Zwarte Kat

Outdoor Fire Safety

When fire proofing your home the inside is a very big part of the inspection indeed but do not forget that the outside is also a safe haven for fires. You should keep in mind that the outside is also part of your home, so do not neglect to check the patio, the backyard, the roof as well as the garden. Minimizing the hazards in these areas is just as important as the dangers indoors. One example of a fire hazard that exists outdoors is storing of wood. When warehousing wood in your backyard it is imperative that you follow the basic preliminary fire prevention rules in order to diminish the chance of wood catching fire which can cause much larger scale disaster. That is why it is important to maintain your wood in safe manner, in order to reduce the occurrence of the fires as well as the strength and size of the fire. One of the first steps to take when making sure that the fire is stored safely is to make at least a 30 feet safety perimeter around the area that the wood is being stored.

An example of a good safety clearance is a green lawn that is free of any types of fire hazards such as flammable debris, toys or lawn ornaments. Now when it comes to plants and fire, there are a lot of plants that are fire resistant; some more than others, it is good to plant these in the area designated as the safety zone. Even though these plants may be fire resistant, it is imperative that you get rid of any dry leaves, dead limbs, twigs, and rubble that surround the plant(s); preventing these things from fueling a small fire that can escalate into a larger much more intense fire.

Also take time to survey the roofing material on your home. In previous years many roofs on homes were built with many risky, combustible materials causing a large amount of homeowners to lose their homes; these losses were directly linked to the roof catching fire. Nowadays there are new and improved roofing materials offered to promote fire safety. When having your home built or either when choosing a home, it would be wise to choose a home that uses non-combustible roofing materials. There are many non-combustible roofing materials available, including: Class A Shingles, Metal or Terra Cotta. If your roof has already been built and it doesn?t need to be replaced, then you do have the option of treating your roof with fire retardant procedures to reduce the flammability of the roof until it can be replaced.

One last thing to pay attention to when fire proofing the outdoor is barbecue grills. Barbecue grills involve a lot of upkeep. You should clean your grill regularly, and make sure to keep it free of dirt and dust buildup. It would be much easier on you to maintain if you made it your goal to clean the grill after every use paying close attention to dust and cobwebs that may have accumulated. Also make it a habit to check all water hoses in the yard for cracks and to make sure it is in good condition; these are also fire hazards. Last but not least if you use propane tanks, check to see if it is damaged in any way. It is very dangerous to use damaged propane tanks. They are very combustible and can cause major damage.

Technorati Tags : these safety materials combustible

Fire Safety Checklist for Home

Handling a tough situation needs some practice before hand, if it is to be handled properly. Similarly handling fire in home also requires some homework. Some inspection and practice is requires which will take not more than twenty minutes everyday. Firstly, a checklist should be made which requires questions to be answered to after thoroughly inspecting every corner of the home.

The very first room of the house which is pose extreme fire threat to house is the kitchen. The checklist for the kitchen is:
1) Is the kitchen occupied by grown ups when food is being cooked on the stove?

2) Are the counters and stove tops uncluttered and clean?
3) Are the pot holders in reachable distance of the stove?

4) When cooking, are the handles of the pots turned inwards so that nobody bumps into them?
5) Are curtains and other loose fabric away from the stove?
6) Is there an area of three feet surrounding the stove which is a kids free zone when adults are cooking?
7) Are the electrical appliances in the kitchen, such as toaster oven, blenders, food processors, coffee makers, and microwave plugged into different receptacle outlets?

The second threat to the house is the heating system. The checklist for the heating system is:
1) When there is no one at home or when adults go to sleep are the heaters turned off always?
2) Are the heaters placed at a distance of one meter away from everything such as furniture, people, and pets, especially material which can burn easily?
3) Is the fireplace equipped with a sturdy screen in order to catch the sparks?

4) Is the chimney been cleaned and inspected every year?

5) Is the furnace been cleaned and inspected every year?

6) Are the propane tanks and fuels stored outside the house?

7) Has the family practiced the home fire drill in the past six months? Does everyone in the household has knowledge about the fire department?s emergency phone number, which needs to be dialed from the neighbor?s phone since everyone has to evacuate the house in case of fire?

Electrical gadgets and electric circuits are also dangerous if not handled properly. To check them, here is the check list:
1) Are the extension cords laid safely and not across the doorways or under the carpet?

2) Are the electrical cords in excellent condition and not worn out, cracked or frayed?
3) Do the grown ups of the house unplugs electrical appliances, even such as lamps, after using them?

