Important Considerations When Installing Fire Extinguishers In Your Home
A house fire is one of the biggest fears for many Australian homeowners. Installing one or more fire extinguishers in your home is an excellent way to provide you with peace of mind and the ability to quickly and effectively combat a fire in the unfortunate event that one should break out in your home.
Simply having a fire extinguisher in your home isn't enough. There are several factors that you'll need to consider to ensure that they provide the security you require in the event of a house fire in your home.
The location of the fire extinguishers
Depending on the size of your home, you may need one or more fire extinguishers to adequately protect your home. As a general rule, you should be able to access a fire extinguisher from any point in your home in under a minute. If it takes any longer than this, a blaze could be out of control before you have a chance to contain it.
If you have a double level house, it's important to have an extinguisher located on both floors. The extinguishers should be kept in any easily accessible location and not behind doors that require key access.
The type of fire extinguisher
There are several different types of fire extinguishers available, and they all have specific purposes. For household use, a vaporising liquid extinguisher is the best option because it is designed for putting out the most common fire types seen in homes.
It's also a good idea to have a small wet chemical extinguisher installed close to your kitchen. Wet chemical extinguishers are designed to put out fires caused by burning oil, including cooking oil on the stove-top or the ignition of built-up fat deposits in ovens and range hoods.
Education and training
As well as having a regularly revised fire plan for your home, you should also ensure that all able-bodied household members are able to successfully use your fire extinguishers. This should include teenagers and older children who are big enough to physically hold an extinguisher.
Fire extinguisher training should include knowing the locations of the extinguishers, how to remove them from their storage device, and how to prepare them to be engaged. It should also include the safest and most effective methods for putting out fires in different household locations.
If you're unsure of the best locations for your extinguishers or you don't know which type to choose, then contact your local fire extinguisher professionals for more advice. They can help you with any concerns you have and also provide the necessary training your family will need to be able to use them effectively. For more on this topic, check out a site like http://www.fireprotectionservices.com.au.