What happens if there is a fire in your home, dorm, hotel room or workplace? If the alarm sounds, will you be alerted?
The purchase and placement of smoke detectors in a private home is the responsibility of the occupant. New construction will invoke local building codes, but these rarely involve anything more than the most rudimentary of smoke detectors.
The most crucial locations for receiving notification are the bedroom and any other area where the person with hearing loss may fall asleep. Approximately half of all fire deaths in private residences occur in lounge areas, where many people fall asleep. This represents a big number and shows how no taking the proper actions could lead to a disaster.
Make sure the unit is installed in a way that is visible to you. In many homes and for many people, however, the single combination sensor and alarm will not be sufficient. If the bedroom is located on the third floor of a large Victorian house, for example, the lower floors may be engulfed in flames before the detector on the third floor is activated.
Early warning of fire is critical. In multi-story or large residences, we would advise consultation with your local fire department for specific recommendations about the placement of interconnected sensors and alerts. Particularly if you verify that strobe lights would wake you up, you may want to consider installing a hard-wired, supervised, and interconnected fire alarm system with strobe and auditory alerts and battery-back up. Consult with a local fire alarm company about installing such a system.
Home fire alarms are indispensable in every home. Keeping your loved one’s safe is important to you, and thus getting a good fire alarm system in your home will surely be a life saver is ever needed in case of an emergency.
About the Author: Victor A. is an expert author who writes for http://www.home-security-store-alarm-systems.com/ Read more articles by Victor A. Article Source www.iSnare.com.
| Published: December 18, 2006 /Smoke Detectors |  Print This Post
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Fire Extinguishers Save Lives
Millions of people every day rely on fire extinguishers to put out minor fires which start in the home. Most home fire extinguishers contain a non-hazardous chemical powder that can instantly put out a fire and prevent it from spreading any further.
Fire departments and safety officials across strongly encourage home owners to have at least one fire extinguisher in the home at all times. That said, studies show that approximately 80% of homeowners do have at least one in their home, but the question is do they know how to use it?
Sure it’s great to know there’s a fire extinguisher close by if you ever need one, but what most people don’t understand is if you don’t know how to operate these devices, they are practically useless. Everyone should know how to use a fire extinguisher and if you are one of the many who don’t, the follow steps will provide you with everything you need to know.
The easiest way to learn how to use a fire extinguisher is to memorize the acronym P.A.S.S. and memorize the meaning of each letter. The following list will provide you with the meanings of each letter:
P – The first letter to remember is “P”. This indicates to the user to Pull the pin. Pulling the pin is the first step in the process and is crucial to the successful execution of fire extinguishers.
A – The “A” stands for Aim. This tells the user to aim the fire extinguisher nozzle towards the base of the flames. Trying to extinguish a fire from above is almost impossible, you must spray the base of the fire to be effective.
S – The first “S” stands for Squeeze. This advises the user to squeeze the trigger while maintaining the extinguisher in an upright position.
S – The last “S” stands for Sweep. The user will then sweep the extinguisher from side to side making sure to cover the area of the fire completely.
Remembering the word PASS can save the life of you or someone you love.
Having a fire extinguisher in your home is a great idea however the location of your extinguisher is a determining factor in whether or not it will be useful. You will want to keep your fire extinguisher in areas which are most likely to produce fires such as kitchens, near fireplaces, garages or areas with a number of candles (perhaps a bedroom).
Do not keep your fire extinguisher near your stove. Stoves are a prime target for fires and should a fire break out near your stove, you will want to be able to access your extinguisher easily and safely away from the flames. You may also want to hang your extinguisher on the wall with a proper bracket near the middle of the room so you can safely leave if the fire becomes too large and you need to use it to escape.
About the Author: Jim Staller has worked in the industrial field for more than 15 years. In his spare time, he serves as a contributing writer for http://www.industrial101.com - a site offering information about data aquisition and more. Read more articles by Jim Staller. Article source www.iSnare.com.
| Published: December 9, 2006 /Home Fire Safety | Print This Post
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Basic Dryer Maintence Prevents Fire
In recent years there has been many stories about dryers catching on fire*.
Should we be concerned? Yes of course. We should take seriously anything that may put our family at risk.
Was the problem the dryer? Rarely.
After investigating it is usually determined to have been the venting within the home catching on fire, and not the dryer.
