DIY Security Systems
Safety at home means protecting it from both internal and external threats. Children are curious about everything, even hazardous materials. And no matter how much we try to educate children or keep things in order, some of us still want to add safety measures such as fire alarms.
But other than installing fire and smoke alarms, what are some important basic home fire safety considerations? In this article, we will provide you with some fire safety at home tips and proposals for the home to ease your heart.
Choosing Home Fire Alarm Systems
A home fire alarm system can save lives and minimize the risk of fire-related accidents. Not all fire alarm systems are the same. To start, the items below will answer what are some important basic home fire safety considerations before choosing a home fire alarm system:
Compatibility
First, you have to consider why you are installing a fire alarm at home. If you plan to install a new system on top of an old one, there might be issues with integration. It is good to be familiar with old and new fire detection systems, so there are no other installation problems.
Check on Local laws and regulations.
Fire alarm systems follow local regulations and codes. You must acquaint and update yourself regularly to avoid legal hassles.
Members of the household
Since you will be protecting your family, it is a must to consider all their concerns. Do you have toddlers? Do you have a member with special needs? The engineers in charge of setting up your fire detection and alarm system should ensure that the system is proficient.
Cost and Maintenance
Other than the cost of the entire fire alarm system and the cost for installation, you will need to consider the maintenance cost carefully. Some fire alarm systems will require regular and professional checks. It is wise to find an experienced contractor you trust who can take on the role of repair and maintenance at a reasonable cost.
Choosing the best design
Professionals should install proper fire detection and fire alarm system. This way, you will be sure that the system will genuinely do its job. Professionals responsible for installing, maintaining, inspecting fire extinguishers, and testing these fire alarm systems will also be able to add input about the best design for your home.
Placement of the fire alarm system
It is crucial to identify the proper locations of fire alarms. For fire alarm systems to work, they must alert the household members in the event of smoke or fire immediately before the situation worsens. There are areas where a fire alarm must NEVER be placed. It is not advisable to place them near heating or cooling vents. Vents can stop alarms from doing their jobs by possibly blowing away smoke that should make the alarm sound off.
Height of ceiling
Twelve feet is the ceiling height limit for the smoke to reach the detectors. If it goes beyond 12 feet, heat or smoke may no longer reach the detector in time.
How loud should alarms be
The alarms should ideally sound similar to avoid confusion among members in the household. 65 dB is the minimum needed for general areas. You can add 5 dB in areas that have background noise. A visual indicator may be required for areas that are noisier than others. To wake sleeping people, 75db will be needed by the bed head. If you have members of the household that have impaired hearing, devices are subject to professional approval.
Power Supply
The fire alarm system’s control panel must have an exclusive power supply. It must be secured and labeled “FIRE ALARM DO NOT SWITCH OFF.” If the main power fails, the batteries must power the system for at least 24 hours. This answers the question of what are some important basic home fire safety considerations.
Elements Of A Fire Alarm System
Now that we have gone through what are some important basic home fire safety considerations, let’s look into some of the basic components of a fire alarm system, so we understand how it is set up to save lives.
- ALL POINTS – Fire call points are devices that will allow a person to raise the alarm in case of fire by pressing a simple, fragile element to activate the entire alarm system. Call points have to be placed in very visible and easy to reach areas.
- SMOKE DETECTORS – Smoke detectors come in three types: optical, multi-sensor, and beam detectors. These detectors have varying sensitivity and depend entirely on environment humidity.
- HEAT DETECTORS – Heat detectors can be adjusted to be fixed, rising, and a balance of both.
A fixed temperature heat detector is ideal for areas like the kitchen and the boiler room. After identifying what are some important basic home fire safety considerations together with the important components of a fire alarm system, we will end with a few practical tips in dealing with a fire emergency.
- The whole family must learn to practice fire caution when in the kitchen and when dealing with potentially hazardous equipment such as space heaters.
- You must regularly test your smoke detector.
- The adults must teach the children how to operate a fire extinguisher.
- The whole family must have a fire escape plan for emergencies.
Conclusion
Fire alarm systems are an essential part of home safety. The safety of a home should not be limited to burglaries and other external threats. Setting up a fire alarm system requires planning, it is necessary to know what are some important basic home fire safety considerations before making any decision.
I hope this article gave you enough knowledge to be excited and confident about this critical step in home safety. Investing in a proper safety system in your household should never be overlooked. Family is a priority, and their safety should always come first. Find out more about Home Fire Safety.