NY Deutsche Bank fire spurs stricter demolition regulations

By Chuck Bennett
The New York Post

NEW YORK —City lawmakers unveiled stricter regulations for building demolitions yesterday, nearly two years after a blaze at the condemned former Deutsche Bank building killed two firefighters and stalled rebuilding at Ground Zero.

The new regulations, which are supported by both Mayor Bloomberg and City Council Speaker Christine Quinn, are meant to correct the lax standards that precipitated the Aug. 17, 2007, inferno that felled firefighters Joseph Graffagnino Jr. and Robert Beddia.

They were trapped in a warren of blocked passageways without any way to combat the flames because the building standpipe, which supplies water, had been cut.

Among the proposals are enhanced inspections of all sprinklers and standpipes of buildings undergoing demolition and abatements.

The Department of Buildings, Department of Environmental Protection and FDNY, all of which conduct inspections, would also be required to share inspection information and improve permitting standards.

Deconstruction of the downtown eyesore, which was damaged beyond repair on 9/11, is expected to be completely torn down in January 2010 after numerous delays.

Meanwhile, the Manhattan District Attorney's Office is continuing its investigation, which has already produced manslaughter charges against several subcontractors.

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