Notes from the Fire Marshal
January 2009
The City of Carmel-by-the-Sea wants you to be fire safe when it comes to the use of seasonal string lights.
Here is what Underwriters Laboratories writes about these light strings:
Decorative lighting strings also referred to as holiday, seasonal, or Christmas lights, can carry potential safety risks when subjected to unforeseen consumer misuse or not manufactured in accordance with UL's safety requirements. The familiar UL Listing mark on a product means that UL engineers have evaluated and tested representative samples of the product for risk of fire, electric shock and other hazards and determined the samples conformance to UL's requirements. Indoor-use only light strings are marked with UL's green holographic label; indoor or outdoor-use light strings are marked with UL's red holographic label.
Decorative-lighting strings are intended for seasonal, temporary use, not to exceed 90 days. This product consists of a string of lights that may be draped over or around trees or other objects for decorative effect. Strings are not intended for installation on artificial trees employing metal or metalized plastic needles, leaves or branch coverings. They also should not be installed in a manner that can cut or damage wire insulation. Decorative-lighting strings are not intended to be permanently connected or provide general illumination.
As you can see, these light strings are only for seasonal use, and cannot be used for more than 90 days. This means that they are "annual", not "perennial", and that they need to be replaced every holiday season. In addition, they may not be stapled or fastened to buildings in any way which could cut or damage the wires.
As well as the fire safety concerns with these light strings, the Municipal Code of the City of Carmel-by-the-Sea prohibits display in commercial occupancies of these seasonal light strings (CMC 17.40.05).
City Policy C-95-08 limits the display of these seasonal string lights to between the third Wednesday of November and continuing to the second Wednesday in January, which for 2009 is the 14th.
For more information, please contact Margi Perotti (Code Enforcement Officer) at 620-2010 or Art Black (Fire Marshal) at 624-8303.