When you think of fire safety equipment, you think of sprinklers and fire extinguishers in the workplace. These are important to have, but you should also consider getting similar equipment in your home. After all, home fires are common enough that you should have a plan to handle them.
How will you keep fires at bay in the home?
Talk to a Fire Safety Consultant
Before you buy anything on this list, it’s a very good idea to talk to a fire safety consultant. Every home is different, and they will be able to show you what will be best for your property. They even have other suggestions for you, depending on your needs. They’ll also be able to help with fire escape plans, inspections, and more.
Smoke Alarms
If you have nothing else in your home, you should have these. A good smoke alarm will sound off if there’s any smoke in the vicinity. If you hear it go off, then that’s the sign that you need to start evacuating the building. That’s why it’s also important that you have a fire escape plan too that everyone is aware of, so you can all get out in the event of a fire.
The placement of your smoke alarms is crucial, as they will need to be able to alert everyone in the house. You should have at least one on each floor of your home, as well as outside of each sleeping area. That way, if a fire happens in the middle of the night, everyone will be woken up.
When you have smoke alarms installed, make sure you’re testing them twice a year. Many people choose to do this when the clocks change, as it’s an easy way to remember to do it. Press the test button to ensure it can still sound, and change out the batteries to ensure it has power.
As well as smoke alarms, ensure that you have carbon monoxide detectors installed too. This gas can easily build up without you noticing it. If it is building up, the alarm will sound and you will be able to escape. Install these in the same places you would put your smoke alarms.
Fire Extinguishers
You wouldn’t normally think about putting fire extinguishers in your home, but they can actually be a vital addition. If a fire is small and contained, you can fight it yourself and put it out. The best way to do this is with the right fire extinguisher.
There are several types of extinguishers, depending on the kind of fire it’s designed to put out. Remember, water won’t put out every fire. If it’s a Class B fire, it’s a fuel fire and water may just spread the fuel around. If it’s a Class C fire, then it’s electrical and water will simply conduct the electricity.
You can buy small fire extinguishers that are perfect for your home. They come in several types, such as water, powder, CO2, or wet chemical. The smallest ones use a ‘shake and spray’ method, so it’ll be very easy for you to use them. If you buy a larger one, make sure everyone is aware of the PASS Method of using a fire extinguisher. This is where you Pull the pin, Aim at the base of the fire, Squeeze the handle, and Sweep the nozzle from side to side.
If you have extinguishers in the home, make sure to inspect them regularly to ensure they’re still operational. This is something a fire safety consultant can help you with, if needs be.
Fire Blankets
Kitchen fires are one of the most common causes of fires in the home, so you need to be prepared. Part of this is practicing a lot of kitchen safety. Keeping children out of the kitchen while you’re cooking, ensuring you don’t cook when you’re tired or under the influence of alcohol, and so on will keep most fires at bay.
If a fire does happen though, you’ll need to be able to act on it quickly. A fire blanket is one of the best ways to do this. When you have one in the kitchen, you can quickly grab it and use it to smother a fire. They work well here as they don’t need water, something that won’t work on grease and oil.
Fire Escape Ladder
If a fire occurs and you need to get out of the house, you’ll need to think about if you can’t access your front door. If you’re on the second floor, how will you get out of the house safely?
A fire escape ladder is perfect for this, as they allow you to create an escape route out of most windows. They’re a telescopic design, so you can store them almost anywhere out of the way. It’s usually a good idea to keep one in each bedroom of the house, so you can get out easily. Once you need to use them, you can extend them out of the window and then make your way out.
Sprinkler System
Again, when you think of a sprinkler system, you’ll think of something used in office buildings and the like. Increasingly though, they are being used in homes too. It makes a lot of sense. If a fire were to break out, then you may not be able to fight the fire safely. If you can’t, then you can make your escape and the sprinkler system will handle it.
Most sprinkler systems are automatic, so once they detect smoke, they will turn on. It will make the world of difference as this helps tackle a fire right away. This is why they’re becoming popular in home settings.
Do You Need Fire Safety Equipment?
These are some fire safety equipment items you should have inside your home. If you’re still not sure what you need, talk to a fire safety consultant and see what they can recommend. With these tools in place, you’re ready if a fire should break out at home.
