TR-8 Energy Inspections in NYC

1RCNY IB2
Not less than 20% of installed automatic or gravity dampers, and a minimum of one of each type, shall be visually inspected and physically tested for proper operation.

1RCNY IIB2
Dampers for stair and elevator shaft vents and other outdoor air intakes and exhaust openings integral to the building envelope shall be visually inspected to verify that such dampers, except where permitted to be gravity dampers, comply with approved construction drawings.
Manufacturer’s literature shall be reviewed to verify that the product has been tested and found to meet the standard.

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Energy Shutoff Dampers vs. Fire Dampers

A common source of confusion on NYC construction sites is the difference between energy shutoff dampers — which are required under the Energy Conservation Code and inspected during TR-8 — and fire or smoke dampers, which are life-safety devices inspected under separate NYC Fire Code and Mechanical Code requirements. These are different systems with different inspectors and different code sections. TR-8 shutoff damper inspections address energy performance only.

What 1RCNY §IB2 requires for Class 1 buildings (1- and 2-family homes):

The ECC requires that at least 20% of all installed automatic or gravity dampers — with a minimum of one of each type present — be both visually inspected and physically tested for proper operation. Physical testing means the inspector manually operates the damper to confirm it opens and closes as designed, preventing conditioned air from escaping through HVAC ductwork when equipment is off.

Automatic vs. gravity dampers — why the distinction matters:

• Automatic dampers are motor-actuated and close positively when commanded by the building’s HVAC controls. They are required in most Class 2 commercial and high-rise residential applications.
• Gravity dampers close by their own weight when airflow stops. They are lower-cost and permitted in certain residential applications, but must be verified to close fully without binding, warping, or obstructions.

How EZTR1 Conducts the Inspection

EZTR1’s certified progress inspectors identify the full damper inventory on the approved mechanical drawings, select the representative 20% sample, physically cycle each damper, and document results in the TR-8 report filed with the NYC Department of Buildings.

Ready to schedule your TR-8 shutoff damper inspection? Contact EZTR1 to coordinate with your mechanical contractor.

1RCNY IB5
Installed duct and piping insulation shall be visually inspected to verify correct insulation placement and values.
Ducts, air handlers, filter boxes and building cavities used as ducts shall be visually inspected for proper sealing.

1RCNY IIB5
Installed duct and piping insulation shall be visually inspected to verify proper insulation placement and values.
Joints, longitudinal and transverse seams and connections in ductwork shall be visually inspected for proper sealing.

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1RCNY IC1
The presence and operation of individual meters or other means of monitoring individual dwelling units shall be verified by visual inspection for all dwelling units.

1RCNY IIC1
The presence and operation of individual meters or other means of monitoring individual apartments shall be verified by visual inspection for all apartments.

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Individual Metering in NYC Buildings

Individual electrical metering is a foundational energy accountability measure under New York City’s Energy Conservation Code. By requiring that each dwelling unit or apartment have its own meter or equivalent monitoring device, the ECC ensures that occupants have direct visibility into their energy consumption — which consistently reduces usage compared to buildings where utility costs are bundled into rent.

Class 1 vs. Class 2 application:

• 1RCNY §IC1 (Class 1 — 1- and 2-family homes, townhouses): Each dwelling unit must have an individual meter or monitoring device that is present and operational at the time of the TR-8 progress inspection.
• 1RCNY §IIC1 (Class 2 — multifamily residential, 3 stories and above): Each individual apartment must be separately metered or monitored. This requirement aligns with NYC Local Law 132 (2016), which mandates sub-metering for certain large residential buildings, reinforcing the ECC’s unit-level monitoring requirement.

What EZTR1 Inspects

EZTR1’s certified progress inspectors verify the following during a TR-8 electrical metering inspection:

• Meter presence — individual meters are physically installed and assigned to each unit per the approved electrical drawings
• Operational status — meters are energized, reading correctly, and accessible for verification
• Monitoring alternatives — where smart meters or building energy management systems are used in lieu of individual meters, the inspector confirms the system meets the “other means of monitoring” standard per the approved energy compliance filing

All findings are documented in the TR-8 inspection report filed with the NYC Department of Buildings.

Ready to schedule your TR-8 electrical metering inspection? Contact EZTR1 to confirm compliance before your DOB sign-off.

1RCNY IIC6
Installed exit signs shall be visually inspected to verify that the label indicates that they do not exceed maximum permitted wattage.

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1RCNY IA3
U-factors of installed fenestration shall be verified by visual inspection for conformance with the U-factors identified in the construction drawings, either by verifying the manufacturer’s NFRC labels or, where not labeled, using the ratings in ECC Tables 303.1.3(1) and (2).

1RCNY IIA3
U-factors and SHGC values of installed fenestration shall be visually inspected for conformance with the U-factors and SHGC values identified in the construction drawings by verifying the manufacturer’s NFRC labels or, where not labeled, using the ratings in ECC Tables 303.1.3(1), (2) and (3). Where ASHRAE 90.1 is used, visible light transmittance values shall also be verified.

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What the NFRC Label Tells Your NYC Inspector

The NFRC (National Fenestration Rating Council) label is the primary product-level document your special inspector checks during a TR-8 fenestration inspection in New York City. Affixed directly to the window or door unit, the label certifies the product’s tested U-factor and Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC) as independently verified by an accredited simulation laboratory — not just claimed by the manufacturer.

