Did you know that common, everyday tasks are most often responsible for house fires? Usually, these tasks start out as perfectly safe, but become a fire hazard when they are not properly attended to or go unnoticed. For this reason, it’s incredibly important to invest in proper fire safety equipment that will not only alert you in the case of an emergency, but will allow you to immediately extinguish small house fires. In this article, we take a look at the three most common causes for house fires, so you can focus on prevention – rather than having to deal with the dangerous aftermath. 

Unattended Cooking and Cooking Equipment

For decades, unattended cooking and cooking equipment are a major cause of household fires. These types of fires can usually be easily prevented and are usually a cause of not keeping a close enough eye on your culinary masterpiece. There are a number of other factors that can contribute to cooking fires, so it’s important to be prepared in case you need to act quickly to extinguish one.

Fireline.com tells us more about why unattended cooking and cooking equipment is one of the leading causes of household fires:

“The most recent piece of data from the NFPA show that cooking accounts for about half of all house fires reported every year. Almost half of these fires will cause injuries, and they’re the second leading cause of death in house fires. Since the 1980s, the amount of deaths and injuries has fluctuated with no real trend up or down. Most house cooking fires are smaller fires that do not spread beyond the pan, oven, or container in which they started. While these are considered smaller fires, more than half of the non-fatal injuries were caused when people tried to control the fire. Cooking grease, oil, and other fats are the top causes of fires that begin in the kitchen. Fire suppression systems and proper fire safety protocols can help you in case of a cooking fire.”

Cigarettes and Smoking

While smoking indoors may have become a thing of the past in public places, that doesn’t mean that residents are not still actively smoking in their own homes. Due to the fact that smoking cigarettes quite literally involves using a flame, this is still one of the most common culprits of household fires. 

Fuse Insurance explains what you can do to prevent fires caused by cigarettes and smoking:

“According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), the leading cause of fire fatalities comes from the use of smoking materials. Cigarette butts and ashes can cause beds, curtains, carpets, and other furniture to ignite in seconds. If you are smoking, do it outside when possible, or use an ashtray to reduce your fire risk. Do not put out cigarettes in planters or potted plants, as potting soil contains peat moss. Peat moss will smoulder for hours then eventually ignite, leading to a significant fire in minutes. This is one of the primary causes of catastrophic fires in Canadian multi-family residences.”

Heating Equipment

It will come as no surprise that heating equipment is another leading cause of house fires, with space heatings being responsible for a large number of cases. Simply leaving a flammable object too close to a space heater can quickly cause a fire, making these portable devices a significant fire hazard.

FirstAlert.com tells us more on how you can prevent heating equipment from starting a potentially devastating house fire:

“When the weather turns colder, we are going to heat our home. Space heaters should be used if only a small portion of your home needs to be heated. Keep your space heater away from anything that could easily catch fire, including curtains, laundry, blankets, and furniture. If your home relies on a furnace during the winter, call a professional to get it inspected once a year to ensure it is running properly. Carbon monoxide can be produced by any fuel burning device, like your stove or furnace. For protection against a possible carbon monoxide leak, have carbon monoxide alarms. Alarms should be installed on every level of your home, outside of each sleeping area, and inside every bedroom. Test the alarms monthly to ensure it is functioning properly and replace the batteries every six months.”

Fire-Alert takes pride in equipping homeowners with all necessary fire safety devices to ensure the well-being of families across the nation. Reach out to us using our contact form to find out more.

When buying a new home, fire safety is probably not the first thing on your mind – and if it is, good for you! More than likely, you’re thinking about the more exciting aspects of moving into a new home, including who’s going to get which room and the large kitchen space with plenty of storage. Having said that, fire safety should be thoroughly observed when moving into a new house. This not only includes making sure that the house doesn’t contain faulty wiring, but establishing a fire escape plan for yourself and your family in the event of an emergency. We’re going to take a look at our top fire safety tips when purchasing a new home, so you can know exactly where you stand when it comes to your family’s safety. 

