Certificate of Compliance (formerly known as an Equipment Use Permit) in NYC Buildings

The NYC Department of Buildings now requires that specified service equipment cannot be operated until a Certificate of Compliance (COC) is issued by the Department of Buildings. The Certificate of Compliance was formerly known as Equipment Use Permits. Equipment Use Permits used to be obtained through the sign-off by a qualified registered design professional or a DOB inspector. Certificate of Compliance on the other hand is granted after inspections conducted by a third-party Special Inspections Agency are completed. Once the equipment inspection is completed, the filing for the Certificate of Compliance is done on DOB NOW. The filing includes the completed TR1 form identifying responsibility for the required special inspection and a PW4 Application for Certificate of Compliance for Equipment Form (signed and sealed). The department will then issue an approved Certificate of Compliance which is required to be posted on or adjacent to the certified equipment. Operating equipment without a COC or failing to post the COC can result in the issuance of violations and fines by the Department of Buildings or the FDNY.

The following types of equipment cannot be operated until a Certificate of Compliance is issued:

·        Air conditioning systems (including cooling towers) and ventilation systems

·        Refrigeration systems

·        Heating systems

·        Fuel burning and fuel-oil storage equipment, Boilers

·        Elevators, escalators, moving walkways and dumbwaiters

As per 1 RCNY §101-14, the only exceptions to these requirements are:

Source: https://www1.nyc.gov/assets/buildings/rules/1_RCNY_101-14.pdf