§ 2-14 Windows and Doors.
RCNY § 2-14
(a)Introduction. These rules apply to proposals for work involving the installation of windows and doors at buildings that are Individual Landmarks or are within a historic district or scenic landmark in existing window and door openings. The rules are categorized according to types of facades (e.g., primary facades; visible secondary facades; and minimally visible and non-visible facades) and building types (e.g., small residential and commercial buildings; large residential and commercial buildings). In addition, these rules govern the creation of modified window openings and new window and door openings, and the installation of windows and doors in such openings. Finally, the rules cover window and door "add-ons", such as storm windows and doors, screens and applied films.
(b)Definitions. As used in this section, the following terms have the following meanings: Color. "Color" means the sensible perception of hue, value and saturation characteristics of surfaces of window and door components. In the event of disagreement, the Munsell system of color identification will govern. Commission. "Commission" means the Landmarks Preservation Commission as established by Section 3020 of the Charter. Commissioners. "Commissioners" means the eleven Commissioners of the Landmarks Preservation Commission, including the Chair, as established by Section 3020 of the Charter. Configuration. "Configuration" means the number, shape, organization and relationship of panes (lights) of glass, sash, frame, muntins, or tracery. Details. "Details" means the dimensions and contours of both the stationary and moveable portions of a window or door, and moldings. Dutchman. "Dutchman" means a repair technique for replacing small sections of a damaged material with new material that matches the original material. Entrance infill. "Entrance infill" means the assembly of door(s), transom(s), sidelight(s), spandrel(s) and other framing elements, as opposed to a singular door, within an entrance opening. Existing window or existing door. "Existing window" or "existing door" means the window and/or door existing at the time of designation or a window and/or door which has been changed subsequent to designation pursuant to a permit issued by the Commission. Fenestration. "Fenestration" means the arrangement, proportioning and design of windows in a building. Finish. "Finish" means the visual characteristics, including color, texture and reflectivity of exterior material. Finish can be based on the original or historic finish, or finishes used at similar buildings in later eras of significance typical of a particular historic district as an alternative to matching the original or historic finish. Frame. "Frame" means the stationary portion of a window or door unit that is affixed to the facade and holds the sash or other operable portions of the window or door. Glazing. "Glazing" means the material, usually glass, that fills spaces between sash members (rails, stiles and muntins), commonly referred to as panes or lights. Note: glazing may consist of multiple layers of glass, including laminated glass and insulated glass with or without low-e coatings, provided the glass is otherwise clear. Head. "Head" means the upper horizontal part of a window or door frame or opening. Historic window or historic door. "Historic window" or "historic door" means: (1) a window or door installed at time of construction of the building; or (2) a window or door of a type installed at time of construction of similar buildings in similar periods and styles; or (3) a window or door installed at time of major facade alterations 30 or more years ago. Jamb. "Jamb" means the side parts of a window or door frame or opening, as distinct from head and sill. Landmarks law. "Landmarks Law" means Title 25, Chapter 3 of the Administrative Code of the City of New York. Light. "Light" means a pane of glass, a window, or a sub-pane of a window or door. Low-e. "Low-e" means a coating or sheet of material applied to glass that reduces the amount of heat transferred through the glass, which is considered clear or untinted for the purposes of these rules. LPC. "LPC" means the Commission acting in its agency capacity to implement the landmarks law. LPC Staff. "LPC Staff" means the staff of the Landmarks Preservation Commission acting in the Commission's agency capacity. Match. "Match" means either an exact or an approximate replication. If not an exact replication, the approximate replication must be designed so as to achieve a suitable, harmonious and balanced result. Meeting rail. "Meeting rail" means a sash rail in a double-hung window designed to interlock with an adjacent sash rail. Member. "Member" means a component part of a window or door. Molding. "Molding" means a piece of trim that introduces varieties of outline or curved contours in edges or surfaces as on window or door jambs and heads. Moldings are generally divided into 3 categories: rectilinear, curved and composite-curved. Mullion. "Mullion" means a vertical primary framing member that separates paired or multiple windows within a single opening. Muntin. "Muntin" means the tertiary framing member that subdivides the sash into individual panes, lights or panels; lead "cames" are often used in stained glass windows. Note: Muntins may be traditional true divided, or simulated divided light ("SDL") type; however, grids placed between two sheets of glass only are not considered muntins. Operation. "Operation" means the manner in which a window or door unit opens, closes, locks, or functions (e.g., casement or double-hung). If non-operable, a window unit (such as a side light) is identified as "fixed." Panning. "Panning" means an applied material, usually metal, that covers the front (exterior) surface of an existing window frame or mullion. Permit. "Permit" means any permit, certificate or report issued by the Commission in accordance with the provisions of the Landmarks Law.
(1)"PMW" means Permit for Minor Work as defined by § 25-310 of the Landmarks Law.
(2)"CNE" means Certificate of No Effect as defined by § 25-306 of the Landmarks Law.
(3)"C of A" means Certificate of Appropriateness as defined by § 25-307 of the Landmarks Law.
