Wildfires in British Columbia, the US capital – and, indeed, around the world – have turned a red-hot spotlight on the risks of fire and smoke damage for commercial and residential properties. And while there’s much that property owners/managers can do to address fire damage after the fact, there are key preventive measures they can […]
4th of July Fireworks Safety Tips for Community Associations
Celebrating our country’s freedom on July 4th should be an enjoyable time for all. Grilling out, watching fireworks, and decorating with patriotic items are all ways to have fun at this time of year if you plan on celebrating from home. If you live within a homeowners association, HOA, then you should also remember that […]
3 Fire Safety Precautions You Must Take This Summer
I love the summertime. To me, nothing’s better than having my kids and grandkids over for a swim in the pool – following it up with a barbecue. Believe me, nothing beats being the grandpa with a pool. I’ve always taken the time to explain to my grandkids how we stay safe when on my […]
Promoting Fire Safety in Your Community Association
Part of your job as a board member is ensuring the safety of residents in your community association. To that end, it’s important to educate homeowners about possible fire risks and the steps they can take to prevent fire hazards in their homes. Read the article……………….
Rise and Fire
PUTTING SPRINKLER SYSTEMS in older high-rise buildings may sound like a no-brainer—particularly given recent fires like those in high-rises in West London and Honolulu—but winning support from owners can be tricky. Plenty of older condominium associations—built before local or state laws required sprinkler systems in high-rises—have shied away from installing them, launching debates at legislative bodies […]
It takes a community to prevent wildfires (NM)
You probably saw the front-page stories last week about the tough wildfire season coming up, and they had a lot of good information (“Bracing for the big one,” March 18). But there’s more to the good news, bad news story of wildfire and Santa Fe. It’s true that wildland fires are getting bigger and happening […]
Ireland: Basic high-rise fire safety not tackled in draft report, says taskforce member
“It has been made known to the chair of the task group that there have been a number of fire incidents in high-rise buildings in Ireland since the Grenfell Tower fire. The chair of the task group has failed to request this information from each fire authority.” The letter points out that the title of […]
Does your Condominium Association have a Fire-Safety Plan?
If you are running a high-rise condo, then fire safety may well be on your mind – especially after the high-profile apartment block fire in London. The fire involved a number of failures, some of which are not the responsibility of anyone but the builder or contractor doing updates. Read the article……………..
Yes, Something Can Be Done About Wildfires
On an autumn weekday here in Deschutes County, Oregon, a chain-saw roar ripped through a pine-scented neighborhood. Tree specialists were removing flammable lodgepole pines in Sunriver, a 4,000-home resort community. With summer crowds gone, the Sunriver Owners Association was reducing wildfire risk. This is a year when huge wildfires, characterized by exceptionally strong winds, continue […]
Fire safety concerns delay Milford Township condo plan (MI)
The project received preliminary site plan approval from planning officials last month, then hit a snag at the township board meeting Sept. 20, when Fire Chief Thomas Moore said there wasn’t enough room allowed in the plans for fire trucks to turn around. William Mazzara, trustee and board liaison to the planning commission, said it […]
Crazy House Rules Sometimes Make a Lot of Sense (NY)
At a co-op in Woodside, Queens, the house rules include a prohibition against locks with keys on bedroom doors. “Why would such a rule exist?” a mystified shareholder writes to the Ask Real Estate column in the New York Times. “And can we really expect the Co-op Bedroom Police to invade our bedrooms to check […]
We Must Work Together To Make Honolulu Safer After Fatal Condo Fire (HI)
