A lot of people think that a house fire is something that cannot happen to them, but the fact of it is that there are a huge number of these that occur all around the world every day and destroy a large amount of property. There are a lot of things that you can do to protect your family and your property from this and it starts with having the right attitude about heat and electricity.
There are a few appliances in the house that you need to take extra care with when you use them and these are characterized by a large amount of electricity and heat. Space heaters that you use in the winter time to keep your house warm when you cannot afford a natural gas bill fit this description perfectly and the correct placement of these is critical. Never place these near curtains, upholstered furniture, and if you can help it, on carpet.
Some space heaters can be used on carpet if the fan that blows the heat is at least 12 inches or so off the floor so the carpet is not heated by it. Space heaters with short legs are the most dangerous on carpet.
Be careful when using appliances with extension cords. Using something like a deep fryer, electric skillet, space heater, or electric blanket with a common household extension cord is a bad idea. You can use these with heavy duty extension cords, but make sure they are at least a 14 gauge. If it is not a heavy duty cord, it will melt.
If you use electric blankets during the winter, you should never leave them on while you are sleeping. There have been quite a few people that have woken up to their bed on fire because they decided to leave the blanket on all night instead of just using it to warm up the bed like the instructions intend. When you store these, do so in the top of the closet or somewhere else up high where it cannot be stepped on, since the heating coils inside these are easily damaged.
Grease fires in the kitchen are the most common type of fire and you should never leave anything that you are cooking on the stove or any other cooking appliance unattended.
Try not to leave the room for any reason unless you can have someone come into the kitchen and watch the food for you while you take care of business in another area of the house. Never, ever leave the house while something is cooking, even if you are just boiling water.
According to statistics from the directgov website, in 2006/7 there were 36,500 fires in the home. Many of these probably resulted in injury, maybe even loss of life and definitely loss of many valuable and irreplaceable belongings. In order to prevent fire in the home, there are a few tips that can be followed:
1.Fit smoke alarms in your house, preferable one on each level. 2.Test these smoke alarms regularly 3.Take care when cooking and never leave children alone in the kitchen 4.Ensure you put out your cigarettes properly 5.Do not have too many plugs in one socket 6.Do not light candles near material and never leave them unattended 7.Check your home before you go to bed to ensure nothing has been left on by mistake
Unfortunately though, fires are sometimes unavoidable. If a fire starts in your home it is important to have a few measures in place in order to minimize damage and ensure everyone's safety:
1.Have a planned escape route for everyone in the house. Make sure this escape route includes a plan for incidences where the fire is blocking your usual path from the house. 2.Do not try to tackle the fire yourself, unless it is very small and you have the correct equipment such as a fire extinguisher or blanket. 3.Dial 999 immediately. 4.Try to ensure are closed, but do not do this if it puts you in danger.
If you do not have fire doors in your home, it is worth considering having them installed. Fire doors look like any other doors, but if a fire breaks out they are designed to slow the spread of the fire down. This means the fire is held back and contained for a certain amount of time and gives the emergency services to control the blaze. It also minimizes damage as the fire is contained to just one part of the building.
Fire doors are produced under the strictest regulations and therefore, if you buy from a respectable manufacturer you can be sure they will protect your home. You must ensure that the fire doors you buy are third party certified. This means that from start of the production process to the end you can be sure they have been manufactured to the highest standard and will work effectively.
Fire doors are now available in a wide range of designs and will fit in with any home. However, you must also ensure that your frame is replaced when having a fire door is fitted as this is also plays an important part if a fire was to break out. Similarly, if you choose a door that is not solid wood and has a part for glass, for example this must also come from a certified manufacturer. A decorative part of the door can create a weak point and make the door less effective, unless you ensure you buy from a trustworthy manufacturer.
So where can you find a trustworthy manufacturer? One of the most obvious places you might buy new doors from are builders merchants. However, in order to ensure they have the correct expertise to sell you a fire door, you can look for a sign to tell you they are a BWF approved fire door centre. Staff at a BWF approved fire door centre have undertaken training in key concepts of fire doors to ensure they are selling you products that will keep you safe. They will also undertake regular refresher courses and are required to stock everything for the installation of fire doors, which makes them a one stop shop when buying a fire door.
Fire safety is important not just for prevention of fires, but also containment if one breaks out. Be aware of fire risks and invest in fire alarms and fire doors so you can rest easy knowing you and your family are safe.
Both Jim Corkern & Searchrankpros are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
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