(4)"Report" means the report referenced in § 25-318 of the Landmarks Law or a report issued in connection with a review of work pursuant to Section 856(h) of the Charter. Primary facade. "Primary facade" means: (1) a facade fronting a street or public thoroughfare that is not a street, such as a mews or court; (2) A visible facade that possesses a level of design or significant architectural features that are commensurate with the building's street-fronting facade(s), and where such facade (i) faces but does not front a street, such as a setback facade, or (ii) is part of a dominant massing element where at least one facade is street-fronting or street-facing, such as a tower element; and (3) A facade with a primary entrance to the building. Rail. "Rail" means a horizontal sash member. Repair. "Repair" means work to correct deterioration or decay of, or damage to, a window or door or any part thereof and to restore same, as closely as may be practicable, to its condition prior to the occurrence of such deterioration, decay or damage. The term "ordinary repair" refers to work that does not require a permit. Restoration. "Restoration" means the process of returning, as nearly as possible, a building or any of its architectural features to its original form and condition. Sash. "Sash" means the secondary part of a window which holds the glazing in place. It may be operable or fixed, and is usually constructed of horizontal and vertical members. A sash may be subdivided with muntins. Secondary facade. "Secondary facade" means a facade that does not front on a street or a public thoroughfare and that does not possess significant architectural features that are commensurate with the street fronting facade. Significant architectural feature. "Significant architectural feature" means an architectural component of a building that contributes to its special historic, cultural and aesthetic character, or that in the case of an historic district reinforces the special characteristics for which the district was designated. Sill. "Sill" means the lower horizontal part of a window frame or window opening; also the accessory member which extends as a weather barrier from frame to outside face of wall. Special window or special door. "Special window" or "special door" means a window or door that possesses rare or distinctive traits reflective of its style and age, including but not limited to: (1) A rare shape and distinctive pattern, including but not limited to square sash with complex arched paneling; diamond, round and oval sash; sash with intersecting curved muntins; and multi-light sash or door leafs with densely-gridded window panes of thirty (30) square inches or less; and arch-headed doors. Unless otherwise classified as a special window or special door, the following window types are not considered special windows: square sash; square sash with simple arched paneling (e.g., half-round arch, elliptical arch, quarter-round arch, pointed arch); fixed or operable sash in simple arched transoms; sash with simply curved muntins; and multi-light sash or door leafs with large panes of more than thirty (30) square inches.
(5)Age, including original windows at buildings constructed prior to 1850. Stile. "Stile" means a vertical sash member. Story. "Story" means a habitable floor level, including a basement but not including a cellar.
(c)Work for Which No Approval is Required.
(d)Installation of Exterior Add-Ons for Windows and Doors in Individual Landmarks and Buildings in Historic Districts and Scenic Landmarks.
(e)Special Windows and Special Doors; Any Facade.
(f)Primary Facades.
(i)Details. Variations in details will be permitted if such variations do not significantly affect the visual characteristics of the window or door. LPC Staff may approve a diminution of glazing area from the historic window not to exceed ten (10) percent for metal windows and six (6) percent for wood windows, except that the diminution percentages may be slightly exceeded for specific window types due to their small size or muntin pattern, or due to building, energy, accessibility or other code requirements that must be met, provided that LPC Staff determines that the proposed window will not call attention to itself or detract from the significant architectural features of the building. In addition to the window sashes, door leafs and frames, the new window's or door's muntins, mullions and brickmolds must also match the historic condition. Simulated divided light ("SDL") muntins are acceptable substitutes for true divided light muntins, provided the exterior muntins are built into the frames of the sashes and are of the same material and there are spacers between multiple layers of glass and interior muntins. At large residential and commercial buildings in historic districts, spacers and interior muntins are not required.
(ii)Materials. (A) A historic wood window or door can be replaced with wood of any species. A historic metal window or door can be replaced with a different metal, including replacing metal-clad windows with a non-metal substrate material. However, Special Windows and Special Doors may require matching the original material exactly. (B) At small residential and commercial buildings in historic districts, straight- and arch-headed, double-hung wood windows for which the historic condition had no divided lights (without muntins) may be replaced with windows of a different material, including aluminum and fiberglass, but not including vinyl, provided the historic wood brickmolds are retained or replicated in wood, aluminum or fiberglass; the new windows are installed in the same plane as the historic window; and the window and brickmolds have a matching finish that replicates the historic finish; (C) If the historic transom window originally or historically had stained or leaded glass but did not retain such glass at the time of designation, the replacement window does not have to match the stained glass but can be either clear glass or recall the stained or leaded glass window.
