Should I be honest with my enighbors about a potential fire hazard?

In My Humble Opinion
1

My neighbors are Asian immigrants and have recently moved their parents from their home country, to the US, and now they are staying with them. To make room my neighbor is building a bedroom and bathroom for them in his basement.

Now that is all and good but I am nervous to point out to him that the room he is building is a fire trap down there. Only one way to get out and that is up the basement stairs and then thru the garage. No windows.

Should I tell him? I’m thinking I should discuss some precautions like fire extinguishers and smoke alarms.

2

Aren’t his building works subject to building regulations?

3

Yes, you should tell him. Try to be helpful and non-judgmental so you can get through to him. He doesn’t want his family to burn to death in a fire either. Fire extinguishers and smoke alarms are a good start but in my area, he really needs a second egress.

If you were a great neighbor, you would help him dig out a window box and cut through the concrete so he can install one. I’m not that good a neighbor.

4

Why do you assume he doesn’t realize this but is willing to take the risk? (that would be my assumption)

5

Is the Asian background relevant? What would you say to a white neighbor who was finishing his basement into a livable space?

6

Yes, but it’s hard for code violations to be enforced if the city inspector has no idea it’s happening.

Between “is unaware of the danger” and “is aware and accepts the risk”, I think the former is far more likely when it comes to fire safety.

7

Since the OP is looking for advice, let’s move this to IMHO.

Colibri
General Questions Moderator

8

Asian countries (and other developing countries) often have less stringent fire and safety codes than the US. A recent immigrant from an Asian country might not be as aware of these issues as a US resident.

9

Thats about it. He is used to different housing standards. And yes, I would tell a white neighbor.

10

I like the idea of a window box as a second exit.

11

In my village, the fire department visits each house every few years and they ask about heating equipment, smoke and monoxide detectors, and sometimes they ask to see the main breaker box. Also, municipal employees visit each house about once every 10 years, to assess changes in property value.

If you have these kinds on inspections in your area, I guess you could warn your neighbours that the FD probably won’t approve when they come around.

12

Those dont happen in our area and not in any place in the US as far as I know.

13

Look how nice this one is - it would be a fire egress as well as letting light adn the feeling of the outdoors, in.

StG

14

My step-father used to work for the Oakland, CA FD doing inspections. They would inspect private homes, and could require the homeowner’s compliance.

StG

15

Many locales in the US have periodic inspections for tax assessment. Here in my county in Ohio it is every five years. But it is just a drive-by looking for a new garage, fence, etc.

Dennis

16

Code requires an Egress Window. They are sold many places and require cutting into the basement foundation.

That creates another problem. Water leaks. You just cut a hole in a wall below grade. That can be a major PITA to keep dry.

Many, many home owners quietly remodel basements themselves without permits. Saving money. Otherwise they couldn’t afford to get the work done at all. That’s just a stark financial reality.

I don’t see a problem if it’s a spare bedroom for a family member.

Rental property is different. That absolutely should have an egress exit.

17

I like that egress. Thanks for the link.

18

Just to give you some numbers for you and your neighbor:
Mid-sized U.S. city, we did not need to pull permit.
Dug hole myself
Googled concrete cutter - 2 bids for $600 - came out and finished the next day
Lowe’s ordered 48" x 48" x 48" (sheet metal egress (corrugated)) for $249
-this was the true brilliant move as the size which is required for the egress as well as the shininess allow SO MUCH LIGHT into the basement that it is almost like a sunroof for the room
Hammer drill rental $30 and $10 for the screws to mount and treated lumber to for the window buck
Vinyl egress rated window with crank and screen (40"x36")- local hardware store for $320
Trim and paint - $10?
10 bags of river rock at Lowe’s for well - $30

So right at $1500, but now I can claim a legal 4th bedroom! so another 10-20k in asking price when selling. ANd all steps other than the concrete cutting are easy DIY projects with lots of youtube instructions.

#Edits: 1. remember that egress is not sized for escape but ratther for a firefighter to get in. Make the box BIG and you won’t regret it. 2. I cannot advocate teh corregated metal highly enough for the ease, simplicity, and everyone who sees it says that it is way cleaner look than concrete or wood.

19

IANA lawyer, building inspector, or any other relevant professional, but I think that in Ohio, you don’t need a permit for work you’re doing on your own dwelling. You really should get one, but you’re allowed to skip it, and if you do, there won’t be any inspection of your work.

You might have an easier time pitching it to your neighbor as a quality of life issue. Won’t his parents be so much happier with a window, so they can get some sunlight and hear the birds outside, and so on.

20

Okay, that is really a good idea. I’m just gonna highlight that for anyone else poking into the thread.
Basically you dig out a few terraced steps, up from the basement window, and landscape each level.

If the sun angle etc. is juuuuust right, you could reach out the basement window and pluck a fresh strawberry.