Each year in Australia, emergency services are called to around 20,000 house fires. Even if property can be replaced, it is important that you are equipped with the right safety solutions to protect your family in the event of a house fire.
While specialising in safety solutions for the construction industry, Checkpoint Group also carries a range of home protection solutions to keep you and your family safe. The following blog highlights some of the essential safety solutions for home fire protection and where to place them around your home.
Fire extinguishers for the home
When shopping for a home fire safety extinguisher, you may notice that they are labelled either A, B, E or F. This refers to the types of fires that the extinguisher will be effective against:
A – this extinguisher is effective against fires fuelled by wood, paper, plastic and cloth.
B – this extinguisher is effective against flammable and combustible liquids such as petrol, paint, wax, alcohol and more. Dry powder extinguishers are preferred for these types of fires, and water should not be used.
E – this extinguisher is effective against electrical fires such as switchboards and electrical appliances.
F – this extinguisher is effective against cooking oils and fats, making it a popular choice for the kitchen.
In addition to the above, there are also multipurpose fire extinguishers, which can be used against a range of fire types. Checkpoint Group carries ABE extinguishers, which are suitable for Class A, Class B and Class E fires. Class E refers to live electrical equipment, which is typically found within the home. Every floor of your residence should be stocked with ABE extinguishers, including the garage.
Rest assured that all home fire safety extinguishers sold by Checkpoint Group are compliant with Australian & New Zealand Standard AS/NZS 1841.
What else do I need?
Once you’ve installed extinguishers around your home, you will need an extinguisher location sign so that your family members and visitors to your property are aware of their location in the event of an emergency. This sign should be placed above each extinguisher.
You should also invest in fire blankets, which are an affordable safety solution that can be kept in cooking areas. They are easily mounted on the wall and ideal for quickly and effectively extinguishing a small cooking fire. They can also be wrapped around people if their clothing has caught fire.
You may also wish to install Innohome Stove Guard, which prevents cooking fires by detecting dangerous heat levels, sounding an alarm and cutting power to the cooktop. With more than 50% of house fires starting in the kitchen, this is a wise investment for the family home or senior living.
Checkpoint Group – Here to help
Fire safety is not something that should be taken lightly; browse our range and prepare your home today.