Fire code could cost landlords

AREA — It is not surprising that with books of code measuring an inch or two thick, and with multiple books needed to access all the various code – building, plumbing, electrical, fire, life safety, etc. that no code enforcement officer can be expected to know them all.

So discovered Joelle Corey-Whitman, code enforcement officer for Norway, Hanover, Woodstock, Greenwood and Upton, in conversation with a representative of the State Fire Marshall's Office.

What Corey-Whitman learned will have a significant impact on almost every landlord. According to the National Fire Protection Agency's 2009 Life Safety Code, as adopted by the state of Maine, windows are considered a means of egress.

Because of this, there are specifications about the size of the window opening which must be met to have a unit be up to code.

There must be at least one window in every bedroom, living room/family room that meets the criterion as follows:

•The sill of the window can not be more than 44 inches above the floor.

•The minimum opening area (not the entire window area) must measure at least 5.7 square feet.

•The minimum opening height must be at least 24 inches. 

•The minimum opening width must be at least 20 inches.

For example, when you put up the lower half of the window, the opening that creates must measure at the very least 20 inches wide and 24 inches high. Actually, one or the other must be greater than the minimum in order to meet the 5.7-square-foot requirement.

This requirement only applies to living space (living/family rooms) and bedrooms and not to kitchens or baths.

There is also criterion for window wells as they apply to basement apartments.

Corey-Whitman noted that this could have a significant impact on a large percentage of rental housing as landlords would be compelled to bring the windows up to code.