Risk Management: Dryer Vent Safety - by Trish Kaplan, Administrator
ture, however, the blaze caused an esti- mated $40,000 damage. Multiple family complexes are at greater risk for a disas- ter if a fire erupts on the property. Dryer vent installation, cleaning, repair or inspections by professionals are rec- ommended. Over time, lint and debris accumulate in dryer vents and causes clogs that can lead to a number of dryer vent problems including decreased effi- ciency. Some dryers emit carbon monox- ide during regular operations; mould and mildew can thrive in warm damp condi- tions that can develop in clogged vent and heat and moisture will back up in the vent line, dryer and laundry area creating the ideal environment for mould and mildew growth. There are recommendations that those who live in a condominiums or apart- ments should take every preventative step to have dryer vents cleaned at least once a year as preventative measure to protect family and other members of the community from fire and to reduce po- tential health risks. A leading cause of dryer fires in homes is the lack of dryer maintenance. There are other sources of blockage that you might not even think about – animal nests, stray socks or other items and materials could clog your dryer vent. Some condominium boards have created a rule related to dryer vent cleaning as part of a fire prevention program on the property, where dryer exhaust vents
We are all having to deal with so much as it relates to COVID-19; but we also have our regular duties to attend to. Insurance rates continue to rise and we must make every effort to mitigate every item that poses risk to keep our proper- ties safe, including by the maintenance we carry out. Clogged dryer vents are considered to be the leading cause of dryer fires with dryer lint being the source of ignition. Accord- ing to the Fire Marshal’s office, improp- erly maintained household dryers are the cause of one in every three dryer fires in Ontario. From the Ministry of the Solicitor Gen- eral, by Michael Ng, P. Eng, OFM Fire Protection Engineer on the Safe Use of Household Clothes Dryers:
Trish Kaplan , CCI (Hon’s) is a former direc- tor, retired condominium manager and currently serves as the part-time Administrator of CCI.
In 2011, clothes dryers were respon- sible for 168 of the 6,213 (or 3% of) residential fires that occurred in On- tario. Fortunately, this number has been steadily declining over the past 15 years. While the number of incidents has decreased, a consistent theme per- sists. The lack of dryer maintenance continues to be a leading cause.
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In early January 2020, following a town- house fire which was attributed to the dryer vent system, fire officials reminded Londoners to clean their dryer vents. Thankfully, no one was hurt in the fire. Residents and pets had exited the struc-
must be cleaned by a pro- fessional company, orga- nized for the owners without exception, paid for in accordance to the declaration (often owner responsibility) and where the occurrence of it is defined. This program will protect residents and the property from a fire.
2019/2020 - 4 — 19
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