Fire Marshall encounter

[bobeer]

IDK why he took a picture but I assume he's going to use it for something. I'd also assume that if you were doing something wrong, dangerous or against code, he would have said something.
I'd brew in the backyard for a while or maybe give/offer a few bottles to your neighbors so they know you're legit and not doing anything wrong. You're just a nice homebrewer who's wrongly misunderstood...

 

[k1ngl1ves]

He probably thought you were making meth. Lol!

 

[singybrue]

He probably took the picture to share at the next fire marshal convention-Look what this knucklehead is doing in his garage!

 

[masonsjax]

Just another reason I'm happy to brew indoors and out of sight.

He might have been taking photo evidence to show that it's not a meth lab as the complaint stated.

 

[steveoatley]

I had my Local - City Building inspector in my Basement to 'Sign off'
on all the work done - my Basement Brewery is Legal !!

And while he was in my basement - i invited him into my house for this inspection.....

He saw that i have a Neon Sign, hanging on my basement as well.

Thankfully it was NOT on - as in this pic

But he told me 'those are against code' - 220 v transformers are fire hazard
"not allowed in residential" properties for that reason

He did not give me a ticket - or take a pic
As it was NOT on

He just warned me, to never leave it on - and Alone

2 cents - I think you are in the clear.... My guy didn't want a problem
He was there as per my request - so I don't think he could do anything but warn me.

Now - when my basement Bar/theater gets finished - and he has to come back.....
I should be smart enough to move the sign to my detached garage - and if i am not - well then i deserve the "Fine".

 

[user 204491]

I'm no expert, but I'm pretty sure that fire marshalls are not the first responders if someone reports a possible meth lab. I could be wrong, but I'd think they'd send the police for that. My guess is that either you were just really unlucky and he happened to be rolling by while you were brewing, saw a fire in your garage and figured he should check it out, or one of your neighbors reported you were doing something unsafe with fire in your garage. Either way, if it were a serious infraction, he would have given you a citation right then or called the police if you were doing something totally illegal.

I probably wouldn't sweat it too much since he left you alone, but don't be surprised if you get a letter or follow-up visit if he thought there was an issue. Just keep it friendly, and remember, these folks' jobs is not to prevent you from doing things you want to do, but rather to make sure you're doing so in a safe manner.

 

[Mainer]

I think other people who are saying, "He probably thought you were making meth!" are kidding, but seriously, I bet some neighbor has watched too much Breaking Bad.

 

[ajdelange]

But he told me 'those are against code' - 220 v transformers are fire hazard
"not allowed in residential" properties for that reason

I think that's BS. Were 220 V a fire hazzard "Scotland's Burning" would be a reality, not just a children's song and the rest of Europe, Asia and the US would be covered too. Besides this neon signs use much higher voltages than 220 - typically in the kV (just as the TV and computer monitors you had in your house up to a few years ago did).

The only thing a cursory look at the code turns up is that there must be an easily accessible disconnecting means (switch) that controls no other load that can be used to turn the sign off. If this ever comes up again ask for chapter and verse. You may have a local regulation that is more restrictive than the NEC. My take on that is that if it is safe enough for your insurance company it is safe enough for me.

 

[steveoatley]

My take on that is that if it is safe enough for your insurance company it is safe enough for me.

I never said my Insurance Company knew about the Neon Sign !

They didn't ask, i didn't tell !

Its an old sign from a famous bar that was in Detroit years ago.
I restored it - paid to have it repaired.
And it has New ( new in 2002 ) transformers = 110v house hold to 240v i guess

I am not worried about it - I only turn it on when i am brewing in my basement.

The Inspector didn't seem to concerned either..... He was pretty low key about it.

S

 

[wyowolf]

Exactly... or indoors all electric

Land of Liberty... yeah.

I think it's best not to let anyone from the gummint know about what you are doing with respect to any aspect of your life. This is getting hard to do. Same goes for nosy neighbors. Brew in your back yard behind a screen.

 

[ajdelange]

I never said my Insurance Company knew about the Neon Sign !

You miss the point. The National Electric Code is promulgated by the NFPA (National Fire Prevention Association) which is a consortium of insurance companies (who want to collect premiums but not pay benefits) and manufacturers (who want to sell equipment but not pay out lawsuit settlements). Your city, of course, wants to collect fees for doing inspections and find jobs for the politicians brothers in law.