The fatal fire at the Marco Polo Condominium drew international attention to the longstanding issue of how best to protect Honolulu residents living in high-rises without fire sprinklers. There are 358 residential high-rise condominium properties, as well as hundreds of other residential structures over 75 feet tall that do not have fire sprinkler systems, according […]
Fire, Code, Restoration & Safety Tips
Annually, as Fire Prevention Week approaches in October, billboards, public service announcements and the like pop up and heighten our awareness about the dangers of fire. Maybe your local fire department had an open house and the kids learned about what to do in a fire. All these things spark greater than usual interest, maybe […]
Condo Balcony Fires
Toronto Fire Services recently held a press conference about the increasing number of fires on condo balconies caused by cigarettes being carelessly tossed from balconies. At the time of the press conference, there had been 27 balcony fires causing over $300,000 in property damage, in comparison to a total of 25 balcony fires in all […]
Fireplace and Chimney Problems, Tips & Prevention
Most folks consider their fireplaces and chimneys to be indestructible parts of their home that require little or no maintenance. While masonry work is generally as close to maintenance-free as you can get, fireplaces and chimneys are more than just works of masonry: they are a part of your home’s heating system, which must effectively […]
Survive the Unthinkable: If a Wildfire Threatens Your Home
Families in some areas of Wyoming can be safe and secure one day and have their lives turned upside down by wildfires the next. To increase your safety and preparedness, we offer the following. Ready– Preparing for the fire threat. Be ready, be firewise, and create defensible space. Prepare before the threat of a wildfire […]
Flathead Valley Homeowners, Agencies Prepare For Fire Season (MT)
After that early visit and evaluation, Baginski spent three years clearing brush from within twenty feet of his house. Some of his neighbors started doing the same thing. Soon he was inviting Ulwelling and other fire experts to homeowners association meetings to connect his neighbors with grants and resources available to them. “We had an […]
Fire Safety Education for Your Neighborhood
When it comes to having a safe and peaceful community, it is the responsibility of everyone in the community to do their part to keep themselves and others safe. That is why education is so important in a close environment. In the area of fire safety, every little bit helps. Here are some tips for […]
Condominiums May Still Need to Install Engineered Life Safety System After Opting Out of Fire Sprinkler Retrofit
As our regular readers are aware from our previous posts on the subject, there are many questions Florida condominium associations face in determining whether their buildings must be retrofitted with a fire sprinkler system or Engineered Life Safety System (“ELSS”). While many Florida condominium associations voted to opt-out of installing fire sprinkler systems, there may […]
Promote fire safety, not substandard condo housing for the elderly
Ellyn Setnor Bogdanoff, a paid lobbyist of Florida condominium associations, in an op-ed on Feb. 14, advocated for a bill that “would allow older high-rises to opt out of an ELSS [engineered life safety system] and, for those who do not or cannot, provides more time for installation of an ELSS beyond the current 2019 […]
BBQ on the Deck? — You May Cook More Than Your Steak!
Most insurance companies have a Loss Control Team that inspects communities periodically to assess potential threats. After the inspection they send a report to the board or manager with requirements and recommendations. One of the most common, and difficult items that come up in these inspections, are the BBQ grills on the decks or too […]
Fire Planning Tips for Seniors
A home fire is a terrifying moment for anyone, including seniors. If you are an older individual with limited mobility or impairments, it’s especially important you follow these four fire-planning tips because they could save your life. Read the article…………..
Is Your Fire Insurance Full of Hot Air?
