Code: QEWI (Design professional role)
Description: (Qualified Exterior Wall Inspector) is a New York City Department Of Buildings approved design professional who inspects building exterior walls and files facade safety reports under the Facade Inspection Safety Program, formerly Local Law 11. This person must be a New York State licensed Professional Engineer or Registered Architect with specific facade‑inspection experience and must meet DOB qualification rules before they are allowed to submit FISP reports.
Practical Meaning: For a NYC homeowner in a building higher than six stories, this means you must hire a QEWI to perform or supervise the hands‑on facade inspection and to submit the official FISP report to DOB every cycle. You should check that your engineer or architect is actually approved as a QEWI, not just licensed, because only a registered QEWI can file the required facade report for compliance.
Where You May See It: DOB facade safety pages, DOB NOW: Safety, FISP report, facade inspection proposal or contract, engineer or architect marketing materials, DOB QEWI list.
Why It Matters: Choosing the right QEWI affects whether your facade report is accepted, what repair work is recommended, and how quickly you can clear unsafe or SWARMP facade conditions to avoid penalties. If you do not use a qualified QEWI or miss the FISP deadlines, you may face fines, enforcement, and public safety postings about unsafe facade conditions on your building.