Encyclopedia

of Home Improvements

*Fire Safety*

The best protection in the event of a fire is for you and your family to have an established emergency exit plan - commonly known as a FIRE DRILL.True, this may seem corny but in case of emergency you should have a plan that includes at least two exits from each section of your home, specially the bedroom. You should identify a pre arranged place outside and away from your house and review this plan periodically. Your local fire department will be glad to help you to come up with a really good plan for your family and home

In case of a fire, a quick escape is essential. Smoke alarms installed in each bedroom and every level of your home will give you quick notice that there is a problem. As added security, have a fire extinguisher on every level of your home, and in places such as the kitchen, laundry room, boiler room, and near your fireplace. Everybody in your family should know how to operate the fire extinguisher. Inspect your fire extinguishers regularly to make certain they are properly charged.(Photo1)

Do not overload an electrical outlet. Install a new outlet or purchase a power strip breaker designed to handle multiple plugs. Replace or repair any frayed or damaged wires. Do not use lightweight household type extension cords for appliances. If it gets warm when in use it is unsafe. If a circuit often overloads the breaker or blows the fuse, have an electrician fix the problem. Don't use light bulbs of higher wattage that is recommended for the light fixture. The fixture may over heat and cause a fire.

Have your furnace and boiler checked yearly. You want to be sure it is burning safely and not producing carbon monoxide. Place carbon monoxide detectors in several places in your home.

Smoke detectors in the home

You can never have too many smoke detectors in your house. Battery operated smoke detectors are the most common and the easiest to install. Once the smoke reaches the ceiling it spreads out horizontally. This makes the center of room the optimum location for a smoke detector.

There are two kinds of residential smoke detectors. The ionization unit ionizes the air inside the detector and gives it an electrical charge. Smoke particles cut down current flow, which sounds a warning. Ionization units respond more quickly than photoelectric units to flaming fires. A photoelectric unit includes a beam of light and a photoelectric cell. As smoke enters the unit, scatters the light, causing it to trigger the alarm. Photo electric smoke detectors react more readily to slow smoldering fires than fast flaming blazes. Both detectors work well and come as battery operated or hard wired units.

Installing a hard wired system consisting of an ionization unit in bedrooms and hallways and a photoelectric unit the living areas in a series so that all the alarms will sound if any one senses heat or smoke. These will require extensive wiring and a battery backup your electrical panel case of the electrical products. Battery powered smoke detectors are legal for existing homes, but new construction smoke detectors must be hard wired on a separate circuit directly to the electrical panel.

Central stations security systems often include smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors all directly wired to the central station monitoring. All detectors are wired together to alert you to any danger. If you were not home this central station monitor will alert the fire department. This is far and away the best fire detection system to have. It is installed by a professional and the discount you'll get from your homeowners insurance will almost pay for the system.

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