2
• Combined Heat & Power Systems
• Microturbines
• Reciprocating Engines
• Solar Photovoltaic Systems
• Building-mounted Wind Turbines
Scope
3
• Proof of ConEd interconnection coordination
• Construction, Plumbing and Electrical permits
• Listing by a nationally recognized testing laboratory as an
assembly regarding structural and electrical criteria
• Electrical installation only by NYC-licensed master
electrician
• Applicant must be a registered architect or professional
engineer
General Requirements
4
• Construction Application – required• Building and roof structure
• Roof condition, including drainage
• Structural analysis and anchorage design
• Product/component listing
• Zoning
• Electrical Application – required• Product listing
• Electrical assembly
• Utility connection
Types of Application
5
• Plumbing Application – required• Product listing
• Piping assembly
• Utility connection
• Application for Property Tax Abatement for
Eligible Solar PV Installations
Types of Application
Combined Heat & Power
Department of
Buildings
Department of
Environmental
Protection
Fire
Department
Construction
Plumbing
Electrical
City agencies with permit
requirements for combined
heat & power systems
Combined Heat & Power
DEP air permit:
• Must comply with NYC DEP Air Code for vent stack
standards
• Must obtain an air permit to operate a CHP system
• Permit approval based on stack connections, exhaust
termination and calculations of emissions produced
• CHP systems producing emissions exceeding 12.5 tons
NOX per year will require a SEQRA/CEQR analysis.
• Environmental assessment to determine impact on
surrounding environment
Combined Heat & Power
FDNY permit:
• FDNY approval required for any system that utilizes
“high-pressure” gas in excess of 6 psig.
• FDNY will review the fire alarm system and non-water
based fire suppression systems.
• The “Certificate of Fitness” holder
• An individual trained by the manufacturer to shut down
the equipment in an emergency.
• Must be on-site during business hours
Combined Heat & Power
DOB permits:
• Must comply with NYC Mechanical Code, Fuel Gas Code,
Plumbing Code, and NFPA 37
• Must obtain a plumbing permit for gas service
• Must obtain an electrical permit for electric connections
• Slightly different requirements for reciprocating engines
versus microturbines
• Microturbines must comply with Rule §50-01
• DOB considers “high-pressure” to be gas boosted in
excess of 15 psig.
Combined Heat & Power: DOB permits
Reciprocating Engines
• File PW1 application (registered architect or professional
engineer) and PW1C (aka Schedule C) for heating and
combustion equipment
• Low-pressure Heat Recovery: No other filing needed
• Heat Recovery Systems Using Steam: No other filing needed if
the relief valve is set at 15 psig or lower
• Heat Recovery Systems Using Hot Water: No other filing
needed if the relief valve is set below 160 psig
• High-pressure Boilers: Boiler Permit required and 24/7 coverage
by a licensed NYC high-pressure boiler operator
•DOB Boiler unit will inspect prior to operation
Combined Heat & Power: DOB permits
Microturbines
• File PW1 application (registered architect or professional
engineer). Professional certification is not allowed
• Maximum 500kW per unit
• Maximum 2MW production per building
• Equipment must be outside with prescribed clearances or
indoors within 2 hour rated enclosure.
• Interior equipment rooms must be sprinklered or provided with
other non-water based fire suppression system
• Equipment rooms must have a ventilation, gas detection, and fire
alarm systems set to trip the microturbine
Combined Heat & Power: DOB permits
Microturbines
• Service Contract with the manufacturer for life of the unit
• Special requirements for high-pressure gas service:
• Connections between gas service and compressor provided with
solid welded joints
• Flame arrestor installed upstream of the gas compressor
• Gas piping not to exceed 12 feet between the compressor and
combustion device
• Automatic and emergency gas shut-off valves
• Secured access to equipment room with signage
Combined Heat & Power: DOB permits
Any CHP system that
exceeds 500kW per
unit or 2MW for the
whole building must
obtain a site specific
approval from the
Office of Technical
Certification and
Research (OTCR)
20
• Title 4-C of Article 4 of New York State Real
Property Tax Law
• DOB rule 1RCNY §105-02
• NYS law applies only in NYC
DoB is the “designated agency”
• Critically important to read both the law and the rule
and to follow procedures in the rule
Application for Property Tax Abatement
22
Definitions
• Applicant of record - the registered design
professional who filed the alteration application
• Alteration application - in this case, the Alt 2
application filed with the Department
• Applicant for property tax abatement - the owner
• Application for property tax abatement - Form PTA4
• Compliance period - the tax year (July 1-June 30) in
which the property tax abatement begins and the three
tax years immediately following, 4 years total
Application for Property Tax Abatement
23
Definitions
• Placed in service - affects how the abatement is
calculated, and shall be the later of:
• the date of the utility company’s (i.e. Con Ed,
LIPA, etc.) final acceptance of interconnection, or
• the date of the department’s electrical division’s
sign-off, as evidenced in DOB’s Building
Information System (BIS)
Application for Property Tax Abatement
24
• Step 1: Perform preliminary evaluation of
existing building structure, roof structure, roof
covering and drainage system to determine
what if any additional work is required prior to
solar power system installation.
