When fighting a fire, the flames are not the only aspect that you should be aware of. In fact, 7 out of 10 fire related deaths are from smoke inhalation rather than from burns. If there is an over-abundance of smoke in the room, play it safe and evacuate and call 911.
Emergency lighting is a very important part of a fire safety plan that's often overlooked. The smoke from a fire can make it impossible to see your way more quickly than you could imagine. Lighted exit signs and lighting that shows the way to the exit must be put in place and maintained so they'll work perfectly during a fire.
Did you know that different types of extinguishers contain a variety of chemical agents used to put out fires? Extinguishers are filled with dry powders, foams, carbon dioxide, and even water. Each of these agents are used for a specific type of combustible material.
If you have a small business, you may feel secure in having just the one fire extinguisher to take care of any fires that may occur. Remember, it’s always wise to have a spare, just in case the fire blocks your path to your primary extinguisher.
Fires in the home can be easily prevented from the heavy devastation that they cause. Four areas of fire prevention include education, prevention detection, and response.
You'll have to consider several different factors when you're choosing and setting up your emergency lighting and signs for your fire safety plan. Energy efficiency and environment are two important ones. A fire safety company can help you choose the right lights and signage for your building.
One of the best fire safety tips you can follow is to have multiple functioning smoke alarms in your home or place business. Indeed, smoke alarms play an integral role in fire safety and give ample warning to ensure that everyone gets out safely.
There are a wide variety of fire extinguisher brackets available, ranging from a simple hook bracket that typically comes with the extinguisher to more permanent styles, which secure the body of the extinguisher with one or two metal straps.
You may feel like a hero with a fire extinguisher in hand while you are putting out a fire, but don’t become too overzealous. Always stand very far back from the fire, only moving close as the fire is diminishing. Even then, be careful as some fires can flare back up after appearing to be put out.
Don’t buy the smallest possible extinguisher since they can fully discharge in eight seconds. The extinguisher must be large enough to fully put out a fire.
Do you ever worry that your emergency lighting may fail when you need it most? Let’s talk about whether you have the right amount of lights and how often you should have them professionally serviced to ensure they function properly.
Many people are worried that home fire sprinklers will activate from things like smoke from cooking, but they’re only activated by the actual heat from the flames. They can be a smart choice that can also reduce insurance premiums.
Space heaters may provide some comfort during the cold season, but they may also provide you with a house fire if you aren’t careful. When using a space heater, always be sure it is at least three feet away from any flammable objects and never leave it on while you aren’t in the room.
Wondering what the letters (A, B, C, D, or sometimes K) mean on your fire extinguisher? Each one corresponds to the type of fire that the extinguisher should be used to put out. These designations are important because using the wrong type of extinguisher can be ineffective or even hazardous.
Type D fire extinguishers, designed to stop metal fires, feature a star on the body’s exterior label. Fires that involve a metal combustible, which are deemed too dangerous for the public to try to extinguish, usually involve metals like magnesium, titanium, or sodium.
What is the only type of fire extinguisher which contains water? Class A fire extinguishers. These extinguishers contain air-pressured water and are only suitable for fires involving paper materials and some plastics only – they should not be used on any other type of fire.
Some fire extinguishers are designed to handle two different types of fires. An example of this would be a “2A5B” extinguisher, which would cover a type A fire with ordinary combustible material using 2.5 gallons of water or up to five square feet of a type B fire, which involve flammable liquids.
There are three general classes of residential fire extinguishers that provide a guide as to which one is most appropriate for you. Class B: For fires involving flammable liquids such as gasoline, oil, solvents and oil-based paint. Class B fires often spread rapidly. Unless properly suppressed, they can re-flash after the flames have been extinguished.
While you can run a fire drill with your employees hundreds of times, the only time it counts is when there’s an actual fire. If you’re concerned that your current signage won’t be visible when there’s smoke and panic, it may be time to make a change.
Emergency exit signs are important safety devices that provide a visual guide towards the nearest exit by displaying an illuminated version of the word 'EXIT'. One of the most popular types utilizes efficient red or green LEDs to provide brilliant and constant illumination.
Carbon dioxide extinguishers are best in fighting fires involving flammable or combustible liquids or electrical equipment. They don’t work well on ordinary combustible fires, as they may not be able to displace enough oxygen to put the fire out completely.
The OSHA regulations that concern fire alarm systems say that the alarm signal has to be distinctly different from other sounds used in the workplace. It also must be loud enough to be heard over ambient noise by all the employees in the building.
All fire extinguishers have a pictorial marking system that indicates the suitability of that particular extinguisher in fighting different classes of fires. In this system, symbols for the types of fires the extinguisher is not suitable for will be crossed out with a single diagonal slash.
We realize that it can be difficult to properly evaluate the efficacy of your emergency lighting under normal conditions. If you’re not sure whether your emergency exits will be visible during a fire, we may be able to help you.