Take Note of All Smoke Alarms and Check the Batteries Regularly 

Legally, there must be more than one smoke alarm in your home and this includes laws on exactly where they must be positioned. While it’s not necessary to demand that these smoke alarms are installed before you move into your new house, it’s important to make sure they are purchased and installed as soon as you move in. 

FireProtectionBlog.com tells us more on where your smoke alarms must be installed throughout your new home:

“Notice where your home’s smoke alarms are installed and check the batteries after you move in. You should have an alarm on each level of your home, inside each bedroom and outside any sleeping areas (like an upstairs hallway). If you need additional ones, install them as soon as possible. You should also test each alarm’s batteries each month to make sure they’re still working, and always change the batteries immediately if needed.”

Put Together a Fire Escape Plan

You will likely have just minutes to escape in the event of a fire, so it’s important that you establish a fire escape plan with your family. Taking just a few moments of your time to ensure that your family knows what to do in the event of a fire could quite literally save lives.

Fireline explains why putting together a fire escape plan is crucial to your family’s safety:

“If a fire occurs, you might have less than two minutes to get to safety. That is why it is vital for everyone to have an escape plan. Each family member should know of two ways to escape from every single room in your home. Practice the escape plan with your family at least twice a year.”

Check All Wiring

Checking to make sure the wiring isn’t faulty is something that should be established in a home inspection before you buy your home – unless you’re willing to shell out thousands of dollars either way to fix this critical issue.

Trulia.com tells us why you should investigate all wiring before you buy your home:

“According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), about 48% of home electrical fires involve “electrical distribution or lighting equipment.” No doubt, wiring is an important consideration before buying a home. Whether your home is very old, has been recently renovated, or is new construction, it’s never a bad idea to hire a licensed electrician to check all wiring and outlets just to make sure there’s no chance of overload or sparking (preferably before your closing date!). Also check for animal damage outside and around the house — mice and other rodents often chew on electrical insulation. Damaged wires are a fire hazard and need to be replaced.”

Fire-Alert takes pride in equipping homeowners with all necessary fire safety devices to ensure the well-being of families across the nation. Reach out to us using our contact form to find out more.

Fire extinguishers are not only incredibly handy to have in the event of a small fire breakout, but they can potentially be lifesaving. The downside is that once the fire is completely extinguished, you’ll be left with a substantial amount of fire extinguisher residue. It’s important to know how to clean up this residue for a variety of reasons – firstly, you’ll be able to assess the real damage to your home underneath the fire extinguisher residue. You’ll also be able to minimize potential respiratory irritation, which can be caused by the ammonium phosphate and ammonium sulfate powder that are often found in ABC fire extinguishers. In this article, we explain how to properly clean up fire extinguisher residue, so you can know the proper procedure regardless of the type of extinguisher.

Understand Your Fire Extinguisher

Understanding your fire extinguisher is key to ensuring that you are able to properly clean up any residue that will come from extinguishing a fire. Not all fire extinguishers use the same chemical makeup in their extinguishing agent, and will include either wet or dry chemicals.

Fireline.com expands more on why it’s important to understand the chemical makeup of your fire extinguishing agent: 

“Before starting any cleanup, you must identify the chemicals used as an extinguishing agent. All fire extinguishers have a tag or label which identifies the type and class of extinguishing agent. Agents could include water, dry or wet chemicals, foam or Carbon Dioxide (CO2). Pressurized water fire extinguishers or CO2 fire extinguishers will not leave chemical residue. Drying the area to remove any lingering moisture is all that is necessary. If foam fire extinguishers are used, any residue should be diluted and dried thoroughly. You can sanitize those areas or spot clean any remaining residue,if needed. They might even need more intensive cleaning.”

Cleaning Fire Extinguisher Residue from a Dry Chemical Extinguisher

Dry chemical extinguishers can be  used for class A, B, and C fires and are therefore the most common and most versatile fire extinguishers as they can put out class A, B, and C fires. However, these types of fire extinguishers contain fire fighting agents like monoammonium phosphate, sodium bicarbonate, and potassium bicarbonate, which leave behind a corrosive powder. Not only can this powder be potentially damaging to your respiratory system, but it can also cause damage to electronics and metal surfaces if left to sit. 

