Neighbor wants to call fire marshall for brewing

[bmbigda]

I'm being told that if the fire marshall or fire department is notified AND the fire marshall/fire department catches you in the act, they will issue a citation to the owner of the building (your landlord). It's your landlords responsibilty to enforce these things, and I wouldn't be surprised if language exists in your lease regarding this.

Seems like these things are building/property oriented, not individual oriented.

 

[BeantownR6]

Someone stated that fire codes are not enforeced and they are wrong. Fire Codes are inforeced by the Authority Having Jursidiction (law enforcement, Fire Department, County officails) .

true, i cant remeber the code section i read this morning but basicly states the fire marshal has the authority to enforce the fire codes.

 

[bmbigda]

The fire code refers to open flame near a comercial building or a Residential occupancy with 3 or more living units (not bedrooms). NFPA are standars or recomendations and Fire Code is what is adopted and enforced. Someone stated that fire codes are not enforeced and they are wrong. Fire Codes are inforeced by the Authority Having Jursidiction (law enforcement, Fire Department, County officails) it all depends on who has adopted the code. The ONLY thing to do is to call the AHJ (try the fire department) and get the correct information. Beyond that your neighbor is a jerk and this topic has no further discussion till you get clarification from the AHJ.

Yes I was wrong, they can and are enforced. Also - NFPA 1 is a code adopted by the state of california with requirements. And it contains the open flame regulation you mentioned.

I agree that he needs to call the AHJ above all else.

 

[Tinga]

I would look through your lease as well to make sure more laws don't complicate the matter.

 

[Gunrunner]

true, i cant remeber the code section i read this morning but basicly states the fire marshal has the authority to enforce the fire codes.

Or anyone that represents them such as all members of the department down to the firefighters. The code is very specific in reguards to open flame secton 308.3 of the CA Fire Code. But you need to look at the exemptions in section 308.1 "Exceptions: Fuel burning elemnets of approved appliances shall not be considered as open flame devices" CA Code of regulations title 19 division 1 section 3.25

 

[Gunrunner]

And yes I am a Fire Captain and I am sitting here at work reading the fire code. I must now go and finish my inspections for the day and enforce the fire code.

 

[Taypo]

And yes I am a Fire Captain and I am sitting here at work reading the fire code. I must now go and finish my inspections for the day and enforce the fire code.

Good luck. Thanks for the service.

 

[TheMan]

haha thats the number ive been calling - no answer

Try this number, 867-5309

Hopefully you don't get this guy:

 

[kingmatt]

Sounds like it is time to invest in an electric system.

 

[Surly]

I have not read the whole thread so maybe somebody has offered this already. Call the city government and ask what the regulations are for cooking outside.

I bet you are fine.

 

[Taypo]

Try this number, 867-5309

Well played, took me a minute

 

[zeus53219]

I had a neighbor burning leaves last fall, which is a big no-no in my sub-division. The fire dept and police were there in 2 minutes flat. FD put about 500 gals of water on a small burn pit and left. I had seen this first hand because I was brewing in the backyard in front of the garage that day. Two of the officers on the call thought they'd come see what I was doing, uninvited of course. They asked what I was doing and I told them, "Brewing some stout." Both dumb founded looked at me and said "Is that even legal?" WTF? I said' "Yes its legal, but the ‘still’ in my basement is another story." (Kidding of course) and asked them to kindly get the F off my property. They left, but obviously not having a sense of humor, the fire dept. arrived shortly after. To make a long story short, the fire guys had more questions about the brewing process and were more intrigued with my brew rig, than the codes. The Chief made a phone call and stated it was perfectly legit what I was doing and sorry for bothering me. And since this incident the Crew Manager and I have brewed several batches together along with a few other fire fighters from a different station.


I would try not to p*ss-off anyone, but I’d definitely not stop brewing either.

 

[samc]

You just need to learn how to deal with conflict.

Walk up to your neighbor, shake his hand, be polite, offer him a beer and talk it all out.

The hand shake usually throws people off their game, works well as long as he isn't hold a gun in that hand.

Being 60ish has nothing to do with anything here. If you are a jerk at 30, you probably just get worse by 60.

Fire officials, Police, lawyers, none of that stuff is what you want to deal with. Keep your friends close and your enemies closer or something like that.

:rockin:

 

[TheMan]

Try this number, 867-5309

Well played, took me a minute

I wondered if anyone would catch it lol

 

[Bsquared]

But you need to look at the exemptions in section 308.1 "Exceptions: Fuel burning elemnets of approved appliances shall not be considered as open flame devices" CA Code of regulations title 19 division 1 section 3.25

So if you are brewing with an Approved appliance ie a turkey fryer, you should be in the clear as far as with the CA fire code, but if you are running a DIY rig with open flame you might be in violation?

 

[Gunrunner]

So if you are brewing with an Approved appliance ie a turkey fryer, you should be in the clear as far as with the CA fire code, but if you are running a DIY rig with open flame you might be in violation?

As the code reads that is correct.

 

[HopIowa]

Very interesting...but you guys are sweating a fire marshall? I live in Utah and every day when i brew, my neighbors give me the stink eye so bad i might as well be slitting the throats of kittens i stole from the burn unit at the local shriner's hospital. too bad for the hassle you are dealing with. Sucks, but...you could always move to Utah...

