These pictures were taken at my parent's house this morning. The only thing that alerted them from a potential total loss was a simple smoke detector within the garage area. You can see it just behind the garage door opener. Can you believe that this is NOT a building code requirement? The code states you must have one alarm on each level of the home and one within every sleeping room. This builder takes it upon himself to go above and beyond the code and adds one in every garage area. This little extra device probably saved my parent's life last night. The fire was around 10:30 PM. Had they been asleep, with no such detector in the garage, may have caused a different outcome. The fire started within the break light housing at the back of the vehicle while parked in the garage.
12 comments:
I'm glad your parents are OK.
I couldn't disagree more about the notion that the solution is [more] government involvement/regulation. Building codes are a major waste of time/money, a source of huge graft, and crippling to new business/small business/the poor, IMO.
wow, randy, glad your parents are ok! everyone check your smoke detector batteries!!
Steve - there is a need for building codes. However the direction that codes have gone are simply money driven. This is why the cost of homes and renovations have increased so much. Contractors must comply with these so called "minimum standards". We as inspectors must make sure that these standards are being met. Without such codes there would be no standard for anything. So when the next person came in to do any work he/she would not know how the previous builder did things. So codes do make sense but have gone to a new level that is hurting the consumers. My point is that a simple added smoke detector could prevent loss to life and structure.
Kristen - Most older homes only have battery operated smoke detectors. In new homes they must be hard wired with battery back up and they are all interconnected so that if one goes off they all go off. This is what they have in their house and alerted them to the fire.
Deanna - Thanks for your concerns. They are still a little shook up over it.
Being an inspector for the past 18 years has allowed me to meet a lot of good contractors. I was able to get a company up there right away who specialize in fire clean up. The odor from the smoke is almost gone after a few hours of using some special equipment.
Michelle- If you are in a real log home they are actually more safe than a standard built home. Log homes don't burn as easily because of the density of the wood itself. A log home is in its own classification in the code book.
You can't beat up the inspector for doing his job. I agree that there are some bad apples in every industry. As inspectors we are blamed for being too tough but then when something goes wrong we are blamed for not being tough enough? We don't make the codes up, only enforce what our goverments adopt as their standards. We are definately not the most liked people in the construction world.
Damn---That must've been an eye opener! We're adding on to our garage and I'll be sure to get a smoke detector connected to the system. (Still looking for a good contractor,too!) Never thought about it before which is weird considering all the flammable stuff kept in the average garage.
p.s. So glad the 'rents are safe!!
Randy, I'm glad your parents are safe! When we had an addition put on our house, our builder and inspector were great. We never had any problems or had to make any changes. I think this was down to having a great builder, who went above and beyond what he was required to do.
WOW Randy thanks for the valuable information. I just looked we have no SD's in any of our garages. I will get some on my next shopping trip. Of course you know our contractor and he cuts cost wherever he can.....considering my bedroom and Austins are above our lower garage this is a must add. THANKS for the info.!!!
Some inspectors & contractors don't like to see smoke detectors in garages because they say that exhaust from the car or anything with an engine can set off the alarm. I would rather be safe then sorry.
Another item that most people don't have in their home and is not required by any code is a Carbon Monoxide detector. So many homes we see have all natural gas appliances, fireplaces, or oil burning furnaces. These all produce deadly Carbon Monoxide. The best carbon monoxide detector that I have come across and own is the Night Hawk. You plug it in and it has battery back up as well. It has a digital read out display on the front. It should always read zero. Anyone with fuel burning (wood, oil, gas, propane)equipment in their house should at least own one. One company makes a combination smoke and carbon monoxide detector in one.
And thats my speech on safety.
Randy, that doesn't look like your parents' house in NC. Where are they now?
pauko - they are in Northampton now.......Booooo! (I had to beat Kristen to the punch)
What does everyone think about Idol and who got kicked off?
Randy, where in NC do your parents have a house?
Idol.......definately thought Alaina should go (even last week) but also Antonella, she sucks
screamed when Shanjaya did not go, what the hell is wrong with people, he SUCKS big time!
Kristen - I had to re-read Pauko's comment before I answered him. NC is not North Carolina it is North Catty.
Has anyone seen the Antonella pictures on line? I am sure that every guy out there who does vote and has seen her so called pictures will continue to vote for her. I voted 1,000 times for her after seeing those pictures. Just kidding. It was only like 950 times.
Solong-bye-a (shanjaya)does have to go! It's painful to listen to.
Taylor Hicks was on Dr. Phil the other day and was singing one of his new CD songs. I don't think he would have made it through the first round this year.
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