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Northampton Housing jjhite @hamphousing.org]
Monday, December 20, 2010 5:06 PM
David Adamson
Ben Wood
Re: bathroom heat
=.d Ben regarding this issue late this afternoon. I explained that it was agreed, as a result of the Therault fire,
was caused when she attempted to dry a sweater by laying it over the grab bar above the bathroom heater,
ve had begun to remove this small section of baseboard fin-tube upon vacancy (if we could, or failure of the
r.) Before we had the heater taken out of the two fire units we checked if it was ok with both Tony Patillo and
(sp), Ben's predecessor.
lamed, and Ben agreed, that the Sanitary Code does not require each room to have a radiator, but that the
ment must have a heating system able to maintain heat in all rooms (including the bathroom) at 68, provided
n doing so you don't have to crank the heat up in another room to above 78 degrees. Ben, in fact, pointed out
3 claim that the apartment won't do that if you close the bathroom door, for example, is not necessarily valid.
luestion is does the owner provide heat for the whole apartment at 68 degrees without requiring the tenant to
the temperature above 78 degrees. We do that.
'herault fire was the second fire caused by this heater, and we had a couple of people who claimed they burned
ankles/calves when they were sitting on the toilet, so doing what we are doing makes sense.
o be clear, only disconnect the heater and replace the tile upon vacancy (if time allows) and if the heaters
selves fail. We should continue to replace thermostats where the unit itself is good.
write to the tenant in 614 and explain.
Ben Wood
2/20/10 12:30 PM, "David Adamson" <dadamson @hamohousinp.org> wrote:
Olt,
It you an entail regarding this situation a while back. We started to remove/disconnect the
roost baseboard heaters after the fire in Salvo 61(i's bathroom, Starr Therault. Please advise me
have changed our protocol since this happened.
ilk you,
'HA
ntenance Director
v Ben Wood [mailto:bwoodcDnorthamptonma.govl
: Monday, December 20, 2010 11:50 AM
)avid Adamson
BOARD OF HEALTH
DONNA C.SALLOOM,CHAIR
SUZANNE SMITH,M.D.
JOANNE LEVIN,M.D.
lenjamin Wood,MPH,Director
reria Mir.MPH.Health Inspector
!a Abbott,RN,Public Health Nurse
Heather McBride,Clerk
:1-10
by Green
ter Salvo House Apt 614
:onz Street
hampton, MA 01060
•Ms. Green,
CITY OF NORTHAMPTON
MASSACHUSETTS 01060
OFFICE OF THE
BOARD OF HEALTH
(413)587—1214
FAX(413)587-1221
212 MAIN STREET
NORTHAMPTON,MA 01060
se forgive the formality of this letter but we do not have a phone number for you. In response to your
:em that the Northampton Housing Authority(NHA)will not be fixing the heating system in your bathroom
I a conversation with the NHA executive director,Jon Hite. Mr. Hite told me that they intend to, as systems
1r as units turn over, take out the heating system in all bathrooms at the Walter Salvo House. This action is
:ontrary to the State Sanitary Code. The State Sanitary Code simply says that heat must be provided to
1 a minimum of 68 degrees (during the day; 64 degrees at night)in all habitable rooms and in bathrooms.
does not mean that a heating system needs to be in every room. As long as the bathroom reaches the
ired temperatures the State Sanitary Code cannot require the NHA to maintain a heating system in the
room.
re this helps you understand the situation. Please feel free to contact me.
rely,
Wood, MPH
,tor, Northampton Health Department
q4s\NORTHAMPTON HOUSING AUTHORITY
Jon Hite
Executive Director
Equal Housing Opportunity
49 OLD SOUTH STREET
NORTHAMPTON,MA 01060
413-5844030 FAX 582-1350
TDD 800-545-1833 et 188
ing.org
Decembe2t_O( _i
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� DEC 2 7 2010
Ms. Debbie Greene Y j�
81 Conz Street-Apt. 614 �. .._.-_.---.
Northampton, MA. 01060 NOP,THA64r:GI1 BOARD OF HEALTH
Dear Ms. Greene:
The Northampton Board of Health has contacted me concerning your complaint
that we were not repairing the heater in your bathroom.
I am sorry if there has been any confusion,but the position of the housing
authority is that we will not be repairing or replacing bathroom heating elements.
Here's why:
We have now had two fires at Salvo House caused by residents draping wet
clothing over the grab bar above the heater located next to the toilet. As the items have
dried,they have slipped, and fallen so they cover the heating element and ignited a fire.
We have also had several residents complained that they have burned themselves
on the heater while they were sitting on the toilet. Clearly, we need to take some action
to benefit the safety of all residents.
The Massachusetts Sanitary Code requires that a landlord provide heat capable of
heating all rooms in an apartment to 68 degrees. Even without the bathroom heating
element, it is easy for the bathroom to get to 68 degrees and so we are in compliance with
the required regulation.
I am aware that some people like it toasty in their bathroom but they will need to
find another way,perhaps by wearing slippers,to accomplish this.
What I do want to apologize for is that this was not explained to you properly. I
hope that this letter provides you with the information you need so you will understand
what we are doing and why.
Sincerely,
(372
on Hite
Executive Director