Maintaining the home is something that every property owner has to consider, especially with regards to safety, what with the risk of fire being on everyone’s mind, especially with the massive bush fires we have had to endure here in Australia.
Here is a list of essential home safety services to ensure that your property is protected.
Smoke Alarm Installation & Maintenance
A fire can take hold at any time and having smoke detectors installed in all the right places gives you that essential early warning, which could save you and your family’s lives. Smoke detectors need to be located in the kitchen, the hallway, bedrooms and the upstairs landing, and with regular testing and battery replacement, you can be sure they will alert you in the event of a fire.
Fire Extinguishers
Around 90% of all fires are put out or kept under control by the use of a portable fire extinguisher, which highlights the need to have a few in the right locations. All portable fire extinguishers need to be inspected every 6 months, and if serviced by Jim’s Fire Safety, the following are checked:
- External damage
- Signs of corrosion
- Accessibility
- Contents full charge
- Support bracket
- Weight
Fire Blanket Inspection & Testing
A fire blanket is one of the most effective ways to extinguish a fire, as when applied, it deprives the fire of oxygen, and a fire blanket is ideal for cooking and clothing fires. According to AS 1851, a fire blanket should be inspected every 6 months, with the following inspections:
- Prominent location
- Readily accessible
- Installed correctly
- Check that the blanket is correctly folded for easy use
- Check for damage or contamination
RCD Safety Switch Testing
Every home or commercial premises should have an RCD safety switch that cuts off the power in the case of a malfunction, and in a domestic environment, the RCD safety switch should be tested every 2 years. Should there be a short circuit, for example, the safety switch would automatically shut off the power, thus avoiding the risk of an electrical fire.
Emergency Lighting
If the power should go off at night, you need to have a battery powered set of emergency lights that will enable you to find your way around, and this is yet another system that can protect you and your loved ones in the event of an emergency.
It simply isn’t worth the risk of assuming that fires happen to other people, and installing the right early warning systems could be the difference between life and death. In the event you have yet to install any of the above in your home or business premises, a Google search will help you to locate a local fire safety specialist, who can come and survey your property and make suitable recommendations. Not only can they install critical smoke detectors and fire extinguishers, they can also check the systems at regular intervals, which gives you the peace of mind that any fire can be quickly dealt with before too much damage occurs.
