Recent and fatal gas explosions have focused increased scrutiny on gas safety by New York City legislators and Con Edison. This, coupled with the aging and deterioration of the gas-piping infrastructure of older co-op and condominium buildings, exacerbated by poor maintenance, creates fertile ground for a gas leak and building-wide gas shutdown to occur. Further compounding this vulnerability is the advanced age of New York City’s gas mains—on average, 56 years old, making New York the fourth-ranked American city in number of gas leaks since 1984. See Pipeline & Hazardous Materials Safety Commission.

This column discusses New York City’s 2019 gas line inspection requirements, the challenges posed by a building-wide gas shutdown, and managing what can be a costly and lengthy gas service restoration process. This column also discusses insurance issues and steps which boards and managers can take to prevent and minimize the cost and inconvenience of a gas shutdown and restoration.

Inspections Required