With winter fast approaching and people already beginning to unpack their electric heaters and blankets, what are the fire-risk implications that people need to be aware of? ASP Fire CEO Michael van Niekerk outlines the main areas of concern for homeowners.
These are known to be the causes of home fires. Fires caused by heating sources such as heaters and electric blankets are the main contributor to home fires. Always operate electrical equipment and extension cords safely to minimize any fire risk.
Simple preventative measure
These are known to cause fires when they are overloaded, as a higher current is drawn through the adaptor cord than what it is designed to carry. This may result in the overloaded wiring overheating and causing the plastic insulation to catch fire. Plugging in many different appliances exceeds the maximum current rating stated for the extension lead.
Test the earth leakage on the distribution board (DB) at least once a month by pressing the ‘TEST’ button
Test the earth leakage on the distribution board (DB) at least once a month by pressing the ‘TEST’ button. This is a simple preventative measure. The earth leakage is designed to trip the electrical supply and de-energize the circuit when there is a short circuit. A faulty earth leakage will not trip when there is a short, resulting in the electrical cables overheating, causing the plastic insulation to burn, and resulting in a preventable fire.
Protecting electrical circuits
Every DB in the home should include an earth leakage and suitably-rated circuit breakers, which protect electrical circuits from damage should there be an overload. Most homeowners believe that the circuit breaker will indicate an overloaded circuit. However, they fail to assess the electrical load on a single plug point and whether they are overloading the capacity of the wiring to that plug.
Every home should have a fire extinguisher and every family member needs to know how to use it. The acronym PASS stands for ‘Pull’ the fire pin, then ‘Aim’ at the bottom of the fire to extinguish the burning product, ‘Squeeze’ the extinguisher, and ‘Sweep’ to cover all sides. Each of the family members should practice this.
Water-Mist fire extinguisher
A water-mist fire extinguisher is effective on various types of fires and is not harmful to humans
A water-mist fire extinguisher can put out a fire and cool the ignition points and the surfaces around the affected area. All fires can be separated into different categories, depending on the type of fuel that is burning, for example, plastic, metal, or wood.
A water-mist fire extinguisher is effective on various types of fires and is not harmful to humans and the environment, unlike CO2 extinguishers or dry chemical powder (DCP) fire extinguishers, which limit vision in a confined space or room and have negative health and environmental effects on people, pets and on the surrounding area.
Cheaper annual service
A water-mist extinguisher cools the fire down. It disperses high-energy microscopic water mist particles through its nozzle to suppress fires and is safe enough to be used in any area. It also creates a protective shield that helps the users get past a hot environment so that they can escape and get their families out, which is more valuable than the property itself.
Fire extinguishers require servicing at least once a year, through a registered fire servicing company
Fire extinguishers require servicing at least once a year, through a registered fire servicing company. The water mist extinguisher, which is more costly, is however much more effective and requires a cheaper annual service when compared to a DCP extinguisher. While homeowners often invest in a residential security system, installing a fire detector is equally important. In order to receive sufficient warning about a fire to allow the family to evacuate their home safely, smoke detectors can be linked to the burglar alarm, for example.
Tricky escape environment
This is especially necessary when all are asleep and are in danger of being overcome by smoke and toxic gases. One should also have a plan to get out of the house and have the extinguisher ready to use. Users need to make sure that they protect their family particularly when they have a tricky escape environment, such as only one escape route downstairs and where they can only rely on themself in the seconds they have to survive a fire.
Fire-safety checks are essential to eliminate or reduce the risk of fire breaking out in a home. This comprises an on-site assessment in the home environment in order to establish where the risks are, and then to develop and implement specific fire-safety solutions. The biggest concern for homeowners is the misperception that it is never going to happen to me. Due to this erroneous belief, many homeowners are not educated when it comes to fire safety.