The experience of a home fire is one of the most frightening you can have. Approximately 37,000 fires break out in UK households every year, and more than 260 people die in them?
Fire safety should be top of everyone’s list in light of the Grenfell Tower disaster and the American and Australian wildfires threatening homes and livelihoods.
Are there any ways to minimize risks to your family, home, and possessions? You can make some changes to your home to help it be more fire-resistant. For more information, visit acusfoc.com.
1. Fire retardant materials are recommended
The building materials themselves can be vulnerable to fire to some extent. A fireproof interior and fire retardant alternatives can help you to avoid a potentially serious accident. Renovating or redecorating your home is an excellent time to make these changes.
You can choose to build the exterior walls with concrete panels or stucco, place steel framing for windows and roof it with either metal or concrete. It is also advisable to use fire retardant paint. A deck made of concrete, brick, tile, or stone is better than one constructed of wood.
If you intend to use fireproof fabrics inside your home, you should become familiar with the various British standards and certifications. Additionally, flameproofing can also be applied to existing furniture and fabric in your home.
2. Put smoke alarms in place
When there is a fire inside your home, smoke alarms provide an early warning. A traditional smoke alarm beeps when smoke is detected, while a smart detector also alerts your phone. Smoke detectors should be installed in every room in your house, except bathrooms, according to UK Fire Service Resources. One should be located between the living room and the bedrooms, as well as on each landing.
There are four types of smoke alarms, depending on the room in which they are installed.
Batteries should be changed every six months on smoke alarms located away from vents. In particular, you should test your smoke alarms every year to ensure they still function. If you don’t have a functioning smoke alarm, your chances of dying in a home fire increase fourfold!
3. Purchase a fire extinguisher
When a small kitchen mishap is prevented by having a fire extinguisher on hand, the house literally won’t burn down. Depending on what type of fire the extinguisher is meant to tackle, different types of fire extinguishers are available. Understand the differences between each type and how each can be used in emergency situations.
4. Make sure that key areas have fire doors
It can take less than ten minutes for a fire to spread throughout the entire house. Having a fire door in your home that is closed at night, when fires are more likely to occur, can drastically reduce the damage from smoke and fire.
Fire doors protect escape routes and give you the time you need to get out of a burning building by holding back smoke, heat and flames for 30 to 60 minutes, depending on the door.
5. Fit an anti-arson letterbox
The letterbox is the most vulnerable part of the house – a direct, easy, and unmonitored entrance into your home. In the event you become a target for an attack, for whatever reason, including even for no discernible reason, this is where you need to be protected.
These anti-arson letterboxes come with an extinguisher built in to tackle any flammable liquids poured through the box. The fireproof sheet steel seals on the inside of the front door maintain the integrity of the fire.
6. Landscape to prevent fires
Wildfires, for example, originate from outside. As such, you can prevent them from reaching your house. Here are some tips you can follow to make your landscape less susceptible to fire spreading:
- Make your yard hardscaped by using stone, gravel, or concrete
- In the summer, ensure that dry vegetation is removed around the house
- To slow down a fire and prevent it from spreading, use plants that are resistant to fire, such as lavender and honeysuckle
During the summer, make sure you water your outdoor plants well. Plants with lush greenery have a lower fire risk.
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