Smoke alarms and fire extinguishers must be installed on every floor of the house. The check list for this purpose is:
1) Are there smoke alarms installed on every level of the house, including the attic or basement and also outside every sleeping area?

2) Are the smoke alarm batteries working in all of them?
3) Are the smoke alarms tested by pressing the test button by a grown up?
4) Are there more than one exit in the house?
5) Are all the home exits clear of furniture, clutter, and toys?

6) Is there home fire escape plan which also includes two exits? The two exits can consist of door and windows?
7) Is the decision being made about an outside safe place to meet after exiting the home?

If all the questions of every checklist are answered as yes then the house and the family members are ready to face fire accidents. If the answer is yes to fifteen to twenty questions then few adjustments are needed to be made to ensure safety in case of fire emergencies. And only ten to fourteen questions are answered as yes, then the family members need to double up and put in extra effort in order to be hit a fire safety home run. If less than ten questions are answered as yes, then the whole house needs to be revamped in order to make it a safe place to live in. Not only do the adults of the house need to get trained but also the children. If there is a pet in the house, it also needs to be included in the plan.

Technorati Tags : house every which there

Choosing a Fire Extinguisher for your Home

When it comes to the correct steps in battling against house fires, having a fire extinguisher handy is the first rule of thumb to follow. This will be your number one line of defense before the fire officials arrive. It is a good idea to have at least two fire extinguishers in your home. There are five elements that are present when a fire occurs: oxygen, heat, fuel, and some type of chemical reaction. All of these five elements form what is known as the fire triangle. Once the fire triangle is identified then the fire can be eradicated by either taking away or isolating any one of those elements of the triangle from all the rest of the elements in order to prevent a house fire.

Today?s market offers various types of fire extinguishers. It is very important that you use the accurate fire extinguisher when trying to put out a fire. If you use the incorrect type of fire extinguisher there may be a problem trying to diminish the fire therefore making the extinguisher ineffective. As a matter of fact using the wrong type of conformity can cause the fire to reignite after seemingly putting out the fire. Make sure you do your research before purchasing a fire extinguisher, since most suppliers are ignorant to the suitable types of fire extinguishers for your home; it is diplomatic to do a thorough check on your extinguishers in your home.

When classifying the types of fires there are three categories they fall up under. The first class is called a Class A fire; these fires are mostly caused by burning wood, paper, cloth, plastics etc. The second class of fires is called Class K fires. These types of fires normally originate in the kitchen; they involve cooking oil, vegetable fats and animal fats. The last class of fires is called Class C fires; these fires occur with electrical equipment such as motors, transformers and other appliances. The recommended fire extinguisher for homes is called a Dry chemical extinguisher. It works efficiently on Class A as well as Class C fires. The way it extinguishes the fire is simply by doing away with the chemical reaction part of the Fire triangle. This extinguisher creates a barricade in between the oxygen and the combustible elements of a Class A fire.

Another type of fire extinguisher available on the market is a Water mist extinguisher which is mainly for wood, paper, or cloth fires; however it is also effective as well as safer for use on Class C fires. It eliminates the heat portion of the triangle. Next there is a Cartridge operated dry chemical extinguisher. These types of extinguisher are very pocket-friendly for small to mid-size fires in the home. Nonetheless there are other types available that can only be used for specific fires. These models include water and foam extinguishers; these are only effective when used on a Class A fire. It should never be used on Class C fires which involve electrical equipment and cause someone to be electrocuted. Also Carbon dioxide extinguishers, which can be used for Class C fires (i.e. electrical).These are just a few of the many products offered to protect your home. Remember a fire extinguisher should be preserved in accordance with the relevant local rules.

Technorati Tags : fires extinguisher class these

Fire Alarm Pull Stations

Fire alarm stations are most of the time located in the corridors of hospitals, schools or office buildings; they are usually mounted on the wall next to the fire exits. Majority of big buildings have these fire alarm stations equipped. These are placed there just in case you are walking in the corridors and you happen to notice a thick smoke or dangers coming from one of the rooms, then you will have a quick and convenient way to call for help. It helps if you don?t know the address or location of the building you are in or if you cannot get to a phone in time enough. So a surefire way of alerting the fire officials is by utilizing one of these fire stations. These stations are or should be located on every floor of the building; they are easy to use, simply pull on the activation handle.

