HomeMy WebLinkAboutALL DOCS - 12-00347 - Twin Pines Apts - Electrical\z-t+t
26 North Center Street, Rexburg, ldaho 83440 * 209-359-3010
December 5,201t
The Pines
140 w 2no south
Rexburg 1D,83440
On December 4th, 20LL Madison Fire Department responded to apartment #4 for a fire that had
been extinguished, however smoky conditions remained. After the smoke had cleared, the
shift Captain and linvestigated the cause and found to be clothingthat had fallen offthe back
of a dresser onto the electric baseboard heater. Upon further investigation, we found the
smoke alarm without a battery in a box under a desk and the other rooms had combustibles
touching or within 1"2 inches of the baseboard heaters.
The 2009 International Fire Code (lFC) states: '305.L Clearance from ignition sources. Clearance
between ignition sources, such as luminaries, heaters, flame-producing devices and
combustible materials, shall be maintained in an approved manner." Madison Fire Department
requires the distance from combustible to ignition source to be the distance listed by the
manufacturer or L2 inches, which ever is greater.
The 2011 NFPA 70 National Electrical Code states: "424.9 General. All fixed electric space-
heating equipment shall be installed in an approved manner... Informational Note: Listed
baseboard heaters include instructions that may not permit their installation below receptacle
outlets." Madison Fire Department will not approve baseboard heaters to be located below
receptacles. Therefore, we are requiring The Pines to remove the receptacles located above
electric baseboard heaters in all apartments by Decemb er 22, zorL.
Our investigation also found some apartments had beds that were placed in front of windows.
The windows are required egress from the apartments and must be continuously maintained
free from obstructions or impediment to full instant use in the case of fire or other emergency
(please see IFC 1030.2).
I will come to The Pines for an inspection in the afternoon of December 8th, 20L1 to verify that
the windows in your apartments are free from obstructions and impediments.
Please contact me for questions,
Dale Pickering
Fire Inspector, Madison Fire Department