Measuring Temperature in Heat Violation Cases
It’s that time of year when tenants are shivering in apartments because the heat does not reach the temperature required by the code. When an inspector has such a case, It’s important to correctly measure the temperature so that the case stands up in court. If you are using the 2009 International Property Maintenance code, you must follow Section 602.5 which states that
“The required room temperatures shall be measured 3 feet (914 mm) above the floor near the center of the room and 2 feet (610 mm) inward from the center of each exterior wall.”
Because of the word “shall”, it is mandatory and temperatures not taken this way may be inadmissible as evidence. A landlord in Brownsville, PA is facing fines of $200 to $1000 per day because of a lack of heat in an apartment building. That will usually encourage compliance but for the tenants who have to wait for the repairs to be completed, it’s never soon enough.
