The Emergency/Fire Exits Series
Window Security Bars
A REAC Inspector is supposed to record a deficiency called “Security Bars Prevent Egress” if he or she judges that emergency exiting through a window is “severely limited or impossible because security bars are damaged or improperly constructed or installed.” reference Not only that. Even if the window security bars are properly constructed and installed, ... Read the article . . .
Fire Escape Ladders
A fire escape ladder that is blocked by resident or management storage, plants, or debris may be cited during a REAC inspection. How many stored items does it take for a REAC Inspector to record this deficiency? The definition says, “Stored items or other barriers restrict or block people from exiting.” reference Meaning, since there ... Read the article . . .
What are Blocked/Unusable Doors?
Page 312 of HUD’s Dictionary of Deficiency Definitions DCD Version 2.3 gives the following definition of the Blocked/Unusable deficiency: Deficiency: The exit cannot be used or exit is limited because a door or window is nailed shut, a lock is broken, panic hardware is chained, debris, storage, or other conditions. On page 31 of HUD’s ... Read the article . . .
Doors With Double Keyed Locks and Deadbolts
HUD specifies (I think)1 that the REAC Inspector is supposed to recorded an Emergency/Fire Exit Blocked/Unusable deficiency when double keyed locks or double keyed deadbolts are observed on the following doors: Common Area doors that are “on the exit point for a building that contains residential units” in a residential unit—the primary entry door in ... Read the article . . .
What are Blocked/Unusable Windows?
Windows which may be recorded as blocked or unusable by the REAC Inspector must be large enough and low enough for emergency exit (maybe1) and be obstructed and exist where no other unobstructed second doorway or other unobstructed window is available for emergency exit and be windows which are: on the 3rd floor or lower ... Read the article . . .
Where To Apply the Blocked/Unusable Deficiency
The following instructions are on page 31 of HUD’s REAC Compilation Bulletin: On the third or lower floors The “Blocked/Unusable” deficiency is applicable to blocked or unusable emergency/fire exits on these floor areas (e.g. room, unit or building) If designed, these floors must have a minimum of two independent unobstructed exits, one of which must ... Read the article . . .
Emergency/Fire Exits in Individual Units
The definition for the Emergency/Fire Exits deficiency is thus written, precisely: reference Emergency/Fire Exits (Health and Safety) All buildings must have acceptable fire exits that are also properly marked and operational. (This would include fire towers, stairway access doors, & external exits.). These can include operable windows on the lower floors with easy access to ... Read the article . . .
Do Emergency/Fire Exits Rules Apply To Common Area Doors?
This sentence is on Page 31 of HUD’s REAC Compilation Bulletin: On the third or lower floors The “Blocked/Unusable” deficiency is applicable to blocked or unusable emergency/fire exits on these floor areas (e.g. room, unit or building) [Thus written. The Compilation Bulletin is missing the period after the second parenthesis.] Should Common Area Doors Be ... Read the article . . .