FireSystems.net explains how to safely and effectively clean up fire extinguisher residue from a dry fire extinguisher:

1. Vacuum or sweep up as much of the excess residue as possible

2. Mix together a solution of 50% isopropyl alcohol and 50% warm water then spray the area to break up the leftover silicone. Let the solution settle for about five minutes then rinse the area using warm water.

3. To treat sodium bicarbonate and potassium bicarbonate based dry chemicals, mix together a solution using 98% hot water and 2% vinegar and wash the area with it. Let the solution settle for about five minutes then rinse the area using   warm water.

4. To treat monoammonium phosphate based dry chemicals, mix together a solution using hot water and baking soda. Let the solution settle for about five minutes  then rinse the area using warm water.

5. Wash and rinse the area with a solution made of soap and water.

6. Use a fan to spot dry the wet areas.

Cleaning Up Wet Chemical Residue

Wet chemical fire extinguishers are most often used for class K fires. Class K fires are those that are fueled by flammable liquids that are unique to cooking, such as cooking oils and greases. Although easier to clean than dry chemical extinguishers, there are extra precautions that should be taken while doing so.

Koorsen Fire & Security expands on the potential dangers of cleaning up wet chemical residue:

“Class K wet chemical fire extinguishers are used in commercial kitchens to fight cooking fires. These extinguishers use a wet mixture of alkaline chemicals such as potassium carbonate, potassium acetate, or potassium citrate that turns into a foam, which blankets the fire depriving it of oxygen. Because this type of extinguisher is used primarily in commercial kitchens and around cooking appliances, one of the most important steps is to turn off all power to any equipment prior to cleaning it. Make sure everything is completely dry before turning any power back on for any appliance.”

Fire-Alert takes pride in equipping homeowners with all necessary fire safety devices to ensure the well-being of families across the nation. Reach out to us using our contact form to find out more.

Not only is it illegal to not have a working smoke alarm on every storey and outside all sleeping areas in your home, but they are absolutely detrimental to yours and your family’s safety in the event of a fire. A smoke detector notifies occupants when there’s a smoke or a fire, giving them enough time to be able to safely leave the building. Having said this, part of the legal requirement of having smoke alarms is ensuring that your smoke detectors are in working order, whether you’re the homeowner or a tenant renting out the space. We’re going to take a look at how often you should check your smoke detectors, so you can make sure you can rely on them in the event of an emergency.

Why Should I Check My Smoke Detectors?

You may think that just because your smoke detector isn’t making noise to the point that it’s becoming an overall nuisance, that you don’t have to check it. But in fact, it’s important to check your smoke detectors to ensure that the battery didn’t simply go dead, or that it’s performing at its peak ability.

Fireline.com expands on why it’s so important to check your smoke detectors:

“Electronic devices are not invincible. Batteries die, and smoke detectors become less sensitive over time. Dirt and dust can also affect performance. You must regularly check your detectors and replace their batteries. In fact, a good practice is to replace detector batteries, if so equipped, every time you change your clocks in the fall and spring. Some newer detectors come with long-life batteries that don’t need replacement.”

Are There Different Kinds of Smoke Detectors?

You may have noticed as you’ve moved over the years that there are different types of smoke detectors – the ones that are battery-operated and the ones that are hardwired. There are certainly pros and cons to each of these devices, however, hard wired smoke detectors tend to come on top in the “most preferred” department.

Craig Lloyd of HowToGeek.com tells us more about these two different kinds of smoke detectors:

“On top of the different types of sensors, smoke alarms also come in two different types of power connectivity: battery-operated or hardwired into your home’s electrical system. Hardwired smoke alarms are arguably the best because not only do you not need to worry about changing the batteries, they’re also interconnected. This means that if one alarm goes off, then all of the other alarms go too, which is great if you have a larger house and there’s the possibility of not being able to hear one alarm go off from across the house.Not all houses are wired for smoke alarms, though, which is where battery-operated units come into play. They’re also easier to install, since there are no wires to deal with.”

How Often Should I Check My Smoke Detectors?

