Code: SWARM (DOB online system used to submit and track required façade inspection (FISP) reports.)
Description: (Surface Wall Appraisal and Reporting Management) is the NYC Department of Buildings online system used for filing and managing façade inspection reports under the Facade Inspection Safety Program. It is the digital platform that Qualified Exterior Wall Inspectors and owners use to submit, track, and update required FISP reports and related documents. SWARM (sometimes incorrectly written as SWARMP in third-party articles).
Practical Meaning: For a NYC building owner, this is the system your engineer or Qualified Exterior Wall Inspector uses to file your required FISP façade reports with DOB. You normally do not log in yourself, but your FISP filings and compliance status depend on your professional using SWARM correctly and on time.
Where You May See It: You may see SWARM mentioned in DOB façade inspection bulletins, instructions sent by your architect or engineer, proposals for FISP cycles, and in emails or letters that describe how your building’s façade report will be filed with DOB.
Why It Matters: If your FISP report is not properly filed in SWARM, DOB may treat your building as non‑compliant, which can lead to violations, civil penalties, or “Unsafe” or “No Report Filed” façade status. Understanding that FISP reports must be filed through SWARM helps you ask the right questions of your engineer and confirm that your building is on track for each inspection cycle.