Wherever you call home, we know just how precious it is. Our friends at Chubb have put together 5 tips to help protect your home from fire as part of their ‘Art of protection’ series. Read through them below.
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1. Keep the attic clear
Keeping excess paper and cardboard in your attic dramatically increases the risk and severity of a potential fire. Keep your attic tidy – if you have old, wooden furniture in there, consider relocating it. Cardboard boxes and documents should be removed as much as possible. Even better – install a smoke alarm and check it operates regularly.
2. Have an evacuation plan
It sounds simple, but in the event of a fire even the most familiar surroundings can quickly become disorientating or inaccessible due to smoke. Plan for everyone in your household – young children and elderly especially. You should have two potential exits from each room, including windows and doors. Consider having a floor plan of the house drawn out, marking potential exit routes and points and share with your family.
3. Turn off all lights when not at home
Leaving the lights on whilst away is often considered a burglary deterrent, but a far more common occurrence are fires caused by overheating sockets and faulty wiring. This is especially true for older homes. Both bulbs and fixtures can become incredibly hot when left on for long periods of time, and when unattended can cause devastating house fires. If you are going away, invest in timers for your lights so they are not left on constantly, as well as LED bulbs which give off considerably less heat.
4. Check your electrical appliances have been tested for electrical safety
They should have a British or European safety mark when you buy them. This applies especially to white goods you may use regularly – the fridge, washing machine and tumble dryer. Tumble dryers in particular need to have their filter cleaned often, and if using extension sockets, be sure to never use more than one plug per socket, especially for high powered appliances.
5. Keep magnifying mirrors out of direct sunlight
That vanity mirror on your dressing table can focus the Sun’s rays intensively onto nearby curtains or furniture, which can cause severe fires. It sounds outlandish but it is becoming an increasingly common issue. The same can be said of glass ornaments and even glasses of water which are left in prolonged sunlight. Have a quick look around your home and keep window sills clear of these objects.
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