It was one of the worst fires in Catskills history: The 396-unit Grandview Palace Condominiums, formerly the fabled Brown’s Hotel in the Borscht Belt, erupted in flames on April 14, 2012. Seven of its nine buildings were destroyed, though none of the residents died or were seriously injured. But the primary fire-insurance company declined to […]
Home Tips: What You Need to Know About Fire Extinguishers
You already know that home fires are more common during the holidays than at any other time of the year, with about 150 fires causing an astounding $8 million in property damage, according to the National Fire Protection Association. You’ve probably taught your children how to dial 911 in case a fire breaks out in […]
Advances in fire alarm technology
Fire alarm technology is an important consideration for any apartment building owner today. By installing a current system featuring the latest advances, facility owners and managers can better commit to the safety of an apartment building’s occupants and help to increase operational efficiency. Addressable notification technology for fire alarm systems uses targeted audio messaging that […]
Comply with Fire Alarm Requirements! (WA)
It’s cold outside, so thoughts turn to fire. As Q13 reported last month, Snohomish County fire officials recently confirmed that fifteen local condominium and apartment buildings are not updated with legally required fire alarms. The compliance crackdown came about a year after a fire killed a person in their Everett apartment on New Year’s Eve. […]
Turkey Deep-Fryers in Condominiums: Crispy and Delicious but Bad for You Financially
Deep fried turkey combines the deliciousness of a well-cooked turkey with the crispiness of deep-fried goodness. Thanksgiving is one of the few opportunities many families have to enjoy a deep-fried turkey because of the time and attention needed to use a deep-fryer, especially one able to handle a ten pound turkey. What can go wrong? […]
Fire Sprinkler Retrofitting (FL)
As you may be aware, the deadline for condominium associations to vote to forego retrofitting with a fire sprinkler system is rapidly approaching. Section 718.112(2)(l), Florida Statutes, requires certain condominium associations to retrofit their common elements, association property, and units with a fire sprinkler system in accordance with Chapter 633 (“Florida’s Fire Prevention Code”) and […]
Planning for Wildfire in the Wildland-Urban Interface, Part 3: Defining the Wildland-Urban Interface, and Why It Matters
The “wildland-urban interface” is a term commonly used but seldom precisely understood. There is good reason for that: the meaning of the term varies tremendously. There are at least three important ways to think about the WUI: as a policy definition; as a legal definition; and as a variable concept that changes along with development […]
Four steps to improve local wildfire planning (ID)
The price of wildfire has never been higher. In 1995, fire made up 16 percent of the U.S. Forest Service’s annual appropriation budget; in 2015, wildfire consumed more than 50 percent of the agency’s budget. But the price of fire is also told in lost recreational opportunities, scarred landscapes adjacent to city centers, loss of […]
Planning for Wildfire in the Wildland-Urban Interface, Part 1: An Overview of WUI Wildfire Planning
On the blog, I plan to offer a series of posts that convey much of what we learned, and what we propose, that is applicable to wildfire planning not just to Idaho, but to communities throughout the West. Through the project, we also came to believe that wildfire planning is still very much in its […]
Tips to Help Homeowners Association Residents Prevent Kitchen Fires
Fire can be a fear of residents within a homeowners association. They can break out in all sorts of situations, so it’s always good to remind owners in your community about fire safety. Did you know that nearly two-thirds of all kitchen fires start on the range or cook top? To prevent fires in your […]
The Condominium Fire Sprinkler Retrofit – A Continuing Saga (FL)
Each week, I receive a multitude of calls and e-mails from condominium association clients, and non-clients alike, regarding the condominium fire sprinkler retrofit requirements. The confusion arises because of a 2010 amendment to section 718.112 of the Florida Statutes which, prior to 2010, provided an opportunity to condominium associations whose condominium building was greater than […]
Older high-rise condos, co-ops must vote to opt out or install fire sprinklers (FL)
One major fallout of the quiet session was the lack of any new bill extending the ability of associations to take a membership opt-out vote to avoid having to install expensive fire sprinklers in high-rise residences. In the past, every few years the Legislature amended the applicable statute which extended the opt-out vote since 2002. […]
(CA S.F.) Supervisors Approve Tenant Protections Against Fires
Under Campos’ measure, property owners will have to notify their tenants of existing requirements for smoke alarms, and file reports on their compliance with the city every two years. Tang’s measure requires landlords and homeowners’ associations to provide information about fire safety to residents of buildings with three units or more, and ups the requirement […]
Deadline to Opt Out of Fire Sprinkler Retrofitting Approaches for Condominiums (FL)
When it comes to fire safety in residential condominiums, confusion and many questions have emerged surrounding the requirement to retrofit a fire sprinkler. One thing is certain, in order for a qualifying condominium to opt out of the requirement, it must conduct an opt out vote by December 31, 2016. Read the article………….
