New Jersey Home Inspector
06-05-2006, 03:23 PM
If your basement bedroom lacks the required and necessary fire egress stop using it, in order to avoid being trapped in the event of a fire or emergency.
I have heard many people tell me they only use the basement as a bedroom once in a while. It is no safer than drinking and driving if you only do it once in a while. If there is ever a fire or carbon monoxide leak or gas leak and you happen to be in the basement the frequency the hazard occurs will not be the problem, the problem can be it only happens once in your now shortened life.
Use of a basement as a bedroom may be convenient but must be immediately discontinued in order to cure a potentially hazardous condition. Prior to expiration of your inspection contingency, contact both the municipal building and fire departments to obtain written documentation as to the legal and allowable use for the basement.
Home Inspector (http://www.accurateinspections.com/qualif.html) Michael Del Greco is President of Accurate Inspections, Inc., a New Jersey Home Inspection (http://www.NewJerseyHomeInspection.com) firm. He has performed thousands of home inspections in New Jersey. He has taught the New Jersey
Home Inspector CEU & Licensing classes and help in developing questions for the National Home Inspector Exam.
I have heard many people tell me they only use the basement as a bedroom once in a while. It is no safer than drinking and driving if you only do it once in a while. If there is ever a fire or carbon monoxide leak or gas leak and you happen to be in the basement the frequency the hazard occurs will not be the problem, the problem can be it only happens once in your now shortened life.
Use of a basement as a bedroom may be convenient but must be immediately discontinued in order to cure a potentially hazardous condition. Prior to expiration of your inspection contingency, contact both the municipal building and fire departments to obtain written documentation as to the legal and allowable use for the basement.
Home Inspector (http://www.accurateinspections.com/qualif.html) Michael Del Greco is President of Accurate Inspections, Inc., a New Jersey Home Inspection (http://www.NewJerseyHomeInspection.com) firm. He has performed thousands of home inspections in New Jersey. He has taught the New Jersey
Home Inspector CEU & Licensing classes and help in developing questions for the National Home Inspector Exam.