Massachusetts (MA) Condo Regulation

40 Unit Building Near Boston, MA.

What things do we need to do like have the elevator inspected, boiler room, and Fire Extinguishers? Are their other things we need to do? Any thoughts appreciated!

Don't forget insects! Who is responsible for bug/rodent control? Individual owners or the HOA? Something should decide if these protections are to be handled as a group or as individual responsibility.

How do you go from what the OP asked to insects?

David:

Google elevators, MA:

All elevators, except those in single family owner-occupied homes, must pass both an inspection and a practical test at least once a year. Elevators in single family owner-occupied homes must be inspected only every five years. An inspection is also required upon completion of any installation or alteration of an elevator. Elevators that have been determined to be safe are indicated as such with a posted certificate. It is the owner's obligation to ensure that their elevators have been inspected. Applications for inspections can be obtained via the link below

Thank you everyone for your responses. I greatly appreciate the community and support. Let me add some detail.
In preparation for this role I read all the documents available at the registry of deeds including the master deed and document establishing the trust. I also read 183A which is the law governing condo associations in MA.

Specifically about insects. Under the governing documents I believe the unit owner is responsible for within the unit and the association outside the unit, but we take insects very seriously and usually pay for it out of common funds. Boston has had bed bug issues and if their is any lag in dealing with insects it can quickly become a wide scale issue.

The reserve study is a great idea and something we should do in the near term. In addition I was reading about the insurance and it seems like we should have someone estimate the cost to replace the building so that we can have the correct number on our insurance.

The building is about 40 years old. I have been through the building and can't find a maintenance manual. We have a contractor that preforms maintenance on the boiler whenever their is an issue. You are probably right that I can get the manual from the company. We do not have a building engineer. We have company that comes to do the inspection on the elevator and the roof was recently replaced.

I understand that the fire department can tell me specifically about the fire extinguishers and the elevator company knows the regulation around the elevator, but I feel like their is a whole set of questions I haven't even thought to ask. For Example to Douglask1's point I had the building needed a general inspection every three years.

My first concern is to identify a list of things that need to be done to be up to code and then to do things like a reserve study. I am trying to identify the questions that need to be asked and the appropriate source to answer them.

Thanks!

Seems like the local regulators are the consensus. It anyone found any really good books, please let me know. Thanks. David

Among the regular posters here, I'm the only one who has a high rise HOA. I imagine you can go online an look for books about high rise apartment or residential maintenance.

To Melissa's point, we just renewed our building insurance policy, which costs about $85,000/ann. with a $10K deductible. But we're two 25 story high rises with 200+ residential units and several street-level commercial suits. We have three levels of underground parking. Our insurance includes D&O (directors & officers) coverage.

Your CC&Rs will tell you what your HOA needs to cover.

I'm curious a why you won't tell us what your role is, David? On the Board? Property Mgr., perhaps? Or just an interested Owner?