Compliance Access Solutions

FISP & Local Law 11 Access

Suspended scaffold, swing stage, and rope access for NYC facade inspections and SWARMP repairs — DOB-permitted, engineered, and built around your filing deadline.

Every NYC building over six stories is on the clock. Local Law 11 (FISP — Facade Inspection & Safety Program) requires a Qualified Exterior Wall Inspector (QEWI) to physically inspect the entire facade every five years — and that inspection can't happen without safe, DOB-compliant access to the wall.

Skybridge Access provides the suspended scaffold, swing stage, and rope access systems that QEWIs, engineering firms, GCs, and building owners need to complete FISP inspections on time — and the follow-up access to execute SWARMP repairs when a facade comes back Safe With A Repair and Maintenance Program.

We're not the engineering firm and we're not the inspector. We're the access partner who gets your QEWI safely to every square foot of the building, on your filing deadline, with the permits already handled.

What Is FISP / Local Law 11?

Local Law 11 of 1998 (updated by Local Law 126 of 2021) requires owners of NYC buildings taller than 6 stories to have their facades inspected by a QEWI every 5 years, on a staggered cycle by borough and block. Buildings are filed as one of three statuses:

Every one of these statuses requires physical access to the exterior wall — for the initial inspection, and again for any repair work that follows.

Why Access Equipment Is the Bottleneck on FISP Deadlines

QEWIs can't inspect what they can't reach. Late FISP filings trigger DOB penalties that accrue daily, and a missed cycle can escalate a SAFE building's paperwork problem into a compliance crisis. The most common reason FISP inspections slip past deadline isn't the engineering — it's waiting on scaffold, swing stage, or rope access equipment and the permits behind it.

Skybridge Access builds FISP access timelines around your filing deadline, not the other way around.

Access Solutions for Every FISP Scope

Suspended Scaffold & Swing Stage

Multi-point and two-point suspended scaffold systems let your QEWI traverse the entire facade methodically, floor by floor, with enough dwell time at each elevation to do a real inspection — not a drive-by.

Rope Access for Tight or Irregular Facades

SPRAT-certified rope access teams reach setbacks, cornices, and complex geometries where traditional scaffold isn't practical — common on pre-war buildings and ornamented facades that make up a large share of NYC's FISP inventory.

Outrigger Systems Engineered for Your Roofline

Every rooftop is different. Our outrigger beam setups are custom engineered per building, with stamped load calculations, so the rig is ready before your QEWI's scheduled inspection date.

Access for SWARMP Repair Work

A SWARMP filing isn't the end of the process — it's a commitment to ongoing repair and monitoring. We provide the same access equipment for repair contractors and waterproofing crews executing the remediation work the QEWI specified, so the building stays on track for its next filing.

DOB Permitting, Handled

Every Skybridge Access job includes full DOB permit filing and engineering sign-off for the rig itself — separate from your QEWI's facade inspection filing. We manage:

You focus on the inspection and the repair scope. We handle the access paperwork.

Why Building Owners and QEWIs Work With Skybridge Access

NYC DOB Permitted & Fully Insured

Every job fully permitted, no surprises mid-cycle.

Engineered on Every Job

Stamped load calculations and outrigger plans, not generic setups.

Fast-Track Available

For buildings pushing up against a FISP filing deadline.

Veteran Crews

10+ years suspended access experience per team member.

All Five Boroughs

Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, Bronx, Staten Island and the metro area.

FAQ

How far in advance should I schedule access for a FISP inspection?

As soon as your filing window is confirmed. Permit filing and engineering sign-off take time, and rigs booked close to a deadline limit your options. We offer fast-track deployment for buildings already close to their filing date.

Do you work directly with QEWIs and engineering firms, or only building owners?

Both. We regularly coordinate directly with the QEWI or engineering firm handling the inspection, as well as with building management, GCs, and repair contractors handling SWARMP scope.

What's the difference between access for the FISP inspection itself and access for SWARMP repairs?

Inspection access is typically shorter-duration and prioritizes full facade coverage for the QEWI. Repair access is scoped to the specific SWARMP conditions identified and can run longer depending on repair volume. We quote these separately since equipment needs and duration differ.

Can you provide access on short notice if we're near our filing deadline?

Yes — fast-track deployment is one of our core services specifically because FISP deadlines don't move. Contact us with your filing date and we'll scope the fastest viable rig.

What boroughs do you cover for FISP access?

All five boroughs — Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, Bronx, and Staten Island — plus the greater metro area.

Need Access for an Upcoming FISP Inspection or SWARMP Repair?

Tell us your filing deadline and building type — we'll scope the right rig and get the permit process moving.

Get a Quote