The Importance of Fire Safety Equipment in your Home

Fire safety equipment for the home is important for ensuring your home and family are always safe and well protected. We have written this blog to help you ensure you have equipment that will alert you to a potential emergency, and also help you to combat the potential fire.

There are multiple fire risks in the home. Kitchen fires from unattended cooking; overheating electronic and electrical appliances; open fires and chimneys; faulty electrical wiring or overloaded electrical systems; candles and other open flames; smoking, matches and lighters, flammable liquids and aerosols; and barbeques, to name a few.

Being prepared for a fire starts with taking the necessary steps to make sure you have the proper equipment. Your house should be well-stocked with fire equipment in case of an emergency, and it will also give you the peace of mind that you are protected if a fire unexpectedly starts.

Important fire and overall safety products for your home include a fire escape ladder, smoke detectors, a fire extinguisher, fire blankets and carbon monoxide alarms.

What is fire safety equipment?

Fire safety equipment is equipment designed to extinguish fires or protect the user from fire. It may be used by trained fire fighters, untrained users at the scene of a fire, or built into a building’s infrastructure (such as a sprinkler system).

What fire safety equipment should I have at home?

• Smoke Alarm – Every home should have a smoke alarm. Once you do have a smoke alarm, it is important to check them at least once a month.
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• Carbon Monoxide Alarm – Much like a smoke alarm, a carbon monoxide alarm will alert you when it detects a threat. Carbon monoxide (CO) is a colourless and odourless toxic gas, which is why it’s dubbed ‘the silent killer’. Appliances such as the boiler or cooker, which are poorly maintained or fitted, can produce CO.
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• Small Fire Extinguisher – An extinguisher is an important tool in protecting your home. Intended for use in tackling a small fire, it stops a fire from quickly engulfing your home. It’s important that you know how to use an extinguisher before you need it.
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• Fire Blanket – Often found in the kitchen for pan fires, it acts by smothering the fire of oxygen when placed over the flames. It is a simple device, and could be ideal for someone not used to a fire extinguisher.  A fire blanket can also be used to smother clothing that may catch fire when cooking.
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• Fire Escape Ladders – Sometimes the safest way to escape from a fire is out the window. This isn’t always an easy task, especially if you are located on the second or third floor of your home when the fire begins.