The NSPIRE standards include a category of severe health and safety (SHS) deficiencies. Life-threatening (LT) conditions are included within the SHS category. HUD is seeking feedback on its proposed list of LT conditions and on its draft definition of the phrase “life-threatening.”
June 17, 2022: HUD published in the Federal Register the proposed National Standards for the Physical Inspection of Real Estate (NSPIRE) for public comment. Comments on the Federal Register notice and standards are due by August 1, 2022. Comments should be sent electronically through www.regulations.gov as directed in the notice.
The LT category includes deficiencies (hazards) that present a direct threat to life or well-being, i.e., that are likely to cause severe injury or reduction in physical or mental ability. This includes cases in which the harm has a likelihood of accruing irrevocably in under 24 hours. These deficiencies include certain toxins, electrical hazards, fire hazards, significant fall hazards, and absence of common life-safety devices designed to alert residents of such hazards or to directly protect against LT hazards such as fire or natural disasters.
Proposed List of Life-Threatening (LT) Deficiencies Based on the NSPIRE Standards
Last updated: 4/02/2021
UNIT
- Call-for-Aid System, System does not function properly
- Carbon Monoxide Alarm, Carbon monoxide detector is missing, not installed, or not installed in a proper location
- Carbon Monoxide Alarm, Carbon monoxide detector is obstructed
- Carbon Monoxide Alarm, Carbon monoxide detector does not produce audio or visual alarm when tested
- Chimney, A visually accessible chimney, flue, or firebox connected to a fireplace or wood-burning appliance is incomplete or damaged such that it may not safely contain fire and convey smoke and combustion gases to the exterior
- Clothes Dryer Exhaust Ventilation, Electric dryer transition duct is detached or missing
- Clothes Dryer Exhaust Ventilation, Gas dryer transition duct is detached or missing
- Clothes Dryer Exhaust Ventilation, Electric dryer exhaust ventilation system has restricted airflow
- Clothes Dryer Exhaust Ventilation, Dryer transition duct is constructed of unsuitable material
- Clothes Dryer Exhaust Ventilation, Gas dryer exhaust ventilation system has restricted airflow
- Egress, Obstructed egress on a building 4 stories or more
- Egress, Obstructed egress on a building 3 stories or less
- Electrical - Conductor, Exposed electrical conductor
- Electrical - Outlet and Switch, Outlet or switch is damaged
- Electrical - Service Panel, The overcurrent protection device is damaged
- Fire Extinguisher, Fire extinguisher pressure gauge reads over or under-charged
- Fire Extinguisher, Fire extinguisher service tag is missing, illegible, or expired
- Fire Extinguisher, Fire extinguisher is missing
- Flammable and Combustible Items, Improperly stored flammable or combustible item on or near an ignition source
- Foundation, Foundation appears to be in imminent danger of collapse or failure
- Guardrail, Guardrail is missing or not installed
- Guardrail, Guardrail is not functionally adequate
- Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC), Outside temperature is below 68 degrees Fahrenheit and the resident is unable to maintain a minimum temperature of 68 degrees Fahrenheit through a safe heating source
- Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC), Heating system or device fueled by combustion has a misaligned, disconnected, improperly connected, damaged, blocked, or missing exhaust vent
- Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC), Combustion chamber cover or gas shutoff valve is missing from a combustion-fueled heating appliance
- Leak, Natural gas, propane, or oil leak
- Smoke Alarm, Smoke alarm is not installed where required
- Smoke Alarm, Smoke alarm does not produce an audio or visual alarm when tested
- Sprinkler Assembly, Sprinkler head assembly is obstructed by an item, object, or encasement within 18 inches of the sprinkler head
- Sprinkler Assembly, Paint or foreign material on the sprinkler head assembly
- Sprinkler Assembly, Sprinkler head escutcheon is missing
- Sprinkler Assembly, Concealed sprinkler cover plate assembly is missing
- Structural System, Structural system exhibits signs of serious failure
- Toilet, Only 1 toilet was installed, and it is missing
- Toilet, Only 1 toilet was installed, and it is damaged or inoperable
- Water Heater, Chimney or flue piping is blocked, misaligned, or missing
- Water Heater, Gas shutoff valve is damaged, missing, or not installed
INSIDE
- Call-for-Aid System, System does not function properly
- Carbon Monoxide Alarm, Carbon monoxide detector is missing, not installed, or not installed in a proper location