(iii)Operation. (A) The upper sash of a double-hung window, or of a transom window, may be fixed, and the direction of the swing (e.g., outward or inward) of a casement, awning or hopper window may be changed. (B) Except at Individual Landmarks, the historic operation of the lower sash of a double-hung window may be changed to a hinged operation to meet high-performance energy-efficiency or accessibility standards or goals provided that: (a) The operation of the lower sash is limited to an inward tilting hopper for ventilation, except for additional inward turning capabilities for maintenance purposes only, and the plane of the lower sash approximates that of the historic sash; (b) The details closely match that of the historic double-hung window, with additional dimensional tolerances (typically deeper sashes and frames) to accommodate thicker insulated glazing and the change in operation at the lower sash, and such additional minor changes do not call attention to themselves or detract from the appearance of the building or adjacent buildings, if in a district; and (c) All windows on the primary facades eligible for this exception, excluding special windows, are being replaced at the same time or as part of an approved master plan to ensure a uniform installation and appearance. (C) The operation of a door must match the historic operation, except that the historic operation of a swinging door may be changed to fixed or reversed in swing or hinging; in addition, the historic operation of a swinging, sliding, roll-down or overhead garage or loading door may be substituted interchangeably; (D) Except at Individual Landmarks, the historic operation of a pivot window may be changed to a hinged operation matching the vertical or horizontal orientation of the pivot operation; and (iv) Configuration of a door. The following exception to matching the configuration of a historic door may apply if the door is not a Special Door or located on an Individual Landmark: the historic configuration of equal leaf paired doors may be changed to unequal leafs or a single leaf, if the applicant can demonstrate an inability to meet accessibility requirements through other modifications, provided that the new door(s) will match or recall the configuration and details of the historic door(s), and the work meets other relevant criteria in 63 RCNY § 2-18.
(iv)Other buildings in historic districts. (A) Applicability. For purposes of this subparagraph, "other buildings" include buildings such as churches and synagogues, hospitals, schools, libraries and the one- or two-story commercial building known as a "taxpayer." (B) Existing original or historic window and door openings. New windows and doors installed in existing original or historic openings will be approved if they satisfy the criteria in set forth in paragraph (2) of subdivision (f) as determined by whether the other building type is seven or more stories in height or has more than forty (40) feet of street frontage. (C) Existing non-original or non-historic window and door openings. If the existing window or door opening is not original or historic, or has been substantially modified, such as a window opening installed after the removal of a stoop and entrance door, or a door opening installed after the installation of a fire escape, the new window or door will be approved if it matches or otherwise harmonizes with the configuration, details, material and finish of the historic windows and doors on the building. The design may maintain the existing opening or may include the modification of the height and width of the existing opening, and may introduce new architectural features on the area surrounding the opening, provided that: (a) The design of the surround is consistent or harmonious with the materials and details of the building.
(v)Buildings in Scenic Landmarks. (A) Applicability. This subparagraph shall apply to buildings in Scenic Landmarks that are not Individual Landmarks, and shall include such buildings as educational centers, sports-related buildings, utility buildings (including sheds and maintenance buildings), stables, carriage houses, garages, boat houses, historic houses, police stations, zoo buildings, theater and performance buildings, and comfort stations. (B) Existing original or historic window and door openings. New windows and doors installed in existing original or historic openings will be approved if they satisfy the criteria in set forth in paragraph (2) of subdivision (f) as follows: buildings six or less stories in height and with less than forty (40) feet of primary facade shall follow the criteria in paragraph (2)(ii) of subdivision (f), and shall follow the criteria in paragraph (2)(iii) of subdivision (f) if taller or with more than forty (40) feet of primary facade.
(g)Secondary Facades; Visible Facades. This subdivision applies to new windows and doors, and modified and new window and door openings, at visible portions of secondary facades for all building types.
(h)Secondary Facades; Nonvisible and Minimally Visible Facades. New and modified window and door openings, and new windows and doors installed in existing openings, new openings, and modified openings will be approved if the proposed work meets all of the following relevant criteria: (1) New windows and doors in existing openings.
(6)Entrances and doors.
(7)Material. If the building was constructed prior to 1900, the material of the new infill must match the historic material, if known, or be wood; for buildings constructed in or after 1900, or built before and altered in or after 1900 to include entrances, the material of the new infill may be wood or metal or match the historic material, except that: (i) At small residential buildings of six (6) stories or less and with a street frontage of forty (40) feet or less, the material of the new infill must match the historic material, except that corner rowhouses, town houses, mansions, detached and semi-detached houses and carriage houses are subject to this clause regardless of the length of the facade with the longest street frontage.
(8)Finish. New entrance infill must have a finish that recalls the finish of historic or approved entrances or is otherwise harmonious with the building.
(9)Removal of modern cladding. If an applicant is proposing to remove modern cladding on the entrance or the area surrounding the entrance, the applicant must first perform probes of the material to see if historic material or elements exist behind the modern cladding.
(10)Restoration of the original entrance opening. If the original entrance opening has been reduced or increased in size the design may maintain the existing entrance opening, or may include the restoration of the height and width of the original opening, except that where interior conditions preclude restoration to the original height (e.g., later structural elements or existing interior roll gate housing or mechanical systems): (i) The existing entrance opening may be enlarged or reduced to the greatest extent feasible; and (ii) The design of the surround is consistent with or harmonious the materials and details of the historic base of the building.
(11)Modification of the existing entrance opening. If the existing entrance opening is not original to the building, the proposed work may maintain the existing entrance opening or may include the modification of the height and width of the existing opening, and may introduce new architectural features on the area surrounding the entrance, provided that the design of the surround is consistent or harmonious with the materials and details of the historic base of the building. (Amended City Record 12/20/2018, eff. 1/19/2019)
