| When it comes to home fire safety people | | | | from cooking will not accidentally trigger the alarm. |
| generally only consider the two most obvious | | | | Trust me on this one, there is nothing more |
| solutions. Firstly and rightly so, smoke alarms. It's | | | | annoying than every time you cook dinner you |
| a simple fact that all homes need them and optical | | | | end up on a chair turning the ionisation alarm off. |
| should be the models of choice if you are really | | | | Once this is out of the way you need to consider |
| serious about protecting your loved ones. | | | | what type of fire extinguisher to buy. This all |
| Secondly everyone thinks of kitchens and fires. | | | | comes down to personal choice and how much |
| This is a good train of thought as most house | | | | you are willing to spend. Of course storage space |
| fires start here. Normally down to cooking but | | | | is also a consideration here. Luckily its not at all |
| occasionally due to washing machines and | | | | expensive and you have several options to |
| dishwashers failing during the night. The Fire | | | | choose from. |
| Brigade does not recommend the use of washing | | | | The most effective coverage would be from a |
| machines or dishwashers during the night when | | | | powder fire extinguisher which covers classes A, |
| you go to bed. You might save a few pennies but | | | | B, C and Electrical fires. Because of the size of a |
| do they really warrant the risk to your loved | | | | living room I would not really recommend a car |
| ones lives? Of course not. | | | | model (0.6kg) or 1 kg extinguisher as they are |
| Well I'm sure your home consists of more than | | | | probably too small if the fire has already taken |
| just a kitchen so lets talk living room. You spend a | | | | hold. It's best to use a 2kg powder extinguisher |
| major part of your life in this room. Probably | | | | as a minimum as this will provide you with a far |
| more than in any other. Its your personal space | | | | higher fire rating. |
| and unless you really embrace the minimalist | | | | If a little extra spend and space is available to you |
| lifestyle its bound to contain at least a chair and | | | | then you could look at a dual fire extinguisher |
| TV. Most likely a couch too, as well as stereo. | | | | set-up. Either a water or foam extinguisher to |
| Lets presume you have all the normal trappings | | | | tackle and class A fires combined with a 2kg CO2 |
| of modern day living. | | | | Extinguisher for tackling any electrical fires such as |
| So how's this effect fire safety? Simple, a | | | | TV's, computers or stereos. A CO2 fire |
| standard living will generally be at risk of class A | | | | extinguisher should not be used on class A fires |
| fires as well as electrical fires too. You need to be | | | | though such as those involving wood or paper as |
| aware of the most basic safety tips here such as | | | | they can blow the combustible material around |
| turning all electrics off at the plug when you go to | | | | and spread the fire further. |
| bed or go out. Not only is this a prudent safety | | | | So that is all you really need to protect your main |
| approach but also pretty green and will not only | | | | living area. Its simple, cost effective and could |
| help to save your life but the planet too. Now | | | | save your life in the event of a fire. Always be |
| that can't be a bad thing surely? | | | | aware though, that in the event of a fire, if you |
| Most fires in the home actually start at night | | | | are in any doubt as to how to tackle it, get out |
| when you are in bed. This is a lethal statistic as | | | | and call the fire brigade on 999 immediately. |
| the smoke caused will literally kill you in minuets. | | | | Never put your personal possessions above |
| So the first port of call is to install a smoke alarm. | | | | yourself and family. Always call the fire brigade |
| We'd always recommend an optical model in the | | | | after any home fire to ensure it has been fully |
| living room as most likely the kitchen is attached. | | | | extinguished as a fire can re-ignite. |
| By using an optical model any smoke produced | | | | |