In 2010, Philadelphia enacted its first facade inspection ordinance, requiring owners of buildings with six or more stories to submit inspection reports every five years. The code is modeled after that in New York City, with buildings classified as “safe,” “unsafe,” or “safe with a repair and maintenance program.”
On December 4, 2019, Philadelphia enacted a “building energy tune-up” policy aimed at cutting carbon emissions by improving the performance of the city’s largest buildings. Every five years, non-residential buildings over 50,000 square feet must undergo an investigation and make adjustments and minor repairs to systems, including the building envelope, that contribute to energy performance.
Hoffmann has helped hundreds of building owners meet inspection, repair, and reporting requirements. We are experienced in applying the provisions and mandates of similar laws in New York, Boston, and Pittsburgh, and we understand the process. More importantly, we understand the building enclosure.
Two distinct programs mandate periodic facade inspection and repair in Philadelphia: Facade Maintenance Inspections and the Building Energy Performance Program (BEPP).
While the BEPP does cover facades, the main regulation for exterior wall inspections is in the Property Maintenance Code.