EIFS Advocacy Efforts in New York City
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While New York City is the most important commercial market in the United States, the city is also dealing with several major priorities that compete with each other.
In 2019, New York City passed Local Law 97 as part of the “Green New Deal”. It is one of the most ambitious plans for reducing carbon emissions in the country as it calls for reducing the emissions produced by the city’s largest buildings 40 percent by 2030 and net zero by 2050. Under this groundbreaking law, most buildings over 25,000 square feet are required to meet new energy efficiency and greenhouse gas emissions limits as of 2024, with stricter limits coming into effect in 2030. One of the most effective ways to address climate change in buildings is to incorporate polystyrene insulation (typically part of mainstream EIFS cladding) since its R-value is at least 20X that of brick, stone, concrete and plain glass on a per-inch basis. In 2022, New York City became the first city in the United States to reject and rewrite the International Building Code’s (IBC) around fire protection in exterior facades by requiring most buildings to include fire blocking and/or noncombustible insulation in the wall system even though these buildings with polystyrene insulation have had a proven track record of fire safety for decades. |
The Heritage
East Harlem, New York |
New York City enacted this change as a response to the tragic fires that took place in other countries – such as Grenfell in the UK – even though buildings in those countries were not constructed in accordance with the same codes as those constructed here. Further, the American Chemistry Council has noted that there has never been a high-rise façade fire in the United States where the building has been constructed in accordance with the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 285 Test, which has been part of the IBC since 1988.
In 2023, the New York Times published an article entitled Half of N.Y.C. Households Can’t Afford to Live Here. The study is the latest piece of evidence to demonstrate the depth of New York City’s affordability crisis, which is reshaping local demographics and culture. The article points out that New York is staring at the worst housing affordability crisis in two decades according to the NYC True Cost of Living - FCNY.
Given Mayor Adams’ push for affordable housing and EIFS’ enviable combination of environmental efficiency, building performance, aesthetic flexibility and financial value, buildings clad in EIFS have once again gained traction in New York City – from the trade press to the New York Post.
A few of the articles are below:
In 2023, the New York Times published an article entitled Half of N.Y.C. Households Can’t Afford to Live Here. The study is the latest piece of evidence to demonstrate the depth of New York City’s affordability crisis, which is reshaping local demographics and culture. The article points out that New York is staring at the worst housing affordability crisis in two decades according to the NYC True Cost of Living - FCNY.
Given Mayor Adams’ push for affordable housing and EIFS’ enviable combination of environmental efficiency, building performance, aesthetic flexibility and financial value, buildings clad in EIFS have once again gained traction in New York City – from the trade press to the New York Post.
A few of the articles are below:
- Building Enclosure discussing the benefits of EIFS in closing-the-gaps necessary for compliance & sustainability with Local Law 97.
- Cooperator News delving-into the contributions of EIFS and other exterior cladding to benefit outcomes towards Local Law 97 requirements.
- Architect’s Newspaper and Architectural Digest profile the lauded Atrium building at NYCHA’s Sumner Houses in Bedford-Stuyvesant designed by Studio Libeskind incorporates EIFS into the design.
- New York Post feature article on passive house architecture featured Knickerbocker Commons in Bushwick. Opened in 2014, this affordable housing project is considered to be the first mid-size Passive House apartment building in the US. The project offered roughly 70% in energy savings while costing about the same as typical construction.
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On July 22, 2024, EIMA distributed an eleven-page memo to New York City stakeholders, highlighting how conventional EIFS with Drainage can effectively contribute to NYC's goals and should remain a viable option.
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The information below provides more detail on how EIMA has dealt with New York City over the years.
City of New York (www.nyc.gov):
Buildings Bulletin Highlights 2022-013
Buildings Bulletin 2022-013 - Technical
Construction Advisory: Common Exterior Insulation & Finish Systems Issues
City of New York (www.nyc.gov):
Buildings Bulletin Highlights 2022-013
Buildings Bulletin 2022-013 - Technical
Construction Advisory: Common Exterior Insulation & Finish Systems Issues
Industry:
EIFS in NYC | The Association of the Wall and Ceiling Industry
EIMA Defends EIFS in NYC | Walls & Ceilings
VIDEO: EIFS in New York – A Roundtable | Walls & Ceilings
New NYC Building Code Requirements Are Changing Exterior Walls | North American Modern Building Alliance
EIFS in NYC | The Association of the Wall and Ceiling Industry
EIMA Defends EIFS in NYC | Walls & Ceilings
VIDEO: EIFS in New York – A Roundtable | Walls & Ceilings
New NYC Building Code Requirements Are Changing Exterior Walls | North American Modern Building Alliance
