InspectAPedia®   -   Search InspectApedia

Hazardous crawl space entry locked and labeled (C) Daniel Friedman InspectApedia.comCrawl Space Safety
Checklist of Unsafe Crawl Space Conditions

This article lists potentially dangerous or unhealthy conditions that should be evaluated by an inspector or worker who is expected to enter, inspect, or work in a crawl space anywhere in a building.

The crawl space shown in our page top photo, located on the Vassar College campus (Poughkeepsie NY) is locked and carries two CRAWL SPACE WARNING LABELS [image file] warning of asbestos hazard, protective gear rquired, and thus, crawl space access restrictions.

At a property inspection, the decision to enter or not a crawl space or any other area that the inspector may believe is unsafe or inaccessibble is made by the inspector on the scene, not by anyone else.

InspectAPedia tolerates no conflicts of interest. We have no relationship with advertisers, products, or services discussed at this website.

Crawl Space Safety for Home Inspectors

Wet crawl space unsafe to enter © Daniel Friedman at InspectApedia.comIs the crawl space safely accessible, or accessible at all?

A number of conditions besides the old saw "accessibility" or size of the crawl space opening should be considered carefully by the home inspector, electrical inspector, or anyone who is deciding if it is safe to enter an crawl area anywhere in a building.

[Click to enlarge any image]

This article provides a list of some safety and health considerations that the building or home inspector or anyone else should evaluate before deciding to enter a crawl space.

Separately at CRAWL SPACE ACCESS we describe codes & standards for accessing building crawl spaces and we describe methods used to enter or inspect crawl areas that are not accessible by normal means of an available hatch or opening or that lack adequate safe space for entry.

If the crawl space has areas of puddles or standing water or even if the soil surface is simply wet there is risk of electrical shock (if wiring or electrical devices are present).

There may also be a chemical contamination risk, especially in older buildings where pesticides may have been applied in the crawl area.

Sewage backup under a home

An iffy crawl space © Daniel Friedman at InspectApedia.com


Asbestos in crawl area © Daniel Friedman at InspectApedia.com

Mold on framing in a crawl space © Daniel Friedman at InspectApedia.com


Entry to a tight crawl space © Daniel Friedman at InspectApedia.com

Collapsing structure in a crawl space © Daniel Friedman at InspectApedia.com

Examples of Crawl Space Safety Gear for Entering Crawl Spaces & Mold Contaminated Areas

Examples of protective clothing and gear for crawl space entry © Daniel Friedman at InspectApedia.comThese crawl space safety suggestions are not an exhaustive inventory of all safety procedures nor gear should be used when entering a crawl space. Additional protective equipment and even accompaniment, breathing apparatus, and rescue gear may be required according to building structure, safety, and other conditions.

Soft hat for head protection in tight spaces © Daniel Friedman at InspectApedia.com Hard Hat for crawl spaces © Daniel Friedman at InspectApedia.com

Readers whose crawl space or basement have been flooded should also

see FLOODS IN BUILDINGS-priorities.


...

Continue reading at CRAWL SPACE ACCESS or select a topic from the closely-related articles below, or see the complete ARTICLE INDEX.

Or see CRAWL SPACE SAFETY FAQs - questions & answers posted originally on this page

Recommended Articles

Suggested citation for this web page

CRAWL SPACE SAFETY ADVICE at InspectApedia.com - online encyclopedia of building & environmental inspection, testing, diagnosis, repair, & problem prevention advice.


Or see this

INDEX to RELATED ARTICLES: ARTICLE INDEX to CRAWL SPACES

Or use the SEARCH BOX found below to Ask a Question or Search InspectApedia

Ask a Question or Search InspectApedia

Try the search box just below, or if you prefer, post a question or comment in the Comments box below and we will respond promptly.

Search the InspectApedia website

Note: appearance of your Comment below may be delayed: if your comment contains an image, photograph, web link, or text that looks to the software as if it might be a web link, your posting will appear after it has been approved by a moderator. Apologies for the delay.

Only one image can be added per comment but you can post as many comments, and therefore images, as you like.
You will not receive a notification
when a response to your question has been posted.
Please bookmark this page to make it easy for you to check back for our response.
Our Comment Box is provided by Countable Web Productions countable.ca

Comment Form is loading comments...

Citations & References

In addition to any citations in the article above, a full list is available on request.



ADVERTISEMENT