What EZTR1 inspectors verify on the label:

• U-factor and SHGC values match the fenestration product schedule in the approved DOB construction drawings
• The NFRC certification mark is present and legible on the installed unit
• The product series or model number on the label corresponds to the specified product — substitutions require a revised DOB filing

The most common NYC DOB inspection finding: Labels removed by glaziers during installation, or products swapped in the field without updating the approved plans. In both cases, the inspector must reference ECC Tables 303.1.3(1) and (2) for Class 1 buildings, or Tables 303.1.3(1), (2), and (3) for Class 2 buildings, to establish a fallback rating for the unlabeled unit.

When a product cannot be rated through either the label or the ECC Tables, the installation fails the TR-8 inspection and a corrective action report is filed with the Department of Buildings.

Ready to confirm your windows and doors are code-compliant before your DOB inspection? Contact EZTR1 to schedule your TR-8 fenestration product rating inspection today.

1RCNY IB1
Provision of combustion air and tight-fitting fireplace doors shall be verified by visual inspection.

1RCNY IIB1
Provision of combustion air and tight-fitting fireplace doors shall be verified by visual inspection.

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TR-8 Fireplace Inspection

Fireplaces are one of the most significant sources of uncontrolled air infiltration in New York City buildings. When a fireplace damper is left open, missing, or improperly fitted, it functions as a direct opening in the building envelope — allowing heated or cooled interior air to escape and unconditioned outdoor air to enter freely. This is why the NYC Energy Conservation Code specifically requires fireplace compliance to be verified during a TR-8 progress inspection.

What the NYC Energy Code Requires

Under 1RCNY §IB1 (Class 1 — 1- and 2-family homes and townhouses) and 1RCNY §IIB1 (Class 2 — multifamily residential), two fireplace elements must be verified by visual inspection:

• Provision of combustion air — the fireplace must have a dedicated, code-compliant source of combustion air that does not draw from the conditioned living space, reducing the depressurization of the building interior during fireplace use
• Tight-fitting fireplace doors — glass or metal doors must be present, properly installed, and capable of closing fully against the firebox face to restrict air infiltration when the fireplace is not in use

What EZTR1 Inspects

EZTR1’s certified special inspectors verify both elements on-site against the approved DOB construction documents:

• Damper presence, condition, and operation (open/close mechanism intact)
• Tight-fitting door installation — no visible gaps at the frame or sweep
• Combustion air opening location, sizing, and compliance with the energy filing

All findings are documented in the TR-8 inspection report filed with the NYC Department of Buildings.

Ready to schedule your TR-8 fireplace inspection? Contact EZTR1 to confirm compliance before your DOB sign-off.

1RCNY IB3
Heating and cooling equipment shall be verified by visual inspection for proper sizing. Pool heaters and covers shall be verified by visual inspection.

1RCNY IIB3
Equipment sizing, efficiencies and other performance factors of all major equipment units, as determined by the applicant of record, and no less than 15% of minor equipment units, shall be verified by visual inspection and, where necessary, review of manufacturer’s data.
Pool heaters and covers shall be verified by visual inspection.

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1RCNY IIC5
Each type of required lighting controls, including:
• occupant sensors
• manual interior lighting controls
• light-reduction controls
• automatic lighting shut-off
• daylight zone controls
• sleeping unit controls
• exterior lighting controls
shall be verified by visual inspection and tested for functionality and proper operation.

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1RCNY ID1
Maintenance manuals for equipment and systems requiring preventive maintenance shall be reviewed for applicability to installed equipment and systems before such manuals are provided to the owner.
Labels required for such equipment or systems shall be inspected for accuracy and completeness.

1RCNY IID1
Maintenance manuals for mechanical, service hot water and electrical equipment and systems requiring preventive maintenance shall be reviewed for applicability to installed equipment and systems before such manuals are provided to the owner. Labels required for such equipment or systems shall be inspected for accuracy and completeness.

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1RCNY IA1
Insulation shall be visually inspected to verify proper protection where applied to the exterior of basement or cellar walls, crawl-space walls and/or the perimeter of slab-on-grade floors.

1RCNY IIA1
Insulation shall be visually inspected to verify proper protection where applied to the exterior of basement or cellar walls, crawl-space walls and/or the perimeter of slab-on-grade floors.

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Why Foundation Insulation Needs Protection

Exterior foundation insulation is one of the most effective tools for reducing heat loss through a building’s below-grade envelope, but the insulation itself is vulnerable to UV degradation, physical damage from backfill and landscaping, and moisture infiltration if left exposed. NYC’s Energy Conservation Code requires that any insulation applied to the exterior of basement or cellar walls, crawl-space walls, or the perimeter of slab-on-grade floors must be physically protected — and that protection must be verified by visual inspection during the TR-8 progress inspection.

What “proper protection” means in practice:

Accepted protection methods in NYC construction include:

• Cementitious stucco or parging applied over foam board above grade
• Rigid cement board or cementboard panels for above-grade exposed sections
• HDPE drainage board or dimple mat used in below-grade applications
• Aluminum or galvanized metal flashing at the insulation termination point

Common insulation types requiring protection include extruded polystyrene (XPS) and expanded polystyrene (EPS) rigid foam boards, both of which degrade rapidly when exposed to sunlight or physical impact without a protective covering.

Class 1 vs. Class 2 application: Both 1RCNY §IA1 (Class 1 — 1- and 2-family homes) and §IIA1 (Class 2 — multifamily residential) require the same visual inspection. The requirement applies equally to new construction and to gut-renovated buildings where the foundation assembly has been altered.

Ready to schedule your TR-8 foundation insulation inspection? Contact EZTR1 to confirm compliance before your next DOB inspection milestone.

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