In Canada (at least where I live) the municipalities haven't quite figured out what a gold mine the inspection racket is (my contractor's site rep in VA once told me they were starting to work in DC and so he had to spend the weekend practicing folding up $20 bills so they would fit in match books) and so while you might never see an inspector there your insurance company may ask to come around and have a look.

Anyway, the point is that if the NFPA doesn't have a problem with a neon sign in a residence then I don't care whether Fairfax county does or not from the point of view of safety. What I do care about is that if I have one and the neighbors house catches fire and sets mine off that the insurance company can try to refuse my claim because I have a county electrical violation (if they find it).

And it has New ( new in 2002 ) transformers = 110v house hold to 240v i guess

Probably not, especially if it is an old sign. I'd guess maybe 110 to 2400 volts min.

I am not worried about it - I only turn it on when i am brewing in my basement.

I certainly wouldn't.

The Inspector didn't seem to concerned either..... He was pretty low key about it.

A lot of these guys know how silly some of the local the regulations are. But some might ask you if you have a match.

 

[m1k3]

Thanks everyone. After sleeping on it, I think the key thing he said was the material of the stand wood (vs. metal).

He also asked if I had a sprinkler system in my garage. Really, nobody I know has a residential fire suppression sprinkler system in their garage.

I have seen his truck around here before... so I am not sure if he lives near by or was just on my street for some other purpose.

Like I said, I'll probably do more brewing in the backyard.
My gated neighborhood, with golf course and strict HOA would probably appreciate me brewing out of sight anyway.

One final question... so, if he does call. Should I answer it? Or record it and post it here?

 

[GilaMinumBeer]

so, if he does call. Should I answer it? Or record it and post it here?

Yes?

 

[GilaMinumBeer]

He also asked if I had a sprinkler system in my garage. Really, nobody I know has a residential fire suppression sprinkler system in their garage.

Has been a requirement of the IRC since around 2009. Although, many jurisdictions have eluded enforcement of it by not adopting all of the chapters of the code.

Fire Marshals across the nation are pushing hard to see that everything gets a sprinkler system.

 

[csurowiec]

Yet another reason to be happy I have a 600' driveway and live in the woods. My suggestion would be to brew in the backyard. Out of sight out of mind. As said above, your neighbors have probably watched too much Breaking Bad.

 

[theseeker4]

I thought propane tank under a roof was a no-no.

Not sure about the law, but as far as safety, using a turkey fryer with oil under a roof has the potential to catch everything on fire, since the oil boiling over can ignite on the flames of the burner, and woosh.

Having water/wort on a burner won't do anything more dramatic than make a mess and put the flame out, so it has almost no potential to catch your roof on fire.

 

[GilaMinumBeer]

Not sure about the law, but as far as safety, using a turkey fryer with oil under a roof has the potential to catch everything on fire, since the oil boiling over can ignite on the flames of the burner, and woosh.

Having water/wort on a burner won't do anything more dramatic than make a mess and put the flame out, so it has almost no potential to catch your roof on fire.

I dunno the actual law, but the NFC does have an ordinance prohibiting storing propane tanks indoors. Is why they are always kept outside the building at the point of sale.

 

[m1k3]

Not sure about the law, but as far as safety, using a turkey fryer with oil under a roof has the potential to catch everything on fire, since the oil boiling over can ignite on the flames of the burner, and woosh.

Having water/wort on a burner won't do anything more dramatic than make a mess and put the flame out, so it has almost no potential to catch your roof on fire.

I thought of that too when he was here and told him I was aware of the concerns with turkey firers and that i was only heating water.

 

[MaryB]

Yup I bet he thought turkey fryer/flammable oil with the tanks right in the line of the boil over fire...

 

[EPbrew]

Yup I bet he thought turkey fryer/flammable oil with the tanks right in the line of the boil over fire...

Wouldn't that be entertaining to see!

 

[m1k3]

Wouldn't that be entertaining to see!

Well, since you asked!

 

[m1k3]

Just an update for everyone that replied: No phone call ever came from the fireman.

I did brew in the backyard since the encounter. I guess that's what I do until it gets to be the rainy season again.

Thanks!