NYC building specification
 

I just got done reviewing a 120+ page spec on a refit job out for bid by NYC.

I won't be more specific (:D) to retain anonymity.

BUT will say the 5 or so pages directly relating to the job at hand were completely incomplete and what was there was flat out wrong, as in, not just off but WRONG. And this isn't weird stuff but things that a city of any size would deal with regularly. It should be boilerplate!

Most of the remaining pages were forms for safety and equal opportunity.

Wonder why everything's so expensive?

If a consultant wrote this for one of my dads' jobs he would've been fired on the spot.

Gaa, I'm disgusted.

Pete

Elevation drawings upside down?:rolleyes:

NYC has a lot of high rise and not too long ago minorities especially blacks were kept out of the unions.

I can see the need for some EE and safety, of course. It doesn't change the fact that this spec is a bloated disaster, probably written by some incompetent crony. Who obviously also has another incompetent crony as a boss. Who reports to an incompetent politician.

Or the politician skipped the middlemen and hired his incompetent and/or uncaring buddy directly as a consultant.

Then once a contractor gets the inflated job he'll get monstrous no bid change orders just to make it work. Kinda. If the city is even lucky enough for it to work until the cleanup's done.

But that's OK, because he's paid up with the local councilman too ;)

Pete

Conspiracy theory much?:rolleyes: C'mon post it up, Pete...

It comes from living in machine towns my whole life Bob ;) Much of the way it happens my dad has dealt with most of his adult life. This though is the first time I've seen it up close, myself.

Unless all bureaucrats are simply incompetent? I don't 'buy' that :p This spec is a cluster, um, screw and will cost taxpayers 10s of thousands before it's over, and it's not even a big job!

Pete

Okie dokie. Since you can't mention specifics without getting your bosses tit's in a wringer, I'll leave this polemic about the 'Democratic' machine in NYC, as just that.;)

For what it's worth, I believe you.

Chas

I actually like my "bureaucrats" around here.:rolleyes:

Call nutz but the Building Department's around here are a buncha decent folk, mostly...(there's always some anal engineer who makes me overspec something, tho. At least the first time or two, no offense to any engineers here.:).) I happen to think they are the homeowner's best friend whether said 'harry' homeowner can see it or not. (Most of them bellyache interminably about permit fees.)

I had an inspection for some stairs that I replaced here and this youngish guy comes out with his clipboard and cheap city issued tape measure and starts measuring the treads and risers. He goes from bottom to top and then top to bottom. When he's done doublechecking himself he says," That's a first."
To which I say, "Oh?"
He says, "You're only a eight off (varience) on your risers, landing to landing. Good job."

I'm thinking to myself, so fucking what? Code's a helluva lot sloppier than that. Then I realized he was just complimenting me. I gathered my wits about me and asked, "Uhhh, would you put that in writing?":D

He was laughing as he signed my inspection card....no attaboy included, though.

Hell, I just buy the precut stringers at Loweballs and them cut off the top step.

That's how Fred T. Hodgson says to do it in "The Steel Square".

Chas

You've just explained how things work at Federal Mogul and the coffee plant where I now work. Both of them private sector, of course.;) Just substitute the word "politician" with the word "manager".

Dave

You just need to rub a little of that "brown" stuff on your nose.

That's the American way to higher pay.

Chas

I translate specs into English all the time, and while there are issues NOTHING comes close to the sheer incompetence of this one. It's actually laughable, because I'm not a NYC resident.

The whole consultant thing usually actually gets worse as city size gets smaller because the number of people in on it gets smaller too. It's a great way for politicos to grease their friends and contributors palms while saying 'It's under budget!'.

I don't understand the argument. Are some so invested in the goodness and light of government that they deny this stuff? It's the way patronage machines work.

Btw, an hour ago I was informed by a general contractor that the spec is so bad the city is delaying bid deadline until it can be rewritten.

Pete

I thought the American way was to, "Work hard and keep your nose clean."?

Come to think of it, the last time I heard that sage advise was during the Reagan administration. Right about the time the "Greed is Good!" mantra seized the public psyche.

Now, look at us.:(

Dave

No worries. Carlos Danger will fix all this when he's mayor.

HAW! :D If nothing else, Weiner is providing you conservatives with a distracting issue. Keep your eyes on the ball, Mike.:rolleyes: