmarking records are complete
• Whether emissions calculations, documentation, and RDP certification are ready
• Whether an extension or penalty mitigation request may be needed
Local Law 97 compliance is not just a filing exercise. It is part of a larger building performance strategy that can affect capital planning, energy upgrades, operating costs, and long-term compliance risk.
RAND helps building owners, boards, and managers evaluate what applies, identify documentation gaps, and plan practical next steps for Local Law 97 compliance.
Have questions about your building’s June 30 deadline? Contact RAND to discuss your LL97 reporting and compliance planning. More info: /ll97
#LocalLaw97 #LL97 #NYCBuildings #EnergyCompliance #BuildingPerformance #Decarbonization
We had a great day connecting with industry colleagues, clients, and new faces at the Cooperator New York Expo last week.
Our team covered two major compliance topics facing NYC buildings at the Expo’s Local Law Hub:
• Parking structure inspections and Local Law 126 with RAND Chief Structural Engineer Jimmy Vignola, PE
• FISP / Local Law 11 and Cycle 10 planning with RAND President Stephen A. Varone, AIA
Our speakers shared what we’ve been seeing in the field during recent inspections, what we’ve learned from navigating DOB filing processes, and practical steps that can help buildings move through compliance work more smoothly.
Thank you to everyone who stopped by, asked questions, joined a session, or picked up a RAND NYC building compliance deadline calendar.
If we missed you at the show, you can still connect with our team or explore our compliance resources here: /expertise/local-law-compliance/
#CooperatorExpo #LocalLaw11 #FISP #LocalLaw126 #ParkingGarageInspections
May 1 is a key NYC energy compliance deadline for many covered buildings.
By this Friday, owners may need to complete:
• Local Law 84 annual energy and water benchmarking
• Local Law 88 lighting upgrade and submetering compliance reporting, if applicable
Local Law 97 emissions reporting follows, with annual reports due June 30 and extension requests also due June 30, if needed.
For covered buildings, this is an important point to confirm applicable requirements, complete remaining filings, and address documentation gaps before missed deadlines lead to violations.
RAND helps building owners, boards, and managers understand what applies to their buildings and move through NYC energy compliance requirements, including benchmarking, LL88 reporting, and Local Law 97 planning.
Have questions about what applies to your building? Read more or contact RAND to discuss upcoming NYC energy compliance requirements. /news/nyc-sustainability-deadlines-2026/
#LocalLaw84 #LocalLaw88 #LocalLaw97 #Benchmarking #EnergyCompliance NYCBuildings
#FutureArchitects, #FutureEngineers, or maybe both like their dad, RAND Partner and Forensics Team Leader Eugene Gurevich, PE, AIA, visited the office for National Take Your Child to Work Day.
We loved helping introduce the next generation to the world of architecture, engineering, and building investigation, and seeing their curiosity, questions, and excitement as they explored the office and got a closer look at what their dad and the RAND team do each day.
#TakeYourChildToWorkDay #TakeOurChildrenToWorkDay #STEM
One of our recent award-winning projects, a Flatiron apartment renovation at 21 East 22nd Street by Wendell Burnette Architects, was featured in the latest issue of Residential Design. RAND served as MEP engineer for the project, supporting the transformation of a former factory loft into a warm, carefully considered home shaped by light, views, and the character of the city.
A renovation like this takes close coordination and collaboration, and we were pleased to be part of a project with this level of thought and detail. Read the full feature in Residential Design: https://bit.ly/21E22nd-RD-feature
Photography by @roehnerrr
#ProjectSpotlight #RANDProjects #MEPEngineering ApartmentRenovation @wendellburnettearchitects@resdesignmag
Earth Day is a reminder that better-performing buildings matter, not just for the environment, but for the people who live and work in them.
With May 1 almost here, covered NYC buildings should confirm whether required benchmarking, emissions reporting, and lighting compliance filings are complete.
See what’s due now and what comes next in our 2026 NYC sustainability deadlines article: /news/nyc-sustainability-deadlines-2026/
#EarthDay #Sustainability #Decarbonization #LocalLaw97 #EnergyEfficiency
Heading to the Cooperator New York Expo Tomorrow?
Visit RAND at Booth 1302 and join us for two speaking sessions in the Local Law Resource Hub on April 22.
Stop by to connect with us about building issues and upcoming compliance deadlines, including:
- FISP / Local Law 11
- Parking Structure Inspections / Local Law 126
- Parapet inspections
- Local Law 97 and related requirements
Meet the team, ask questions, and learn more about our sessions and where to find us.
More info and register for free here: /news/join-rand-at-the-cooperator-new-york-expo/