- Carbon Monoxide Alarm, Carbon monoxide detector is obstructed
- Carbon Monoxide Alarm, Carbon monoxide detector does not produce audio or visual alarm when tested
- Chimney, A visually accessible chimney, flue, or firebox connected to a fireplace or wood-burning appliance is incomplete or damaged such that it may not safely contain fire and convey smoke and combustion gases to the exterior
- Clothes Dryer Exhaust Ventilation, Electric dryer transition duct is detached or missing
- Clothes Dryer Exhaust Ventilation, Gas dryer transition duct is detached or missing
- Clothes Dryer Exhaust Ventilation, Electric dryer exhaust ventilation system has restricted airflow
- Clothes Dryer Exhaust Ventilation, Dryer transition duct is constructed of unsuitable material
- Clothes Dryer Exhaust Ventilation, Gas dryer exhaust ventilation system has restricted airflow
- Egress, Obstructed egress on a building 4 stories or more
- Egress, Obstructed egress on a building 3 stories or less
- Electrical - Conductor, Exposed electrical conductor
- Electrical - Outlet and Switch, Outlet or switch is damaged
- Electrical - Service Panel, The overcurrent protection device is damaged
- Exit Sign, Exit sign that clearly identifies the emergency exit is missing or obstructed
- Fire Extinguisher, Fire extinguisher pressure gauge reads over or under-charged
- Fire Extinguisher, Fire extinguisher service tag is missing, illegible, or expired
- Fire Extinguisher, Fire extinguisher is missing
- Flammable and Combustible Items, Improperly stored flammable or combustible item on or near an ignition source
- Foundation, Foundation appears to be in imminent danger of collapse or failure
- Guardrail, Guardrail is missing or not installed
- Guardrail, Guardrail is not functionally adequate
- Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC), Heating system or device fueled by combustion has a misaligned, disconnected, improperly connected, damaged, blocked, or missing
- Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC), Combustion chamber cover or gas shutoff valve is missing from a combustion-fueled heating appliance
- Leak, Natural gas, propane, or oil leak
- Smoke Alarm, Smoke alarm is not installed where required
- Smoke Alarm, Smoke alarm does not produce an audio or visual alarm when tested
- Sprinkler Assembly, Sprinkler head assembly is obstructed by an item, object, or encasement within 18 inches of the sprinkler head
- Sprinkler Assembly, Paint or foreign material on the sprinkler head assembly
- Sprinkler Assembly, Sprinkler head escutcheon is missing
- Sprinkler Assembly, Concealed sprinkler cover plate assembly is missing
- Structural System, Structural system exhibits signs of serious failure
- Water Heater, Chimney or flue piping is blocked, misaligned, or missing
- Water Heater, Gas shutoff valve is damaged, missing, or not installed
OUTSIDE
- Chimney, A visually accessible chimney, flue, or firebox connected to a fireplace or wood-burning appliance is incomplete or damaged such that it may not safely contain fire and convey smoke and combustion gases to the exterior
- Chimney, Chimney exhibits signs of structural failure
- Clothes Dryer Exhaust Ventilation, Electric dryer exhaust ventilation system has restricted airflow
- Clothes Dryer Exhaust Ventilation, Gas dryer exhaust ventilation system has restricted airflow
- Electrical - Conductor, Exposed electrical conductor
- Electrical - Outlet and Switch, Outlet or switch is damaged
- Electrical - Service Panel, The overcurrent protection device is damaged
- Exit Sign, Exit sign that clearly identifies the emergency exit is missing or obstructed
- Fire Escape, Fire escape component is damaged or missing
- Fire Extinguisher, Fire extinguisher pressure gauge reads over or under-charged
- Fire Extinguisher, Fire extinguisher service tag is missing, illegible, or expired
- Fire Extinguisher, Fire extinguisher is missing
- Flammable and Combustible Items, Improperly stored flammable or combustible item on or near an ignition source
- Foundation, Foundation appears to be in imminent danger of collapse or failure
- Guardrail, Guardrail is missing or not installed
- Guardrail, Guardrail is not functionally adequate
- Leak, Natural gas, propane, or oil leak
- Sprinkler Assembly, Sprinkler head assembly is obstructed by an item, object, or encasement within 18 inches of the sprinkler head
- Sprinkler Assembly, Paint or foreign material on the sprinkler head assembly
- Sprinkler Assembly, Sprinkler head escutcheon is missing
- Sprinkler Assembly, Concealed sprinkler cover plate assembly is missing
- Structural System, Structural system exhibits signs of serious failure
- Water Heater, Gas shutoff valve is damaged, missing, or not installed
Related Links
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