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KerryL1 (California)
Posts: 14,550
Posted:
The Board has given me, a recently retired long-time active director, an assignment to slim down our Rules and Regulations’ needless prose. Boards, over the 22 year since our 200+-Unit high rise condos opened have, of course, added a number of Rules and eliminated a few. But the Schedule of Fines also is out of date.

A new director, who’s owned here two years, is a retired Fire Dept. Captain and is rightfully concerned about the few residents who now have E-bikes. So he wants to add the below to the Rules:

Follow proper manufacturer recommendations and guideline when charging E-bike or other lithium-ion batteries in your residential units.
Ensure batteries are in good condition with no signs of damage.
Ensure batteries are bear a national testing laboratory approval label, such Underwriters Laboratories (UL)
Follow manufacturer’s instructions for charging and storage.
Ensure charging is done in an area free of combustible materials and where batteries will not be subject to overheating due to limited airflow.
Always use the manufacturers cord
Always use power adapter made specifically for the device.
Do not charge or store in direct sunlight.
Store batteries away from anything flammable
Do not leave batteries on the charger once they are fully charged to avoid overheating.

I think these all are important, but don’t think they belong in the Rules. Yet, these bikes are stored in a common area Bike Room in the underground garage. OR in condos attached to other condos.

How can the HOA enforce all of the tasks needed to assure safety? How are fines set for non-compliance? Everything else in the Rules is tied to fines for non-compliance or to curing the violations. Everything else applies to lotsa residents, not just a handful, e.g., pool rules, gym rules, noise rules.

Condo Owners already are advised to make sure our plumbing valves work to help prevent water leaks, to keep our fire alarms charged, to have our dryer ducts and personal HVAC systems serviced to avoid water leaks, to to hang anything from our ceiling sprinklers. But none are Rules.

I’m thinking the Board might make it a policy that’s filed with other info-type topics on our website Home page. The PM can give it to new residents who ask how to store their E-bikes IF you all think it should be in the 15 page book of Rules, perhaps it’d be OK in an appendix?? I’ll appreciate your help thinking about this.
SheliaH (Indiana)
Posts: 6,964
Posted:
Those are sensible tips, but I agree with you that someone would have to be willing to take the time to enforce all of this. I’d make that point to the director and then challenge HIM to come up with a cost-effective and time-efficient way to do all this and then the board can consider it. In the meantime, he could write an article for the community website or newsletter, with an explanation as to why this is important (starting with reducing the risk of personal injury or fire damage). He could even find someone who might design some sort of poster that could go in the Bike room with these tips.

If it is not right do not do it; if it is not true do not say it. Marcus Aurelius
MichaelT21 (Arkansas)
Posts: 200
Posted:
Kerry,

I don't live in a multifamily housing complex so I can't really say for sure, but I agree with you that the proposed rules are really just tips and not something the HOA can enforce. I think a blanket rule of "residents are responsible for fires started by lithium ion batteries and it is recommended to follow US Consumer Safety Protection Agency guidelines when owning products containing lithium ion batteries" would be better.
MelissaP1 (Alabama)
Posts: 13,836
Posted:
I would not put them in the "Rules" as it's more of an insurance claim situation. One of these goes up in flames and does damage, they will investigate if the manufacturer advice was followed by the individual or HOA.

Instead I would put this up as a giant sign at the station. Just like you put up a sign at the Pool about the "rules" of the pool. Take a picture of it so can show it to insurance company that "hey we put up proper use" notice. That way it may help put the blame back on the user and not the HOA for having it publicly visible. They would not be if you put them in the bylaws or CC&R's.

Former HOA President
WendyM5 (North Carolina)
Posts: 1,522
Posted:
Install metal lockers in the bike storage room with charging plugs.
Half those rules are not based on science.
Airflow doesn't have anything to do with lion batteries exploding.
Main thing is to keep them in metal so the fire can't spread.
WiFi fire ire alarm would be nice too

vis ta vie
CathyA3 (Ohio)
Posts: 6,299
Posted:
Have you talked to your insurance agent about this or researched local laws? It seems like these proposed rules are dealing with safety and liability - knowing what the insurer and local law has to say will help you draft appropriate rules. I agree with others that the rules may not be reasonably enforceable, but treating them as helpful guidelines may work.

It will probably take a few years for this stuff to shake out as the e-bikes become more popular. Unfortunately I suspect that it will take a number of serious accidents and injuries before laws and regulations catch up.

Anecdote: A nearby community has walking trails, including around a good-sized lake, that people can also ride bikes on. The trails twist and turn, go up and down hills, and are surrounded by enough vegetation to obstruct views. Bikes of any sort on these paths sound like a serious accident waiting to happen - two bikes colliding or a bike hitting a pedestrian, or somebody misses a turn and winds up in the lake. I've spotted a few e-bikes on the walking paths and on streets, and those bikes go FAST.
KerryL1 (California)
Posts: 14,550
Posted:
I'm seeing some really good helpful replies re: if the attached list from a board director & recently retired Fire Dept. Captain, should be in my HOA's Rules & Regs---we call it our Community Handbook, or someplace else. Keep 'em coming.