Fireplace Safety in Your Home and HOA Community
For many, the essence of winter is curling up next to the warmth of a crackling fireplace while enjoying the sights of the snow-dusted scenery outside. Unless of course you live in a Arizona or Texas, in which case it’s much less likely that your home will have a fireplace. If you do have a […]
Condominium Fire Sprinkler Retrofitting in Florida
In 2003, the Florida Legislature enacted 718.112(2)(l) as a statutory scheme to require the retrofitting of fire sprinklers for residential condominiums. The statute first began specified that the condominium association may not vote to forego such retrofitting with a fire sprinkler system of common areas in “high-rise building” which was defined as “greater than 75 […]
Grilling on the Balcony: What is Permissible in Florida Condominiums?
Question: My unit has a screened balcony (some people call it a “lanai”). I understand that I cannot use a gas grill out there, but I enjoy using my electric grill when the weather is nice. The association recently published an article in our monthly newsletter that stated that we are no longer allowed to […]
Condo building evacuated ‘inadvertently’ during small fire (IL)
For the second time in the past year, Chicago firefighters have apparently used a building’s voice communication system incorrectly. Last February, residents of Marina City heard no announcements during a small but smoky fire. On Sunday, they heard announcements all right, but were mistakenly told to evacuate. Read the article………..
Six Things to Know About Fire Hydrants
Aside from knowing to not park next to one, how deep is your knowledge of fire hydrants? Unless you’re a firefighter, it’s probably not that extensive. Read the article………..
How safe is your fireplace?
A chimney fire announces its presence in a very dramatic way. The sound is described like the rumbling of a passing locomotive or the roar of a jet engine. It’s a sound that is familiar to Augusta County resident Dan Ruff whose home experienced a chimney fire in January. Read the article…………….
Keep the Home Fires Safely Burning in Your Homeowners Association
Do the homes in your homeowners association have fireplaces? One of winter’s great pleasures is relaxing in front of a warm, cozy fire. For most months of the year the fireplace stands idle, and these long periods of disuse can lead to hazardous conditions when members light their first fire of the season. Read the […]
Maintaining Your Condominium Fire Alarm System
One of the most important fire protection systems you can install in your building or condominium is a fire alarm system. A fire alarm system is a quick-response method of alerting the occupants in your building of a fire so they can get to safety as quickly as possible. Read the article……………
Simple Safety Tips to Avoid House Fires in Your Homeowners Association
An HOA board is responsible for many things in a homeowners association. One of the most important is the safety of residents. In addition to just encouraging residents to watch out for each other, a Board can be proactive about educating homeowners too. Read the article………..
Smoke Detectors and Sprinkler Systems: Protecting Lives and Property
When a fire erupts in a Chicago building, it’s terrifying but it doesn’t have to be deadly. There are a few essentials that can save the lives of the people who are inside that building: namely, a working smoke detector and a sprinkler system. Read the article………..
Check out your HOA guidelines on grills!
When the sun comes out to play, it is natural to crave delicious barbeque! As you prepare for the summer months, take some time to review your HOA’s policies on grilling. Depending on the type of homes in your area (condo, townhouse, patio home, etc.), HOA policy may restrict grilling based on building and fire […]
Chimney Safety Tips for Homeowners Association Residents
There is nothing as serene as a warm, crackling fire on a cold, winter night. There is also nothing more dangerous if your chimney is damaged. When is the last time that you have checked on your chimney safety in the homeowners association? Read more………
Where There’s Smoke… Developing Sound Fire Safety Policies
One only needs to watch the news regularly to understand the devastation that a fire can have on a home or community whatever the time of year. A condo fire in October in Dunellen injured a firefighter and destroyed much of the complex, leaving many of the residents homeless. Read more……….