6) House Resale Inspection
(East Station: 978-887-5725)
Boxford Fire Prevention Unit is responsible for inspecting all houses before they sell
IMPORTANT NOTES DURING COVID:
Fire Prevention will do our best to reduce the amount of time spent at the residence by giving verbal direction via phone or email prior to doing the inspection. During the onsite inspection process, Firefighters will wear a mask throughout the inspection if requested. It is also expected that if any parties onsite in the home have been exposed or have covid during the time of inspection that they wear an N95 mask or leave the home during the inspection.
Thank you for support in keeping everyone safe!
Our Certificate expires after 60 days so plan accordingly. Also try to book your inspection at least 2-3 weeks in advance of your closing to avoid hardship. Remember 911 calls are our number 1 priority so give yourself plenty of time to insure you get your certificate before your closing date. Listed below is helpful information, however feel free to contact us if you need assistance.
Fee's and Scheduling
Click the following link. Click Fire Department and choose 261/2 Certificate (Resale). There you can request and pay for a resale certificate.
https://epay.cityhallsystems.com/?key=boxford.ma.us
Inspection Option
- Final Inspection: We will come out to your house and test your system. Remember there is a $25.00 re-inspection fee for all failed inspections!
- Walkthrough: A walkthrough inspection is FREE! Fire Prevention will come to your property to see what you have; and determine what you need to add or fix to insure you pass the Final Inspection and receive your certificate. The difference between the Walkthrough and Final Inspection is that we do not test all units.
What We Look For
House Number: A house number must be on your mailbox AND house. Mailbox numbers can be stickers but the house number must be fixed and permanent. The house number must also be 3-5 inches (about the size of an adult hand) and an off-setting color to the house. (no white numbers on a white house).
Smoke Detectors Must Be Located In the Following Manner
- Units must be placed at the bottom of every stairway (not in the stairwell).
- 10 Feet to any bedroom.
- Inside a bedroom (if house was built or remodeled after 1997)
- For every 1200 square feet you must have a second detector.
- Smoke Detectors must be located on the ceiling unless you receive permission from us.
- Smoke Detector & Carbon Monoxide Detector Guideline For Resale Inspections
- MA Law: Ch. 148 Section 26F and CH. 148 Section 261/2
Carbon Monoxide Detectors Must Be Located In the Following Manner
- One unit for each level of the house (excluding unfinished attics and garages)
- 10 Feet to any bedroom.
- Units should be mounted to wall or ceiling.
Additional Guidelines
- Homes equipped with a low voltage alarm (requires an alarm panel) must have an alarm tech test the system and provide fire prevention with an NFPA 72 form stating compliance. Fire prevention will still do a walkthrough prior to check locations of the units. https://www.nfpa.org/assets/files/AboutTheCodes/72/99InspecTestForm.pdf
The age of your house determines what type of Smoke Detectors or Carbon Monoxide Detectors allowed. Please read the following;
- Pre-1975: Battery operated smoke detectors MUST be 10yr sealed lithium batteries (if current smoke detectors are expired). Alarms can be stand alone photoelectric or photoelectric and ion but again they must be 10 yr sealed lithium batteries(if current smoke detectors are expired). Combination Smoke and Carbon Monoxide detectors must be VOICE notification. Standalone Carbon Monoxide Detectors must have a battery back up. They can be AC plug in or battery only.
- 1975-1997: Smoke Detectors must be hard wired/interconnected. This means that when one detectors activates all other detectors must activate. The only exception to this is when the detectors are connected to a centralized horn. The horn must be loud enough that all areas of the house can hear it. Combination Smoke and Carbon Monoxide detectors must be VOICE notification. Standalone Carbon Monoxide Detectors must have a battery back up. They can be AC plug in or battery only.
- 1997-2007: Same as above except, Smoke Detectors must have a battery backup.
- 2008-2011: Same as above except, Carbon Monoxide Detectors must be hardwired and attached Garages must have Heat Detectors.
- 2011-Present: Same as above except, all Smoke Detectors must be Photoelectric.
*Any house that has been substantially remodeled or added a bedroom shall now meet the current code based upon when the alterations occurred. Call for clarification because not all remodels require changes to the Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detectors.