Meanwhile, CAI offers some good advice about what should and should not be in an HOA's rules & Regs. Might interest some readers & posters.

Do’s and Don’ts of Making Rules

Make rules that make sense.
Make rules that restrict as little as possible.

Make rules that are actually needed.
Make rules that are acceptable to residents.

Make rules that residents can easily obey.
Make rules that get the needed result.
Make rules that are enforceable.
Make rules that are legal.

Don’t make rules that try to regulate the personal lives of residents.

Don’t give in to political pressure.
Don’t go to extremes.
Don’t impose harsh consequences for small infractions.

Don’t make rules that create new problems.

From CAI’s (Community Association Institute) "Board Members Toolkit.”
KerryL1 (California)
Posts: 14,550
Posted:
A big poster in the garage P-level Bike Room where they'll be kept, as Shelia & Melissa suggests, makes a lot of sense.

I think we can stick a version of MichaeT's suggestion in the R & R info section about Bicycle Storage Rooms.

Re: Cathy & Melissa and insurance: Since I'm not on the Board, I'll suggest to the PM that they make sure our insurance for the common areas would cover E-bike caused-damage. Very likely the ex fire cap'n director has looked into into as he's almost tooooo safety conscious.

I believe one or more may be kept in condo Units due to a space shortage in our Bike Rooms. Wonder what coverage those residents' insurance companies offer. Our CC&Rs do require residents carry HO6 or HO3 insurance.

Based on such helpful responses, I'm going to recommend to the Board brief mentions in our Community Handbook (Rules & Regs). I'll also rec similarly in our Welcome Package, which has a lot of tips about items In Units to avoid mainly water damage, but this topic fits, too.

Pretty sure the Board will not approve spending Owners' dues on constructing a steel room and provide chargers for these E-bike folks.

(To Cathy's point: Yes, there've been several serious accidents in my city and all involved speed. They still can be ridden on the beachfront strands & walkways, but must be pedaled in most of those areas. In our downtown gated HOA, bikes may be ridden only from the 4 Bike Rooms to the gate access to the street at a max of 5 mph, as for cars. They're hugely popular among the locals in the city of Tel Aviv, oceanfront and downtown. Walkers must stay alert!)
JamesB37 (California)
Posts: 351
Posted:
https://news.yahoo.com/two-children-killed-fire-caused-165347720.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly9jaXRpemVuZnJlZXByZXNzLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAETtM8L1VUTNuV0SZZa2nnODOW96rN0Q-47OGmpK1r41OrFhpaoJayLCj9CBKVyGqD7bAvkZi3XdadyTtPgiX3C9vnnvGSJ0wHuY7vG9QZVsH3duJ-9TEIgOyJmlEEJ303vpPFxNsmpa2fabE12P0I8vhJFvLMTEiqS0yXT1WpQ7
MaxB4
Posts: 3,513
Posted:
Quote:
Posted By KerryL1 on 03/20/2023 2:52 PM
The Board has given me, a recently retired long-time active director, an assignment to slim down our Rules and Regulations’ needless prose. Boards, over the 22 year since our 200+-Unit high rise condos opened have, of course, added a number of Rules and eliminated a few. But the Schedule of Fines also is out of date.

A new director, who’s owned here two years, is a retired Fire Dept. Captain and is rightfully concerned about the few residents who now have E-bikes. So he wants to add the below to the Rules:

Follow proper manufacturer recommendations and guideline when charging E-bike or other lithium-ion batteries in your residential units.
Ensure batteries are in good condition with no signs of damage.
Ensure batteries are bear a national testing laboratory approval label, such Underwriters Laboratories (UL)
Follow manufacturer’s instructions for charging and storage.
Ensure charging is done in an area free of combustible materials and where batteries will not be subject to overheating due to limited airflow.
Always use the manufacturers cord
Always use power adapter made specifically for the device.
Do not charge or store in direct sunlight.
Store batteries away from anything flammable
Do not leave batteries on the charger once they are fully charged to avoid overheating.

I think these all are important, but don’t think they belong in the Rules. Yet, these bikes are stored in a common area Bike Room in the underground garage. OR in condos attached to other condos.

How can the HOA enforce all of the tasks needed to assure safety? How are fines set for non-compliance? Everything else in the Rules is tied to fines for non-compliance or to curing the violations. Everything else applies to lotsa residents, not just a handful, e.g., pool rules, gym rules, noise rules.

Condo Owners already are advised to make sure our plumbing valves work to help prevent water leaks, to keep our fire alarms charged, to have our dryer ducts and personal HVAC systems serviced to avoid water leaks, to to hang anything from our ceiling sprinklers. But none are Rules.

I’m thinking the Board might make it a policy that’s filed with other info-type topics on our website Home page. The PM can give it to new residents who ask how to store their E-bikes IF you all think it should be in the 15 page book of Rules, perhaps it’d be OK in an appendix?? I’ll appreciate your help thinking about this.

May I suggest a good spell-checker?

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