• Step 2: Prepare documents in accordance
with Construction Application process.
Application for Property Tax Abatement
25
Document requirements
• Plot plan locating of solar power system on the site, trees,
structures, city services, utilities or other potential hazards
• Site plan and/or roof plan(s) and/or elevation(s) showing
the solar modules in place, other equipment and structures,
whether or not related to the system
• Fire Department access for firefighting and maintenance
(Fire Code §504)
Construction Permit Application
26
Document requirements
• Zoning compliance, including
height and setback requirements
Construction Permit Application
27
• Step 3: File an Alt 2 application professionally
certified with final inspection to be performed
by applicant (or another professional).• Required, regardless of whether solar power system was
included in NB or broader Alt 2 application prior to this rule
• Eligible expenditures indicated on form PW3
• No other work permitted as part of this application
At submission of Alt 2, applicant must indicate
on PC1 that this job is the subject of an
application for property tax abatement.
Application for Property Tax Abatement
28
Forms:
• PW1
• TR1
• PC1
• POC1
• PW3
• PTA4
All forms are available at nyc.gov/buildings
Filing for the
Tax Abatement
Forms
34
Document requirements:
• Drawings, including electrical design drawings,
sufficient to show and describe the solar power system and
the arrangement and operation of system elements
• System shall be listed as an assembly, including structural
criteria
• Drawings detailing the anchorage of solar power system
• Ballast prohibited for grade-level installation
• Ballast prohibited for installations >= 100 feet above grade
• Ballast shall be fully contained
Construction Permit Application
35
Document requirements
• Drawings showing structural work required to provide,
add or reinforcement as necessary to sustain the added
vertical and horizontal loads (Building Code Chapter 16)
• Drawings showing roof covering and drainage work
• ConEd preliminary contract or other proof of coordination
Construction Permit Application
36
• Step 4: Obtain Construction and Electrical
permits
• Electrical Application shall not be filed until Alt 2
application has been submitted.
Electrical Application must include the Alt 2
application number in Section 3 and must
indicate that application is for “S Sustainable
Energy Install” in Section 6
Application for Property Tax Abatement
37
Electrical Permit may be e-filed
NYC Electrical Code § 690.1
• 2007 NYC amendments to
2005 NEC are still in effect:
Installations must be listed
by nationally recognized
testing laboratory as
complete assemblies
Electrical inspection by DoB
Electrical Permit Application
38
• Step 5: Construction
• Step 6: Inspections
• Construction inspections, including the Final
Inspection, shall be performed by registered design
professionals as indicated on TR1
• Electrical inspection shall be performed by DoB
electrical inspectors
Application for Property Tax Abatement
41
• Step 7: Electrical sign-off
• Step 8: Construction sign-off
• To follow electrical sign-off
• Install utility meter, if applicable
• Applicant of record shall submit completed
Technical Reports and request for sign-off AND fully
completed Application for Property Tax Abatement
Application for Property Tax Abatement
42
NOTE:If the property tax abatement application is not
submitted together with and at the same time as the
request for construction sign-off,
then the property tax abatement application shall be
denied and the Department will not review or process
the property tax abatement application.
Application for Property Tax Abatement
44
Form PTA4: Property Tax Abatement
1. An architect or engineer must certify
a) compliance of the solar electric generating system
with both Title 4-C and 1RCNY §105-02, and
b) the date the system was placed in service.
2. The architect or engineer must complete the
Application Form PTA4, sign and seal the form, and
obtain the signature of the owner (Applicant for Property
Tax Abatement).
Application for Property Tax Abatement
45
Form PTA4: Property Tax Abatement
3. The Applicant must certify the expenditures for the
solar electric generating system:
• were incurred on or after August 5, 2008;
• do not include interest or finance charges;
• were not incurred using a federal, state or local
grant
The applicant must also certify that the system will be
maintained throughout the compliance period.