The Drying Process
When clothes are being dried inside your family dryer there are two processes happening. Firstly, heat is applied to the air inside the dryer drum as it turns. This raises its internal temperature to approximately 165 degrees Fahrenheit and causing moisture to be driven out of the clothes by evaporation. Secondly, a constant flow of air is passed through the clothes. Surprisingly, the real trick to efficiently dry clothes is not the heat, but rather this vast volume of air.
Most people think the purpose of venting is to push the heat and lint outside. Actually, its primary purpose is to dump the moisture outside the home. This job is accomplished easily when the dryer is near an outside wall.
The Venting Pipe
In many new houses the laundry room is located in the centre of the home, close to the family room or kitchen. If located upstairs it is often between the bedrooms, to allow easier access to laundry. Easier access, but the distance from the dryer to an outside wall is substantially longer. This leads to the crux of our problem. The venting is either too long, or has become restricted.
It is more difficult to push air down a long venting pipe than a short one. When the venting is too long the excess air can cause the venting to misbehave. This results in the moisture and lint collecting in the venting, rather than being dumped outside.
Taken to extremes lint can block the venting closed. When this happens it can cause the dryer to overheat. The normal drum temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit can quickly shoot up to 300 degrees Fahrenheit or higher. It may even get hot enough to allow lint in the venting to ignite.
For this reason manufacturers now suggest a maximum venting length of 15 feet. Excluding the first two elbows.
True Venting Length
If you want to know the true equivalent length of dryer venting, calculate the following:
1. Measure all the straight lengths and add them together
2. Count the number of turns or elbows, and multiply this number by 4
3. Add up the totals of steps 1 and 2Example: 20 feet of venting with 4 turns would actually be: 20 feet + 4X4 feet = 36 feet
Don’t be surprised by the true equivalent length of your venting. In modern homes it can be substantially longer than the manufacturers suggested maximum.
Signs to Watch For
If the blockage becomes critical the dryer will stop doing its job properly. As a homeowner watch for the following signs that the venting may be starting to block.
· Clothes coming out wet
· Excess lint left on clothes at cycle end
· Inside of dryer feels wet
· Taking too long to dry a load
· Clothes very hot at end of cycle
· Electrical consumption greatly increased
Since you can’t move the laundry room the best thing you can do is be aware that the problem exists. Consider taking down the venting and cleaning out the lint buildup during your annual spring-cleaning. Also, regularly walk outside and check the vent cap where it exits your house. Remove any lint buildup and make sure the flap moves freely.
If for any reason you suspect a venting problem turn off the dryer, unplug it, and call your appliance service company. Tell them your concerns, and ask for their help. As the old saying states, “better safe than sorry”.
* There are an average of 14,500 dryer fires every year.
National Fire Prevention Association
About the Author: Donald Grummett has worked in the trade over 30 years as a technician, business owner, and technical trainer. For more information about appliances including FAQ, Stain guide, and Recycling visit http://www.mgservices.ca. Read more articles by Donald Grummett. Article Source www.iSnare.com.
| Published: December 5, 2006 /Home Fire Safety | Print This Post
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Safe Pets Make a Happy Home
Keeping pets safe from fire is an easy job. It just requires a little patience and thinking a step ahead of your furry pal. The following pet fire safety tips will help you prevent a pet-caused fire in your home.
-Make sure all electrical cords are out of their reach. Some pets will chew right through the wire coating which will expose them to possible shock and can create a fire hazard.
-Place plastic plug covers in all unused outlets to prevent pets from accidentally shocking themselves. If you have electrical outlets outdoors and your pets are outdoors cover those as well with weatherproof covers.
-Place lit candles out of the way from all pets. Make sure candles are put in an area where pets can’t jump up and knock them over. Don’t leave lit candles and pets alone together.
-Keep your pet’s water dishes away from electrical wires and outlets. Any splashing into or onto the wires or outlets may cause sparking which may lead to fire.
-It’s a good idea to keep pets out of the kitchen especially when cooking. Animals that jump on the counters run the risk of swiping their tails over lit stove burners.
About the Author: Sarah Chasse operates http://www.firesafehouse.com which is a site devoted to fire, fire safety, fire fighting opportunities and other things related to fire.
| Published: December 2, 2006 /Home Fire Safety | Print This Post
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