Utilize flame-resistant materials
To begin, consider the building materials; some are more prone to fire than others. Utilizing non-flammable alternatives and fireproofing your interiors are excellent first lines of defense against a potentially catastrophic event. Make the necessary changes when renovating or redecorating your home.
Concrete panels, stucco, or brick exterior walls, steel framing for windows, and concrete or metal roofing are all viable options. Additionally, fire retardant paint is a good idea. Concrete, tiles, stone, or brick are preferable to wood for decking.
Choose fire resistant curtains and upholstery fabrics for the interior of your home, taking care to understand the various British standards and certifications applicable to fireproof fabrics. Additionally, existing home fabrics and upholstered furniture can be treated with flameproofing.
Install smoke detectors
Smoke alarms serve as an early warning system in the event of a fire in your home. When smoke or fire is detected, traditional alarms beep, but smart detectors also send an alert to your phone. According to UK Fire Service Resources, smoke detectors should be installed in every room except bathrooms to ensure maximum protection. Additionally, you’ll need one in the hallway connecting the living room and bedrooms, as well as one on each landing.
There are four distinct types of smoke alarms, each one designed for a specific area of the house. Smoke alarms should be kept away from air vents and batteries should be replaced every six months. Crucially, you should test your smoke alarms at least once a year to ensure they continue to function properly. Without a working smoke alarm, you have a fourfold increased risk of dying in a house fire!
Purchase a fire extinguisher
Having a fire extinguisher on hand can mean the difference between a minor kitchen mishap being successfully contained and the entire house burning to the ground. There are numerous types of fire extinguishers, each of which is classified according to the type of fire it is designed to extinguish. Ascertain that you understand the distinctions between the three and how to utilize each in an emergency situation. A typical household fire extinguisher should be rated ABC:
Combustibles such as wood, paper, cloth, rubber, household waste, and the majority of plastics are classified as Class A.
Class B – combustible liquids, solvents, oil, gasoline, and paints and lacquers
Gases classified as Class C include but are not limited to methane, propane, hydrogen, acetylene, and natural gas.
Combustible metals in Class D include magnesium and aluminum swarf.
Electrical fires are classified as Class E.
As an alternative to a fire blanket, use a Class F – chip pan fire.
Invest in fire doors in high-traffic areas
A house fire can spread quickly, engulfing entire rooms in less than ten minutes. However, the damage caused by smoke and fire can be significantly reduced by installing fire doors in your home and keeping them closed at night, when fires are more prevalent.
A fire door will contain smoke, heat, and flames for an extended period of time – typically up to 30 or 60 minutes – thereby protecting the escape route and providing critical additional minutes to safely exit the building.
Non-domestic buildings are governed by the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, which includes fire doors. Indeed, business owners convicted of blocking a fire door, preventing it from closing properly, or failing to install one at all face unlimited fines and up to two years in prison.
On the other hand, domestic properties typically require the installation of fire doors only if they have three or more storeys or an integral garage with a connecting door. Which is not to say that you cannot have as many as you want in your home to protect your family.
Install an anti-incendiary letterbox
Regrettable but true – arson now accounts for more than half of all recorded fires in the United Kingdom. Each year, over 80,000 arson attacks occur, resulting in an annual cost of more than £2.5 billion, hundreds of injuries, and dozens of deaths.
The letterbox is the most vulnerable component of the house because it provides direct, easy, and unmonitored access to the interior. If you are ever a target of an attack, for any reason, including no discernible reason at all, this is where you must defend yourself.
These anti-arson letterboxes include an integrated extinguishing system to deal with any flammable liquids poured through the letterbox. They are installed on the inside of the front door and are constructed of fireproof sheet steel with a seal to maintain the integrity of the fire.
Create a landscape that is resistant to fire
A fire that begins outside, such as a wildfire, is best stifled by preventing it from ever reaching your home. By following these guidelines, you can use landscape gardening design to slow or stop the spread of fire toward your home:
Around the house, use hard landscaping materials such as concrete, stone, or gravel.
Remove any dry vegetation from the area around your home, especially in the summer.
Spread fire-resistant plants such as lavender and honeysuckle throughout your soft landscaping to slow the spread of fire.
Maintain adequate watering of outdoor plants during the summer months. Planting in lush greenery reduces the likelihood of fire.