Now, for the question you’ve been waiting for – how often should you check your smoke detectors? Even though there are different types of smoke detectors, with one’s power supply arguably lasting much longer than the other, they need to be checked at the exact same interval – once per month.

CanadaSafetyCouncil.org expands more on why homeowners must be checking their smoke detectors at least 12 times per year:

“Test your alarm monthly by pushing the test button. Once a year, use a smoldering cotton string, cigarette or incense until the smoke makes the alarm sound. If the alarm is battery-powered and doesn’t sound, replace it with a new battery and try again. If it’s electrically connected to household circuits and doesn’t sound, check the fuse and try again. In either case, if the alarm still isn’t working, replace the entire unit.”

Fire-Alert takes pride in equipping homeowners with all necessary fire safety devices to ensure the well-being of families across the nation. Reach out to us using our contact form to find out more.

No matter how different your usual Christmas festivities may look this year in light of the Covid-19 pandemic, odds are, there will still be at least some similarities. If you’re having a small festive celebration in your home with flickering lights and winter greens, this can unfortunately present fire risks that can quickly turn devastating if the proper precautions aren’t taken. With fire safety risks increasing during the holiday season, special care and attention needs to be taken in our homes. We’re going to take a look at our fire safety tips for this time of year, to add another important element of safety to your holiday season.

Real Vs. Artificial Tree

Whether you opt for a real Christmas tree or an artificial tree, there are still fire hazards that go along with each of them. While you may already know that your real tree can be a fire hazard if you don’t take care of it properly, you may not know that your artificial tree may not be fire resistant. 

Toronto firefighters tell the Toronto Sun what to look out for when it comes to both real and artificial trees:

“When buying a tree there are considerations such as a real tree should be fresh with green needles that are hard to pull off and the stand should be kept filled with water. An artificial tree should have a fire-resistant label. All trees should be kept away from fireplaces and radiators.”

Holiday Cooking

If you’re still indulging in your famous Christmas turkey this year (and you should be!), it’s important that you don’t allow yourself to get distracted. There are many important elements to ensuring that both your house and kitchen are prepared for fire safety, including checking to ensure that your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors are working.

Fireline.com tells us why cooking is the number one cause of holiday fires:

“The most common culprit is unattended food on the stove. It’s easy to get distracted; take a potholder when you leave the kitchen as a friendly reminder that you’ve got something on the stove. Remember to keep an extinguisher in your kitchen area, and check your smoke detectors to make sure they’re working. If you are planning to deep-fry a turkey or ham, do it outside on a flat and level surface at least 20 feet from your house.”

Give Space Heaters Space

Last but not least, if using space heaters to keep in that extra bit of holiday warmth, it’s important to give them space. Space heaters can pose significant fire and electric shock hazards if not used properly and if set too close to other objects. Fire and electrical hazards can also be caused by space heaters without adequate safety features, if they’re placed near combustibles, or are improperly plugged in.

The Ontario Association of Fire Chiefs tells us why it’s important to keep your space heaters as far away from other objects as possible:

“If you are using space heaters to help take the chill off, remember to keep them at least one metre (3 feet) away from anything that can burn such as curtains, upholstery, or holiday decorations.”

Fire-Alert takes pride in equipping homeowners with all necessary fire safety devices to ensure the well-being of families across the nation. Reach out to us using our contact form to find out more.

The portable fire extinguishers you see in those glass cases on the wall in commercial buildings have proven to be extremely effective against small fires, with a 95% success rate. But due to the rate in which fires spread and the fact that these portable extinguishers are only designed to control fires in their earliest stages, it’s especially important to ensure that a fire extinguisher is ready and available in multiple locations in your commercial building. While Chapter 6.2 of the NFPA (National Fire Protection Association) 10 covers the specific nitty-gritty details about how many fire extinguishers your building needs, we’re happy to offer this guide to give you an idea of how many fire extinguishers you need based on your building’s size and fire hazard level.

Is My Building Required To Have a Fire Extinguisher?

It’s important to note that buildings of all kinds are required to contain fire extinguishers – excluding family homes. This includes apartment occupancies, business occupancies, educational occupancies, mercantile occupancies and more.

