Big Red X Marks the ...

[star-stryder.livejournal.com]

I've noticed several buildings lately with a Big Red X on them (VFW on Broadway, boarded up house on Belmont near Somerville Ave, and a couple others I can't remember around Davis Sq.). What do these mean? My WAG is it's a symbol that these buildings are marked for demolition, but that's just a WAG. Anyone know for certain?

Comments

[snarkyman.livejournal.com]

My wife and I always joked that it means "aim wrecking ball here". However, I've later seen some buildings with these signs renovated.

If anyone really knows what the signs mean, I'd like to know as well.

[ron_newman]

I think it means "This building is unoccupied and condemned. Don't take any risks to look for people inside it if it catches on fire."

[chenoameg.livejournal.com]

I always assumed that sign meant a condemned building.

[kpht.livejournal.com]

yeah that's what i figured too. it's a state thing, i see 'em up here in lawrence, lowell, methuen, lynn, etc.

[ron_newman]

Probably a lot more in Lawrence and Lynn than anywhere else.

[spatch]

It means "404 Residents Not Found"

[larksdream]

*LOL*

[talonvaki.livejournal.com]

LOL I was going to say the "img src" tag on the building was broken...

[autumnsshadow.livejournal.com]

I'm pretty sure that indicates the building has been condemned.

[ah42.livejournal.com]

Sweet. Anyone up for a little UE in Davis?

[ron_newman]

me me me

for fire fighters...

[julishka.livejournal.com]

it means that the interior is extremely unsafe:
/This symbol shall mean that interior hazard exists to such a degree that interior operations shall be conducted with extreme caution.

X This symbol shall mean that severe structural deficiencies or severe interior deficiencies exist to such a degree that operations shall be from the outside except for when a life hazard exists. (http://www.mass.gov/?pageID=eopsterminal&&L=8&L0=Home&L1=Public+Safety+Agencies&L2=Massachusetts+Department+of+Fire+Services&L3=Department+of+Fire+Services&L4=Office+of+the+State+Fire+Marshal&L5=Fire+Prevention&L6=Office+of+the+State+Fire+Marshal+Advisories&L7=2000+Advisories&sid=Eeops&b=terminalcontent&f=dfs_osfm_fire_prevention_adv_av_abandoned&csid=Eeops)

(note that both bolded items above are enclosed in boxes. see link & scroll down page.)

Re: for fire fighters...

[ron_newman]

Thanks. I wonder if these regulations were adopted in response to the Worcester Cold Storage tragedy the year before. Six firefighters lost their lives in that one.

Re: for fire fighters...

[julishka.livejournal.com]

i think they were in use prior, however i'm pretty positive the above link was a result of the worcester tragedy - to make sure abandoned buildings are clearly marked unsafe as necessary to prevent that tragedy from happening again, as well as making said markings universal.

of course in the worcester case they thought there were people inside and so went in. the symbols wouldn't have prevented their deaths, i'm guessing. (and as we know afterthefact, the homeless people who let the fire start had already left the building.)

Re: for fire fighters...

[docorion.livejournal.com]

Those markings have been in use at least since the 90's, when I was a resident in Emergency Medicine. One of the requirements for that residency is a month of riding with ambulances; we went into buildings with those markings routinely, and they were routinely horrible. Taught one a lesson about poverty one wouldn't soon forget.