[MassHistPres] knob & tube wiring

Mon Nov 13 12:25:49 EST 2006

Below,, has been an accurate statement on the safety of Knob & tube for the
30+ years of my practice,, but it's when its been cobbled up by add on
circuits or over loading by larger fuses that typically cook the wire's
insulation especially near light fixtures.

So a house inspector or better yet an electrical inspector could verify
safety as built and give that report to your agent.

Tris Metcalfe
Northampton

> John Worden11/13/06 10:43 AMjworden at swwalaw.com

> Response for M. van Heynigen:
> 
> Insurance agent/companies are wrong - knob & tube wiring is not a particular
> fire hazard, and in fact may be less so since the hot & cold wires are
> usually separated by a structural member.
> 
> Suggest your agent look for a more enlightened /informed company, or that
> you switch agents.
> 
> J. Worden
> Arlington HDC
> 
> 
> **********
> 
> This transmittal is intended only for the use of the named recipient,
> and may contain information that is privileged, confidential,
> and/or exempt from disclosure.  If the reader of this transmittal is
> not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any
> dissemination, distribution, or copying of this communication is
> strictly prohibited.  If you have received this communication in
> error, please contact the sender by reply e-mail and destroy all
> copies of this message and any attachments.  Thank you.
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: <masshistpres-request at cs.umb.edu>
> To: <masshistpres at cs.umb.edu>
> Sent: Saturday, November 11, 2006 12:00 PM
> Subject: MassHistPres Digest, Vol 9, Issue 7
> 
> 
>> Send MassHistPres mailing list submissions to
>> masshistpres at cs.umb.edu
>> 
>> To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit
>> http://mailman.cs.umb.edu/mailman/listinfo/masshistpres
>> or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to
>> masshistpres-request at cs.umb.edu
>> 
>> You can reach the person managing the list at
>> masshistpres-owner at cs.umb.edu
>> 
>> When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific
>> than "Re: Contents of MassHistPres digest..."
>> 
>> 
>> Today's Topics:
>> 
>>   1. Insurance for Older Homes w/ Knob & Tube Wiring
>>      (Matthew Van Heynigen)
>>   2. Re: Insurance for Older Homes w/ Knob & Tube Wiring
>>      (slater at alum.rpi.edu)
>>   3. Re: Insurance for Older Homes w/ Knob & Tube Wiring (C. Marshall)
>> 
>> 
>> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>> 
>> Message: 1
>> Date: Fri, 10 Nov 2006 12:18:23 -0500
>> From: "Matthew Van Heynigen" <mvanheynigen at wsc.ma.edu>
>> Subject: [MassHistPres] Insurance for Older Homes w/ Knob & Tube
>> Wiring
>> To: <masshistpres at cs.umb.edu>
>> Message-ID:
>> <7C4BEA0272D60A4FBF3F1DFE2597F0C80466F3 at beex2.ads.wsc.ma.edu>
>> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"
>> 
>> Greetings,
>> 
>> My wife & I are in the process of obtaining homeowner's insurance for a
>> home we've purchased that was built in 1900, and which still has some
>> knob & tube wiring in the attic & the basement.  In making an initial
>> call to an insurance broker about getting a rate quote for a policy, I
>> was told that we would not be able to get coverage from any of the
>> companies they write policies for because of the fire hazard this poses.
>> I'm sure coverage is available for us somewhere, but probably at a
>> higher rate due to the greater risk to the insurer.  If anyone can offer
>> any information regarding the following, I would be most grateful:
>> 
>> 1) the names of any insurance companies you know of that will cover
>> homes with knob & tube wiring?
>> 2) information from personal experience as to how much of a higher rate
>> one would expect to pay for a policy on a home that has knob & tube
>> wiring?
>> 
>> Thank you.
>> 
>> Matt VanHeynigen
>> Westfield, MA
>> 
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: masshistpres-bounces at cs.umb.edu
>> [mailto:masshistpres-bounces at cs.umb.edu] On Behalf Of
>> masshistpres-request at cs.umb.edu
>> Sent: Friday, November 10, 2006 12:00 PM
>> To: masshistpres at cs.umb.edu
>> Subject: MassHistPres Digest, Vol 9, Issue 6
>> 
>> Send MassHistPres mailing list submissions to
>> masshistpres at cs.umb.edu
>> 
>> To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit
>> http://mailman.cs.umb.edu/mailman/listinfo/masshistpres
>> or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to
>> masshistpres-request at cs.umb.edu
>> 
>> You can reach the person managing the list at
