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Fire chief urges Beecher to tighten local code after Romex wiring found in new Lennar homes
Summary
Fire Chief Falaschetti told the Village Board that some building materials and the use of Romex wiring in Hunter's Chase homes may pose hazards to firefighters; the board directed Administrator Charity Mitchell to coordinate with Lennar Homes and SAFEbuilt to resolve code compliance and agreed to retain a local conduit requirement in upcoming code updates.
Fire Chief Falaschetti told the Village of Beecher Board of Trustees on Sept. 8 that photographs from Lennar Homes construction in the Hunter's Chase subdivision show building materials that may present hazards to firefighting personnel and that the Fire Protection District favors stricter local standards.
Falaschetti also reported that Romex electrical wiring had been installed in a model home and in three other homes awaiting inspection, even though Village Code requires conduit. The SAFEbuilt inspector passed the model home inspection with Romex, the minutes say. Falaschetti asked the village to review materials and installation practices to protect firefighters during interior operations.
The board discussed options including requiring Lennar Homes to replace Romex wiring in started homes and installing conduit in future houses. President Meyer and trustees noted the model home is complete and drywalled, three homes are under construction, and 43 homes are planned in the subdivision. The minutes record no formal vote on requiring Lennar to pay remediation costs; instead, Administrator Charity Mitchell was directed to contact Lennar Homes and SAFEbuilt to seek a resolution and determine corrective action.
Board discussion also addressed a broader building-code update. While the National Electric Code permits Romex, the Board reached consensus to continue requiring conduit as a local amendment when it finalizes updates to adopt the 2021 Building Code. SAFEbuilt is scheduled to meet with village staff Sept. 11 to finish code revisions; any finalized local amendments will return to the Board for formal approval.
The Board's actions were recorded as direction to staff rather than a formal ordinance or motion imposing remediation costs. The minutes state the Village will pursue coordination with the developer and inspection company to determine next steps.