The pull station is conveniently connected to the fire department will automatically be alerted of your location so that they can dispatch to your home with no hesitations. These days they have many different types of fire alarm pull stations. The most common ones are the stations with traditional pull down lever. The newer models offer many variations of the fire station and how to activate those push buttons, and voice activated phones. Nonetheless, however it is activated; the fire department is immediately notified so that help can be sent your way. Although they are very easy to use and an easy to set off accidentally, it is wise to take necessary precautions to prevent this from happening. Majority of the time you will see these fire alarms covered in a glass casing to prevent accidental activation.

They are also placed high enough so that they are out of reach of children that way they will have no opportunity to play with the levers and accidentally trigger. Now although these fire stations are connected to the fire department directly, it is still separate from the entire fire alarm system in the building. Therefore although you pull down the lever on the fire alarm station it will only alert the fire officials it will not set off the sirens or sirens in the building. So even if you pull these levers the building and its occupants are still in danger. A fire pull station that is operating properly is of dire importance when trying to create a fire safe environment. Other things that are vital to remember is that the maintenance, location and proper placement all play a big part in a properly operating pull station.

Most of the time these fire pull stations will be located where it is clearly accessible. No one should be incapable of noticing the fire pull stations upon every given quick scan around the room or corridor. If a fire alarm station is not in plain sight and easy accessibility of the individual who notices or falls upon the danger then the station is considered totally useless. It is also necessary that the fire stations be inspected regularly to check for any glitches or damaged parts. It is advised to have routine fire drills since they will give clear indication of the levers functionality as well as provide a survey of the individual reactions and reaction times Therefore if there are any defects with the machine or lever itself the repairs will be completed at the time of discovery.

Technorati Tags : stations these station alarm

Safety Precautions To Be Taken While Cooking

Every year at least seven thousand people are injured in kitchen fires. Two-third of domestic fires are due to carelessness done while cooking. The kitchen is on the top among the causes of household fires. The sad thing is that the reasons for kitchen fires are always similar, across the country. The identification of these causes is a must as that will decrease the chances of fire in kitchen greatly.

Firstly the surroundings of the kitchen must be made safe to cook in. Things must be organized on the kitchen countertop and shouldn?t be scattered. Things such as microwave, blender, food processor, cooker, and many other electrical instruments are arranged on the countertop. Firstly, the electrical leads must be kept away from the electrical appliances and from trailing over. Also water should be kept away from the electrical lead as that can lead to electric sparks. Plant pots are also a common sight in kitchens. They should far away from the electrical instruments. In fact, anything wet must not be place near the electrical appliances. Cloths and tea towels shouldn?t be hung on the cooker or kept on the microwave. The hob, grill and the oven must be kept cleaned. The build up of food bits and fat are very vulnerable to catch fire.

No metallic crockery must be placed inside the microwave because if by mistake they get heated up, they can start a fire. Some people even try to dry clothes in microwave, which is a very dangerous act. Sometimes there is a chance of placing the toaster near the curtains. This is also very risky. Free flowing curtains are a bad idea in the kitchen. The toaster must also be cleaned regularly.

The sockets must not be overloaded. The thumb rule is to have only one plug per socket. This rule is firm in case of electrical appliances which take high power to function. Extensions running across the kitchen floor can wear out with respect to time, so they are better avoided. Electrical appliances which are used regularly and which run on high speeds should be serviced regularly, at least once a year. There can be chances of leaking in blender, food processor and electrical kettle. This is very serious and must be repaired immediately. All the appliances should be turned off when leaving the kitchen. They shouldn?t be left running at night, like washing machine or dishwasher. If you receive a call while cooking, remove the pan from the burner and then attend the phone because they are the easiest things to forget. This is the reason why many people worry about burning pans and running machines after leaving home. So it is better to handle the situation at the right time. No distraction must be encouraged while in kitchen.

The saucepan handles must not stick out, otherwise anybody walking near by can tip off the pan along with its hot contents. The pan must not be full more than one-third. When using deep fat fryer it is good to use thermostatically. Chip pan fires are the reason of one-fifth of fire accidents. Every day nearly twenty people are injured or killed to deep fat fry cooking.

If the kitchen is equipped with gas cooker, ample ventilation must be provided. The ventilation must be working properly and must not be blocked. This can be helpful in case of gas leak. Also, fitting a smoke alarm, which has a hush button, can be very helpful in case of fire emergencies. The hush button can be pressed to silence the instrument incase of false alarm. If the hush button is missing, many people are tempted to take the battery out of the smoke alarm in case of false alarm and will forget to put it back. If the alarm keeps on going off again and again, place it a little away from the stove. Another good investments are fire extinguisher and fire blanket. They should be placed strategically so that they are easily reachable.

Technorati Tags : kitchen electrical alarm which