Application for Property Tax Abatement
46
Form PTA4: Property Tax Abatement
4. The architect or engineer must deliver the
Application for Property Tax Abatement to the
applicant of record for submission with the
Technical Reports and the request for Construction
sign-off
Application for Property Tax Abatement
47
Form PTA4: Property Tax Abatement
The form must be received by March 15 in order
for the abatement to commence on July 1 of
that year.
If not received by March 15, the application will
be rejected for that year and you will have to
apply again the next year.
DON’T PROCRASTINATE!
Application for Property Tax Abatement
48
• Step 9: DOB registers receipt of Application
for Property Tax Abatement as a required item
in BIS, and this will indicate the date of filing of
the application
The Application for Property Tax Abatement
must be filed by March 15 in order for the
abatement to commence on July 1 of that
calendar year.
Application for Property Tax Abatement
49
• The plan examiner will verify that
construction documents comply with
applicable laws
• If plan examiner finds conditions in
violation of the laws, objections will be
issued and must be resolved
Application for Property Tax Abatement
ALL solar permits pursuing the tax
abatement will be plan reviewed by DOB.
50
• DOB inspector will verify that installation
complies with construction documents
Application for Property Tax Abatement
ALL solar permits pursuing the tax
abatement will be inspected by DOB.
51
• Step 10: The Department notifies the
Department of Finance of its acceptance of
the Application for Property Tax Abatement
and the professional and owner certifications.
Application for Property Tax Abatement
52
• Step 11: Within 15 days prior to the last day
of the compliance period, an architect or
engineer must inspect the installation to
ensure that it complies with the requirements
of Title 4-C and DOB rule 1RCNY §105-02.
• Step 12: The applicant of record shall
prepare and maintain a report of the
inspection, and shall notify DOB if the system
is not in compliance.
Application for Property Tax Abatement
53
For more about solar power, visit the DOB Sustainability page at www.nyc.gov/buildings
Online Resources
The code requires
equipment to be tested
to a national standard.
There is no U.S. standard
for wind turbines
mounted on buildings or
near buildings.
Small Wind Turbines
Bulletin: All wind turbine assemblies shall
be listed, including all components,
…but so far, only the inverter is available
as a listed product.
Small Wind Turbines
Two paths to product
acceptance:
1.Manufacturers develop
acceptance criteria
2.Pilot Projects
Small Wind Turbines
MANUFACTURER:
Engage a 3rd party engineering firm with
expertise in wind (NYS registered) to:
1.Edit an existing
standard to make it
specifically applicable,
or…
2.Write entirely new
acceptance standard
Small Wind Turbines
MANUFACTURER:
Standard must comply with all
codes and the following safety
issues:
1. Turbulence
2. Wind conditions
3. Harmonic vibrations
4. Ice and snow
5. Lightning
6. Structural support
7. Birds
Small Wind Turbines
MANUFACTURER:
1. Standard must be
approved by DOB
2. Product must be tested by
approved testing lab
3. Plan approval and permits
required
Small Wind Turbines
PILOT PROJECT:
DOB may approve projects
prior to developing a standard
pending:
1. Max. 2 kW per assembly
2. Max. 10 kw per building
3. 25 ft. setback from street
(prohibited on occupied roof)
Small Wind Turbines
PILOT PROJECT:
DOB filing:
1. OTCR-2
check the box in Section 2
for Pilot Project
2. Manufacturer certifies that:
i. The wind turbine is safe
as per building code
ii. The manufacturer will
develop standard
3. Owner’s Certification
Small Wind Turbines
PILOT PROJECT:
DOB approval and permits
1. Comply with all codes and
zoning (permitted obstruction)
2. Utility approval
documentation from ConEd
all electrical requirements
have been satisfied,
or owner’s affidavit saying no
electrical interconnection
3. Technical
comply with rule for PV
Small Wind Turbines
PILOT PROJECT:
DOB filing:
• Daily wind speed and
direction
• Power generated
• Recommendations from
manufacturer’s engineer
• Visual inspection of
welds, bolts, structural
• Operation of electrical
and mechanical parts
• Effect on building
(cracks, noise, etc.)
• Log of noise complaints
• Log of stoppage due to
excessive rotation
• Maintenance log
1. Monitoring reportmust retain report for duration of
pilot project, plus 3 years
2. Termination2 years after electrical permit
issued, if DOB does not approve
test report, then the turbines must
be removed within 90 days
Small Wind Turbines
1. You must get a permita construction permit and electrical permit are always required
a plumbing permit is required for gas service
2. Everything I just told you will change,
except for #1 aboveStay tuned at with www.nyc.gov/buildings for process updates
Two take-aways