>> masshistpres-owner at cs.umb.edu
>> 
>> When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific
>> than "Re: Contents of MassHistPres digest..."
>> 
>> 
>> Today's Topics:
>> 
>>   1. Looking for structural engineers specializing in historic
>>      wood frame (emxmees at juno.com)
>>   2. Re: Looking for structural engineers specializing in historic
>>      ... (ElsaFitzgerald at aol.com)
>>   3. Re: MassHistPres Digest, Vol 9, Issue 5 (Alan Rohwer)
>>   4. Design review (D. Aikman)
>> 
>> 
>> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>> 
>> Message: 1
>> Date: Thu, 9 Nov 2006 21:57:59 GMT
>> From: "emxmees at juno.com" <emxmees at juno.com>
>> Subject: [MassHistPres] Looking for structural engineers specializing
>> in historic wood frame
>> To: masshistpres at cs.umb.edu
>> Message-ID: <20061109.135822.5535.1417352 at webmail13.lax.untd.com>
>> Content-Type: text/plain
>> 
>> Hello
>> can anyone recommend a structural engineer for historic wood frame
>> construction?
>> Thanks,
>> Liz Mees, AIA, IIDA
>> Braintree Historical Commission
>> 
>> 
>> ------------------------------
>> 
>> Message: 2
>> Date: Thu, 9 Nov 2006 18:00:59 EST
>> From: ElsaFitzgerald at aol.com
>> Subject: Re: [MassHistPres] Looking for structural engineers
>> specializing in historic ...
>> To: emxmees at juno.com, masshistpres at cs.umb.edu
>> Message-ID: <c68.498e512.32850d2b at aol.com>
>> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"
>> 
>> Hello Liz,
>> 
>> Please check out the Consultants Directory that is posted on the
>> Preservation Massachusetts website _www.preservationmass.org_
>> (http://www.preservationmass.org)  . There are  many architects and
>> consultants listed there who may need
>> your needs.
>> 
>> Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions. I can also
>> assist
>> you if you are interested in being listed in the Consultants Directory.
>> 
>> Elsa
>> 
>> Elsa N.  Fitzgerald
>> Preservation Massachusetts
>> Northshore  Office:
>> 203 Pine Brook Drive
>> West Peabody, MA  01960
>> Phone: 978-535-5556
>> elsafitzgerald at aol.com
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> ------------------------------
>> 
>> Message: 3
>> Date: Thu, 09 Nov 2006 20:26:19 -0500
>> From: Alan Rohwer <alan.rohwer at verizon.net>
>> Subject: Re: [MassHistPres] MassHistPres Digest, Vol 9, Issue 5
>> To: masshistpres at cs.umb.edu
>> Message-ID: <4553D53B.7010601 at verizon.net>
>> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
>> 
>> One advantage of a twelve month delay is that it assures access to an
>> Annual Town Meeting, if Town action is required. That, and just the
>> extra time bonus, was the reason Boxborough enacted a twelve month delay
>> 
>> by-law.
>> 
>>    - Alan Rohwer, Boxborough Historical Commission
>> 
>> -- 
>> Alan Billingsley Rohwer
>> Boxborough, MA, U.S.A. 01719
>> 42.476 N, 71.498 W, 95 m elev.
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> ------------------------------
>> 
>> Message: 4
>> Date: Fri, 10 Nov 2006 07:41:13 -0800 (PST)
>> From: "D. Aikman" <theaikmans at yahoo.com>
>> Subject: [MassHistPres] Design review
>> To: MassHistPres at cs.umb.edu
>> Message-ID: <879610.42780.qm at web30303.mail.mud.yahoo.com>
>> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1
>> 
>> The Chatham Historical Commission is intending to request an amendment
>> to its current Bylaws authorizing "design review" for major renovations
>> to historic homes.
>>  Do any other Towns have such authority and would they be willing to
>> share their Bylaw wording?
>> 
>> 
>> ---------------------------------
>> Check out the all-new Yahoo! Mail beta - Fire up a more powerful email
>> and get things done faster.
>> 
>> 
>> ------------------------------
>> 
>> _______________________________________________
>> MassHistPres mailing list
>> MassHistPres at cs.umb.edu
>> http://mailman.cs.umb.edu/mailman/listinfo/masshistpres
>> 
>> 
>> End of MassHistPres Digest, Vol 9, Issue 6
>> ******************************************
>> 
>> 
>> ------------------------------
>> 
>> Message: 2
>> Date: Fri, 10 Nov 2006 14:55:27 -0500
>> From: slater at alum.rpi.edu
>> Subject: Re: [MassHistPres] Insurance for Older Homes w/ Knob & Tube
>> Wiring
>> To: masshistpres at cs.umb.edu
>> Message-ID: <455492DF.32616.56ECD5C4 at localhost>
>> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII
>> 
>>> My wife & I are in the process of obtaining homeowner's insurance for
>>> a home we've purchased that was built in 1900, and which still has