Qrfs.com gives us more information as to where this requirement is located in the NFPA:

“Fire extinguishers are required in industrial, commercial, and residential buildings listed in NFPA 1: Fire Code. NFPA 1 mandates fire extinguishers in nearly every kind of building except family homes, duplexes, and manufactured homes.”

Fire Extinguisher Types & Sizes

Before you buy any fire extinguishers for your building, it’s important to understand the different types and sizes of available fire extinguishers. The reason why different types and sizes even exist, is to be able to adequately fight different classes of fires. 

Unifourfire.com breaks down the different fire classes to know when shopping for fire extinguishers:

• “Class A fires, which are the most common. They are comprised of ordinary combustible products, including wood, paper, plastic, and fabric. Just about every commercial building is at risk for a Class A fire.

• Class B fires, involving flammable liquids or gases, such as gasoline, oil, propane, and kerosene.

• Class C fires, which describes fires that involve electrical wiring and thus pose the threat of electrocution.”

It’s important to note that the best way of being prepared to combat all three of these most common classes of fire, is to buy multi-purpose ABC fire extinguishers. These types of fire extinguisher will have size ratings attached to them, which indicate greater fire extinguishing capacity depending on how high the number is.

Location & Placement

Last but certainly not least, the location and placement of each fire extinguisher is crucial to preventing the spread of common types of fires in the early stages. It’s important to be mindful of the location and placement requirements by different class fire hazards, which is outlined in the NFPA. 

Firesystems.net explains why location is important when it comes to the prevention of the spread of fires:

“Having the correct type of fire extinguisher for the correct hazard is essential, but so is location. NFPA 10, the standard for portable fire extinguishers, says that fire extinguishers should be located where they are readily accessible and available in the event of a fire. That means extinguishers should be located along paths of travel for ease of access in the event of a fire. Another requirement is visibility. Fire extinguishers need to be visible. If that’s not possible, signage should be installed to indicate the location of the fire extinguisher(s).”

While having a fire detector in your home is not mandatory by law, it is strongly recommended. Fire-Alert takes pride in equipping homeowners with all necessary fire safety devices to ensure the well-being of families across the nation. Reach out to us using our contact form to find out more.

A fire alarm system going off is a sound that we all recognize. While a smoke detector can be a lifesaving device, it can also easily signal a false alarm – and when a false alarm becomes a regular occurrence, it can become a huge inconvenience. We’re going to take a look at what causes a smoke detector false alarm so you can avoid those unpleasant occurrences and you can also ensure that your fire alarm system is working correctly.

Dirt, Dust and Insects

Surprisingly enough, dirt, dust, and insects can cause false alarms in your smoke detector – and the older your smoke detector is, the more time this debris has to accumulate. This buildup has the ability to interfere with your smoke detector’s sensors and cause a false alarm to be triggered. 

Fireprotectionblog.com tells us more about this unexpected cause of a smoke detector false alarm:

“As surprising as it might seem, insects can cause smoke detectors’ false alarms. Some are so small that they can get inside the device and interfere with the detector’s sensors. Besides, accumulated dust and dirt can also make the detector overly sensitive, increasing the chances of a false alarm.”

The Unit is Within 10 Feet From Your Kitchen

Odds are, if you regularly cook your own food, you’ve set off a fire alarm at some point in your lifetime. With many fire alarms being located within 10 feet from your kitchen (even though it is advised that they are not installed so close), not setting off your fire alarm when there’s a sudden excess of smoke is nearly an impossible task.

Lee Wallender of The Spruce expands on the most common household reason for a smoke detector to trigger a false alarm:

“Cooking smoke, even when it is not visible, can trigger your smoke alarm. Manufacturers generally recommend that you install the unit more than 10 feet away from cooking areas due to the high number of false alarms triggered by smoke.”

Steam or High Humidity

Did you know that it’s not only smoke that can set off your smoke alarm? Both steam and high humidity have the potential for setting off your smoke alarm, due to that fact that the makeup of these kinds of particles can be mistaken for smoke particles.

