Landlord Fined for Boiler Room Violations of Fire Safety Rules

The Fire Department issued violation notices to landlord for failing to label a boiler emergency switch to read, “Remove Control For Oil Burner”; failure to maintain the boiler room free of combustible materials such as clothes, paper, construction materials and debris; and failure to provide a fire-rated self-closing door for the basement boiler room. Landlord claimed that the only item in the boiler room was a metal bed frame, which he removed immediately after getting the violation. He also posted the missing sign. Landlord had ordered but not yet installed the required door at the time of the hearing. The ALJ fined landlord $1,575. Landlord appealed and lost. Although he had cured or was curing the violations, landlord was still responsible, and the reduced penalty he received was proper.

Bastien: ECB App. No. 1500870 (10/29/15) [3-pg. doc.]