What is PIPS?
New York City’s Parking Structure Inspection Program (PIPS) requires owners of parking structures to have them inspected every six years by a Qualified Parking Structure Inspector (QPSI) a New York State licensed Professional Engineer (PE) registered with the NYC Department of Buildings.

Who can be a QPSI?
A QPSI must be a licensed Professional Engineer (PE) in good standing with the New York City Department of Buildings (NYC DOB) and the New York State Education Department (NYSED) and must have at least three years of relevant structural experience.

PIPS Inspection Classifications
After the assessment, the QPSI files an electronic report in DOB NOW: Safety, assigning one of the following classifications:

• SAFE - No conditions expected to become unsafe in the next six years.

• SREM (Safe with Repairs and/or Engineering Monitoring) - Conditions that may pose a potential hazard. This requires a stability analysis to prove no immediate action is needed.

• UNSAFE – Hazardous conditions requiring immediat public protection and permanent repair within 90 days.

Unsafe Conditions
If any UNSAFE condition is found, the QPSI must immediately notify both the Department and the building owner. The QPSI must specify the location of the unsafe condition, recommend appropriate protective measures, and include the type and placement of any required public protection in the notification. A structure is automatically classified as UNSAFE if SREM items from the previous cycle were not corrected.