Vivint.com tells us why even your morning hot, steamy shower has the potential for setting off your smoke alarm:

“High humidity carries dense moisture particles that your smoke detector may confuse for smoke particles. In extreme cases, the air is dense enough to scatter the light beam of a photoelectric sensor or cling onto the ions in an ionization chamber. The same concept applies to steam. So, if your smoke detector sits right outside a steamy bathroom, you may want to move it to a different location.”

Fire-Alert takes pride in equipping homeowners with all necessary fire safety devices to ensure the well-being of families across the nation. Reach out to us using our contact form to find out more.

Fire sprinklers are one of the most effective methods to fighting a fire in the early stages and are widely accepted across residential homes and businesses. Fire sprinklers are put in place to save your property from the devastating effects of a spreading fire as quickly as possible, but first and foremost, to protect lives. In this article, we expand on the importance of fire sprinklers and how they work to detect heat within your home or workplace. 

Protecting Lives

First and foremost, the importance of installing fire sprinklers is to protect lives. In fact, according to the NFPA, the chances of dying in a fire and the average property loss per fire are both cut by one-half to two-thirds when fire sprinklers have been properly installed.

Fireprotectionblog.com expands on the most important reason that fire sprinklers are used:

“Without a doubt, the most important role that fire sprinklers play is in protecting the lives of those who occupy the building. The NFPA reports, “the civilian death rate was 81% lower in homes with fire sprinklers than in homes without them.” During a fire, sprinkler systems are activated early on to fight a fire and increase the likelihood of surviving a fire. Fire sprinkler systems slow the spread of a fire and allow people to safely evacuate a building and reduce the amount of toxic fumes released by a fire.”

Detecting Heat

You may be surprised to know that fire sprinklers work by detecting heat in the building and not smoke. While this may seem as though fire sprinklers are not as sensitive as smoke detectors, they are designed not to be for good reason.

Guardian Fire Protection Services tells us more about what triggers fire sprinklers:

“Contrary to popular belief, fire sprinklers are not triggered by smoke. It’s an easy mistake to make, since heat is carried upward with smoke from a fire. But if smoke was the trigger, simply burning your toast in the office kitchen could be enough to drench the kitchen with water from a fire sprinkler head.”

Efficiency and Function

With a life saving tool as valuable as fire sprinklers, it’s incredibly important to make sure that they are regularly maintained and inspected to ensure that they’re in perfect working order. This will ensure that in the event of an emergency, the fire is put out as quickly and efficiently as possible.

Judd Fire Protection talks about the many benefits of fire sprinklers that have been well maintained and annually inspected:

“Fire Sprinklers that are well maintained and inspected annually have been responsible for saving many lives. Because they are so efficient at stopping fires before they spread and cause extensive damage and injuries, the fires are stopped before they grow. In addition, not only are they used in commercial office spaces, but they are also used in restaurant eating areas, commercial kitchens, warehouses and industrial settings, multi-family homes, and single-family residences.”  

Fire-Alert takes pride in equipping homeowners with all necessary fire safety devices to ensure the well-being of families across the nation. Reach out to us using our contact form to find out more.

One of the most important aspects of successfully fighting a fire is ensuring that it is detected as soon as possible. Early detection of a fire can not only minimize the damage to the building itself, but can allow for the safe exit of any building occupants. When it comes to how a fire may be detected, the methods available go far beyond your standard smoke alarm that’s installed in your residential home. We’re going to take a look at the different types of fire detection, so you can be fully aware of all the options that are available to you.

Smoke Detectors

Smoke detectors are the most commonly used fire detection devices and can be found in the majority of both residential homes and commercial buildings. The three most common smoke detectors are ionization, photoelectric, and combination ionization/photoelectric. All three of these smoke detectors sound an alarm when they identify smoke so they can notify the building’s occupants. Each of these detectors work differently from the other in the way that they detect smoke.

