Electrical Safety Hazard:

[didarul salam]

I am a trainee appraiser. I have recently appraised a property where there was an electrical light hanging on the kitchen ceiling. Lenders sent a condition as follows: “Appraiser to comment regarding the light hanging down in the kitchen I believe – comment if it is a safety issue”. Please see picture attached.
Please help.

 

[CANative]

Tell them it's a light hanging down from the kitchen.

 

[Laughing Heir]

I would wonder why they have an extension cord leading to a light alligator-clipped to the acoustical ceiling frame. Why isn't that hard-wired fixture in use; are there electrical issues, is it just a bad ballast ... I would question that too if I was an underwriter.

 

[CANative]

Did you notice that it doesn't have an ordinary light bulb? Looks like some sort of floodlight or perhaps a heat lamp or "grow" light....

 

[EDWARD BERRY]

Require Removal-

High Watt Age Bulb Not Recommended And Cord In Attic Not Good.

Cure Would Be To Replace -repair Existing Fixture.

After Closing They Most Likely Will Do What They Want.
Saftey Issue

 

[CANative]

We're appraisers... not the fire department. Appraisers describe, clients decide.

 

[Lobo Fan]

My guess is the the ballast failed in the fluorescent fixture leading to this Rube Goldberg remedy. Whether it is a safety hazard or not would depend on how the cord to the drop light is connected. It it is plugged in then it is not a hazard. If the cord is wing nutted to the open box above the fluorescent fixtrure then it may be a problem.

 

[Mike Kennedy]

"I am a trainee appraiser." or Certified as indicated by your professional status? What was under the heat lamp?

 

[Couch Potato]

What is the nature of the drop ceiling area? If it serves as the return for the HVAC, then the situation is definitely a fire hazard you need to identify. If it merely covers an even uglier ceiling, then it is likely not an issue.

 

[hastalavista]

I am a trainee appraiser. I have recently appraised a property where there was an electrical light hanging on the kitchen ceiling. Lenders sent a condition as follows: “Appraiser to comment regarding the light hanging down in the kitchen I believe – comment if it is a safety issue”. Please see picture attached.
Please help.

I'm presuming since you took a picture of it to include in your report, you thought it was noteworthy. So does the underwriter. Now (and I think appropriately- even though I agree with Greg that we aren't junior-firefighters) the underwriter requires an appraiser to comment on the safety of such a configuration. As I see it, you have several choice:
A. The configuration does not appear to be a safety hazard.
B. The configuration reasonably appears to be a potential safety hazard- recommendation is to correct (by removal or installation of permanent lighting source) or obtain an inspection by a qualified inspector to determine if the configuration is safe or not.
C. I am not qualified to form an opinion as to the safety of the electrical configuration: Therefore, unless removed, I recommend an inspection by a qualified inspector.

What other choice is there at this stage? :new_smile-l: