Make your premises fire safe

With little effort you can make your house fire safe, and ensure safety of your near, and dear ones. So act now.

• Know the outside rally point for your building.
• If there is a fire hydrant near your home, keep it clear of debris for easy access by the fire department.
• Ensure sufficient space around the perimeter of the building for easy manoeuvring of fire service vehicles.
• Do not park your vehicle or store any item to obstruct the access to fire fighting facilities provided in your premises.
• Do not carry out additions, and alteration in the building. Consult a trained engineer as also fire authorities before undertaking such works.
• Do not allow storages or obstructions in the common corridors, and staircases. These exit routes, if maintained clear, would help in easy escape in case of fire.
• Do not allow electric meter rooms to be used as storages, dumping places or as living quarters for servants. This is a potential fire hazards.
• Do not use the basement for anything other than permitted purposes. Basement could turn out to be a death trap due to ill ventilation. Never use basement for living or work.
• Do not decorate walls, and ceilings of common corridors with combustible material such as wooden panelling etc. These create unwarranted fire risk in the escape route in case of fire.
• Keep the roof, and gutters clear of debris, and leaves.
• Do not allow encroachments or storages in the courtyards of the building. Open courtyards are required for placing, and operating the fire, and rescue appliances in case of emergency.
• Continuous electrical ducts through the height of the building enable the fire to spread from one floor to another. Ensure these to be sealed at each floor slab level.
• Do not allow air-condition ducting to pass through one floor to another, because fire, heat, and smoke travel through these ducts, and spread to other part of the building. Sectionalize these, as far as practical, even on a particular floor, so as to limit the spread of fire, heat, and smoke, and minimise damages.
• The building material should be non-combustible type.
• All doors, windows, and compartments should be of fire resistant type as per the scale ofthe National Building Code.
• Electrical safety devices such as MB, GCD, switches, and fuses should conform to correct rating of circuit.
• Use a generator or other fuel-powered machines outside the home. Carbon mono oxide (CO) fumes are odorless and can quickly overwhelm you indoors.
• If you notice any electrical malfunctions in your home, have them examined immediately by a certified electrician. If you wait, it could be too late. Faulty electrical wiring is one of the most common causes of a preventable fire.
• If you own an old house with an outdated electrical system, have it updated as soon as possible. The old knob and tube electrical systems are unable to handle the electrical load of today’s electronics.
• Don’t store LPG cylinders against gas cylinder safety norms.
• Develop a home fire escape plan, and designate a meeting place outside. Make sure everyone in the family knows two ways to escape from every room, and home.
• Don’t place furniture or decorations in entryways or block escape routes.
• Remember to practice a home escape plan frequently with your family.
• Practice feeling your way out with your eyes closed.
• Keep important items such as medications and medical equipment handy for quick access in the event of a building evacuation.
• Keep your address and directions to your house next to your phone, in case you have to call to report an emergency.
• Have a smoke detectors installed in your home; make sure these are checked out at regular intervals.
• Never paint or coat fire detectors or sprinkler heads. If done, they will become ineffective.
• Install fire extinguishers in your home and get these refilled at regular intervals.
• Learn operation of fire extinguishers and other firefighting equipment installed in your premises.
• To the extent possible furniture, decorative items, and others should be fire resistant.
• Replace string lights that have frayed or broken cords, bulb connections, or plugs.
• Use the appropriate size, and type of power cords, and power strips of a reputed manufacturer. Overloaded cords can overheat, and cause fires.
• Don’t store LPG cylinders in basement or in dwelling rooms.

Bedroom

• Don’t run electrical cords under rugs, over nails or in high traffic areas.
• Don’t staple electrical cords to walls or otherwise pierce the insulation
• Avoid smoking inside the house; if you must smoke, do not smoke in bed, around upholstered furniture or near anything that may ignite easily.
• Don’t put ashtrays on chair or sofa arms.
• Don’t leave unattended cigarettes burning in ashtrays.

 Kitchen

• Never cook in loose-fitting, and synthetic clothes that could catch fire over the gas stove.
• Don’t leave food unattended on the stove. If you must leave the kitchen take a wooden spoon or a pot holder as a reminder.
• Don’t smack at the fire with a dishtowel, this would cause oil or grease to splash around, and cause the fire to spread.
• Never use water in putting out a cooking fire. If cooking with oil or grease, use the lid to smother the fire or an appropriate extinguisher.
• Don’t open LPG valve until you are ready to ignite the gas.
• Move anything that could easily catch fire away from ovens and stovetops. This includes oven mitts, wooden utensils, food packaging, and towels.
• Don’t let grease build up on your stove or oven.
• Don’t let crumbs build up on your toaster.
• Don’t overload electrical outlets with appliances.
• Do unplug heaters, ovens and other appliances after you turn them off.
• Do check the kitchen before going to bed. Gas closed from regulator? Oven off? Coffee pot unplugged?