>>> some knob & tube wiring in the attic & the basement.  In making an
>>> initial call to an insurance broker about getting a rate quote for a
>>> policy, I was told that we would not be able to get coverage from any
>>> of the companies they write policies for because of the fire hazard
>>> this poses. I'm sure coverage is available for us somewhere, but
>>> probably at a higher rate due to the greater risk to the insurer.  If
>>> anyone can offer any information regarding the following, I would be
>>> most grateful:
>>> 
>>> 1) the names of any insurance companies you know of that will cover
>>> homes with knob & tube wiring? 2) information from personal experience
>>> as to how much of a higher rate one would expect to pay for a policy
>>> on a home that has knob & tube wiring?
>>> 
>> 
>> I have never been told that a house cannot be insured if there is
>> some knob & tube wiring. I'd expect most homes built before the turn
>> of the century would have some of this between their walls or
>> powering ceiling fixtures.
>> 
>> I use Merrimack Mutual for an insurer for a 1898 house in
>> Springfield.
>> 
>> Ralph Slate
>> http://www.hockeydb.com
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> ------------------------------
>> 
>> Message: 3
>> Date: Fri, 10 Nov 2006 15:00:02 -0500
>> From: "C. Marshall" <lonesome.puppy at verizon.net>
>> Subject: Re: [MassHistPres] Insurance for Older Homes w/ Knob & Tube
>> Wiring
>> To: <slater at alum.rpi.edu>, <masshistpres at cs.umb.edu>
>> Message-ID: <0J8J009SE6BIGYEN at vms046.mailsrvcs.net>
>> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
>> 
>> I have heard that others have had problems with this...I have Plymoth
>> Mutual for a house built in 1880 in North Brookfield.
>> 
>> 
>> Claudette Marshall
>> Marshall Consulting
>> www.marshallcomputing.com
>> 
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: masshistpres-bounces at cs.umb.edu
>> [mailto:masshistpres-bounces at cs.umb.edu] On Behalf Of slater at alum.rpi.edu
>> Sent: Friday, November 10, 2006 2:55 PM
>> To: masshistpres at cs.umb.edu
>> Subject: Re: [MassHistPres] Insurance for Older Homes w/ Knob & Tube
>> Wiring
>> 
>>> My wife & I are in the process of obtaining homeowner's insurance for
>>> a home we've purchased that was built in 1900, and which still has
>>> some knob & tube wiring in the attic & the basement.  In making an
>>> initial call to an insurance broker about getting a rate quote for a
>>> policy, I was told that we would not be able to get coverage from any
>>> of the companies they write policies for because of the fire hazard
>>> this poses. I'm sure coverage is available for us somewhere, but
>>> probably at a higher rate due to the greater risk to the insurer.  If
>>> anyone can offer any information regarding the following, I would be
>>> most grateful:
>>> 
>>> 1) the names of any insurance companies you know of that will cover
>>> homes with knob & tube wiring? 2) information from personal experience
>>> as to how much of a higher rate one would expect to pay for a policy
>>> on a home that has knob & tube wiring?
>>> 
>> 
>> I have never been told that a house cannot be insured if there is some
>> knob
>> & tube wiring. I'd expect most homes built before the turn of the century
>> would have some of this between their walls or powering ceiling fixtures.
>> 
>> I use Merrimack Mutual for an insurer for a 1898 house in Springfield.
>> 
>> Ralph Slate
>> http://www.hockeydb.com
>> 
>> 
>> ******************************
>> For administrative questions regarding this list, please contact
>> Christopher.Skelly at state.ma.us directly.  PLEASE DO NOT "REPLY" TO THE
>> WHOLE
>> LIST.
>> MassHistPres mailing list
>> MassHistPres at cs.umb.edu
>> http://mailman.cs.umb.edu/mailman/listinfo/masshistpres
>> ********************************
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> ------------------------------
>> 
>> _______________________________________________
>> MassHistPres mailing list
>> MassHistPres at cs.umb.edu
>> http://mailman.cs.umb.edu/mailman/listinfo/masshistpres
>> 
>> 
>> End of MassHistPres Digest, Vol 9, Issue 7
>> ******************************************
>> 
> 
> 
> ******************************
> For administrative questions regarding this list, please contact
> Christopher.Skelly at state.ma.us directly.  PLEASE DO NOT "REPLY" TO THE WHOLE
> LIST.  
> MassHistPres mailing list
> MassHistPres at cs.umb.edu
> http://mailman.cs.umb.edu/mailman/listinfo/masshistpres
> ********************************