Condo Media - May 2012 - 16

MAINE N e w s

by Jack Carr, P.E., RS, LEED-AP

R e g i o n a l

Is Your Home Safe?
A Condominium Safety Checklist
hen performing reserve fund studies or other engineering investigations at a condominium, a question often asked is, “Do the units meet code?” Since most inspectors can find code violations in even the newest building, the question should be “Are the units safe?” So with spring upon us, perhaps this would be a good opportunity to clean out some unsafe and accident-prone areas of the home.

C A I

Stairs and Railings
• Do all interior and exterior stairs have a railing on at least one side? • Do all stairs wider than 36 inches have railings on both sides? • Do all porches, balconies and decks have railings around the perimeter? • Are the railings secure, i.e. could they withstand a horizontal force of 200 pounds? • Are all balusters or grillage spaces less than four inches wide? • Do any railings have integrated benches? This encourages sitting on the top rail. • Are any porch, balcony or deck railings less than 42 inches high?

inches away from a wood or coal stove? • Do you have hardwired smoke alarms near all sleeping areas? • Do you have a carbon monoxide detector near all sleeping areas? • Do you have a fire extinguisher in the kitchen and garage/workshop area? • Are the attached garages separated from living areas by fireresistant materials? • Are all flammable materials stored outside or in well ventilated areas? • Are gas water heaters in the garage up at least 18 inches off the floor? • Have all bottled and natural gas fittings been inspected in the last 12 months?

ardous and poisonous materials? • Have all hot air heat exchangers been tested for leaks in the last three years? • Do all retaining walls two feet and higher have railings at the top of the walls? • Do steep embankments have shrubbery or fences to prevent children falling? • Are GFCI outlets in the kitchen and bathrooms tested every three months? For the most part, safety around the home is a common sense issue. Each generation needs to look with a critical eye at items around their homes that might prove to be unsafe for other generations. That means making sure the downspouts and site drainage do not produce frozen ponding areas that create slippery areas for the visiting grandparents. Also, 50-and-older condominium complexes should view their grounds with child-proofing in mind. Needless to say, this is not an allinclusive safety list, but it highlights many areas that are frequent sites of accidents in and around the home. With periodic reviews each year, your condo home can be your safe haven for many years to come. CM Jack Carr, P.E., RS, LEED-AP, is senior vice president with CriteriumEngineers in Portland, Maine. He is a member of the Condo Media board and a frequent author and speaker.

Swimming Pools
• Is there a fence at least 42 inches high around the entire swimming pool? • Are all gates through the fence equipped with child-proof locks? • Are there child-proof locks on all doors leading to the pool area? • Does the pool have an alarm to alert you if a child falls into the pool?

Glass and Windows
• Do all windows less than 18 inches above the floor have safety glass? • Do all windows less than 24 inches above the floor have child-proof locks? • Do all glass doors at the bottom of a descending stairway have safety glass? • Do all windows having access to a roof have child-proof latches?

Miscellaneous
• Do garage door openers have an automatic safety reverse and photo cell detector? • Are laundry chutes equipped with child-proof latches? • Are electric devices child safe? • Are children protected from haz-

Fire Safety
• Are all combustibles more than 36

CONDO MEDIA • MAY 2012

Condo Media - May 2012

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Condo Media - May 2012