 

[EdWort]

Very interesting...but you guys are sweating a fire marshall? I live in Utah and every day when i brew, my neighbors give me the stink eye so bad i might as well be slitting the throats of kittens i stole from the burn unit at the local shriner's hospital. too bad for the hassle you are dealing with. Sucks, but...you could always move to Utah...

Ah, I remember those days, brewing in Happy Valley, Prozac, Utah.

This sign on my Kegerator in the garage would get me the stink eye real bad.

 

[dankev]

Sounds to me like it's time to brew up 5 gallons for the fire dept...

The fact that this guy blocks your driveway tells you the kind of person he is. If you can make sure nobody with power has an issue with you brewing, get his cars towed as often as you can.

Sorry your neighbor is such a selfish d-bag. I hope it doesn't affect your brewing.

 

[BeantownR6]

As the code reads that is correct.

i was wondering hot to interpret that, because it doesn't say what an approved appliance is. i have one of those burners that come on a stand, so that is not considered an open flame cooking device per section 308.1.4?

just got home, neighbor is not home, can't wait to talk to him about this

 

[ClaudiusB]

Sounds to me like it's time to brew up 5 gallons for the fire dept...

 

[Gunrunner]

There are specific codes for open flame cooking devices 308.1.4 that does state not to be used on balconies or within 10 feet of combustible construction (most areas stucco is not considered combustible). The only hope is that your AHJ has approved appliances such as a turkey fryer. I would still check with the AHJ on how they will interpret the code. I could ask ten firemen and get a few different answers. If you use term turkey fryer most will tell you 10 feet, but if you were to expain a burner for boiling water you could get a diferent result. Some AHJ will issue permits for exemptions and you could ask for one (they may want to inspect for safety reasons).

 

[Bsquared]

Look for some thing like this, I think my kb6 has a CL certification on it, but I could not pull it out holding a baby. This is on my BBQ.

 

[Blone]

im really pissed!

first a little background, i have a 2 keggle set up for 10 gallon batches i do out infront of my garage, which faces an alley comprised of apartment complexes, my building is a 4 apartment house, which is typical for the alley.

Sounds like the South Redondo area, near Beryl/190th?

Just Curious, I used to live in that area.

 

[r8rphan]

Where in redondo are you.. I lived right off of prospect and torrance for about 20 years...

Don't know if anyone has mentioned it, but switching to electric is an option...

As long as it's done to code.. your neighbor can't say jack...

Then you can start calling the health dept on him... Heck, get to know the fire Marshall, and then you guys can drink beer and hurl insults at him for entertainment... Maybe he'll eventually move and hotty Jenny will move in his stead.. (867-5309) LOL

 

[limulus]

Sorry to hear about the neighbor issue. As you have been informed, the code is the code and the landlord can't grant you permission. It sounds like you are being very careful and doing all your brewing in the driveway area and not on a deck like your neighbor's grill. If you can get to that 10ft area, you are probably OK. We own a condo on a lake in the mountains and I'm on the Board of Directors. Fire codes and charcoal/propane grills have been the subject of the last three Board meetings and the Homeowner's Meeting in September. Coincidentally, I have a Board meeting up there this Saturday. This time it's trespassers going onto our docks and drinking on some of our boats.

One thing you have to consider: It's not just your home. It's a multi-family complex and if one apartment burns, it usually means multiple or all units burn. Then there is insurance. Insurance companies can be real nasty over things like this. This includes you on a personal liability level and the insurance that the landlord or owner of the complex has. On the bright side, outdoor electric grilling and brewing is A-OK!

I'm 50 and I have a lot of experience with old bastards. Being nice to an old curmudgeon will probably get you nowhere. He has demonstrated that he does not give a damn. Also, if the alley you mentioned is a fire lane and that is being blocked by your neighbor, he is also in violation.

 

[12pack]

6 pages of replies to this.. not in the reading mood.. really just browsing before i write my own novella about my first off-the-books no-recipe brew...

SO.. not sure if anyone suggested this, but how about setting a couple bottles of your best brews outside his door, and let him go f**k himself?

 

[Grossy]

Unfortunately even if you win the battle of "when and where" you can brew, you will always have this guy as a neighbor. Your original problem of him being a hoarder, blocking your driveway, ect... are not going to go away.

Tell your landlord either he goes or you go.

Life is too short to deal with jerks. Move to a better place.

 

[jiggs_casey]

As far as him being 60 something and acting like an ass? Yep. Who knows, maybe he's lonely, maybe he's mentally 'not all there'.

Anyway, you mentioned he's a hoarder? Smell anything funky coming from that apartment? Rotting meat, feces? I'm sure the health department would want to know about something like that. If he truly is a hoarder, well, I'm sure there is a laundry list of fire code violations in there as well... Jus' sayin'...

 

[MonkeyWrench]

Tell your landlord either he goes or you go.

The unfortunate part is that in most places, renters have crazy rights and they can't just kick him out "cause he's a jerk". Up here, the eviction process is nearly impossible, even if they stop paying, let alone if they just park in the wrong place.

They could however, give the 24hr notice of inspection, go in and note each rental violation and attempt to enforce the rules in the renters agreement. Then when the violations are not corrected, start the eviction process.

If you give an ultimatum like that, you had better be prepared to either move or fold, cause it's unlikely that they will be able to get him out.

Guess it depends on the area. If her other units sit empty for long periods of time, she may dislike him, but if he pays the rent, she might just put up with his crap and take the gamble that you are not going to move out.