As the D.C. region experienced the hottest day of the year, residents are struggling to cope with the extreme heat, particularly those whose air conditioning systems are malfunctioning or have completely broken down.
On Monday, FOX 5 uncovered a troubling situation in an apartment complex in Anne Arundel County, where tenants have been enduring sweltering conditions with no air conditioning for over a week.
Interestingly, it was revealed that Anne Arundel County, along with other jurisdictions in the D.C. region, does not mandate air conditioning by building code, with the exception of Montgomery County in Maryland.
Don Curtian, the Director of Environmental Health for Anne Arundel County, acknowledged that the current regulations are becoming increasingly outdated.
Curtian stated, “When these codes were written, air conditioning was more of a luxury than a necessity. And think back not that long ago, you paid extra for a car that had air conditioning because they came standard without air conditioning. But those times have changed.”
He emphasized that legislative changes are necessary for officials to ensure access to functioning air conditioning for all residents.
“More people see air conditioning as a necessity than a luxury. But until the law changes, we can’t enforce what we think something should be. We have to enforce what the current code says. And our current code does not have a requirement on what cold air has to be and that you have to provide air conditioning. It just says you have to provide heat at 68 degrees,” Curtian remarked.
A closer examination reveals that older residential buildings tend to have wall units for air conditioning, while newer constructions often utilize central air systems.
Currently, only Montgomery County has a legal requirement for landlords to provide their tenants with air conditioning.
Tom Hucker, a former councilmember who was instrumental in the passage of this legislation, noted the critical need for such regulations.
Hucker recalled the situation in Silver Spring, where an older housing stock lacked adequate cooling, leading to several tenant deaths due to extreme heat conditions.
He stated, “I just think it should be common sense at this point and it’s as important to health and safety as requiring heat, which everybody requires.”
Hucker advocated for neighboring counties to consider implementing similar requirements in light of the extreme temperatures affecting the region.
“Our county, like every jurisdiction, has health and safety requirements for residential housing, including engineering codes, fire codes, smoke detectors, residential. And it’s had, of course, for decades, a requirement to provide heat, because people don’t just suffer, they can die if there’s no heat in their apartments. Air conditioning has really become a life-and-death issue the same way. So, it took a lot of work but I was glad all my council colleagues at the time supported the legislation and I think other jurisdictions ought to take it up,” Hucker added.
Curtian also pointed out the importance of considering a building’s location and structure when addressing air conditioning needs.
“It really has to do with where the property is located,” he explained. “If you’re on the water and you have a nice breeze blowing off the water, air conditioning may not be as much of a necessity. But if you’re in an apartment complex that is multi-stories, where air is not going to move a whole lot and you’re surrounded by concrete and asphalt, well then maybe air conditioning would be more of a necessity or would be beneficial to people. Especially if you have breathing ailments.”
In the meantime, residents of the struggling apartment building near Laurel racetrack in Anne Arundel County have been informed that the broken air conditioning system is being repaired today, bringing hope for a cooler evening ahead.
image source from：fox5dc