Alarm New England explains the science behind ionization smoke detectors:

“This type of smoke detector uses ionized particles to detect the presence of smoke. Each ionization smoke detector holds a tiny amount of radioactive material, which is placed between two electrically charged plates. The reaction between these components causes the ionization of air. This in turn creates a current between the two plates. When smoke gets into the detector, the current is disrupted and the alarm is triggered. Ionization smoke detectors are know to work better with flaming fires—these are fires with aggressive, open flames. Their effectiveness with other types of fires, such as smoldering fires, isn’t as great. That is why we have another type of smoke detector.”

Heat Detectors

Heat detectors are most commonly used in the areas where smoke alarms cannot be installed. It is not the most practical to install a smoke alarm in a kitchen which is regularly filled with smoke, or a garage that may often deal with fumes. In these cases, installing a heat detector may be a more practical option.

Kinetixfire.com tells us what we need to know about how heat detectors work:

Heat detectors detect the presence of heat and an increase in air temperature. These detectors have few false alarms but, they take longer to identify a fire than a smoke detector. They’re ideal in situations where smoke detectors may cause false alarms such as steamy, humid, or dusty environments. Infrequently occupied areas like storage facilities, warehouses, or machine rooms also use these types of detectors.

Flame Detectors

Flame detectors are not used in the same way as your smoke alarm or heat detector. Flame detectors are generally used in large industrial process gas heaters and are connected to the flame control system, acting as both flame quality monitors and for flame failure detection. You may also find them in your residential home, connected to your gas furnace or boiler.

Chemicalprossessing.com tells us what the benefits are of flame detectors, especially in the chemical and refining industries:

“Fires and explosions are common hazards in the chemical and refining industries. Unexpected releases of flammable liquids and gases can ignite, sometimes violently, when mixed with air, leading to injury and property damage. Energy-sensing flame detectors can enhance the safety of processes involving flammable materials by triggering an alarm when a fire erupts, thus providing early warning and helping ensure people’s safety.”

Fire-Alert takes pride in equipping homeowners with all necessary fire safety devices to ensure the well-being of families across the nation. Reach out to us using our contact form to find out more.

When you live or work in a high rise building, it is incredibly important to think ahead and be prepared in the event that a fire breaks out. Understanding the safety features of your building or unit needs to be a top priority and you must ensure that either your employer or your landlord/building manager clearly lays out the emergency procedures that are outlined in the building’s fire safety plan. It’s important to remember that every fire is different and protocol may not be exactly the same for every situation. We’re going to take a look at what you need to know when it comes to fire safety for high rise buildings.

Prepare

As mentioned, making sure you’re fully prepared for the event of a fire in a high rise building is essential to ensuring that everyone is unharmed. Not only should you make sure you’re asking questions if you feel unclear about the procedures that have been set in place, but you should read the building’s evacuation plan, which should be readily available and clearly visible in your building. 

Safetyandhealthmagazine.com tells us the first thing that should always be done in the event of a possible fire in a high rise building:

“Find out what the building’s evacuation plan is. The Illinois Emergency Management Agency says it should be posted in high-traffic areas. Next, you and your co-workers should routinely practice your floor’s escape plan. Remember: Fire exits, doorways, halls and stairways should never be blocked. If you notice that a fire safety system device is damaged, report it to management right away.”

Stay in Place

It’s important to remember that when living or working in a high rise building, sometimes it’s actually safer for you to stay in place, rather than attempt to leave the building. Of course, this is dependent on the particular circumstances of the fire, but the fact remains, it can make far more sense to keep yourself out of harm’s way if the fire is contained in one area of the building.

Lewis Smith, Canada Safety Council spokesperson explains on Globalnews.ca why sometimes the best thing you can do is stay put:

“It’s also generally a good idea to stay in place if there’s smoke or fire outside your exit door, if you have a disability that might make evacuation more difficult than your average person, or if you waited just a bit too long to evacuate and the fire department is in place and attempting to ventilate the fire.” 

Leaving the Building

Sometimes it is absolutely necessary to leave the building, especially if  you are close to the source of the fire or if the fire is rapidly spreading. However, there are some courses of action that you should not take when attempting to leave the building – and attempting to use the elevator is on the top of this list.

Toronto.ca expands on why you must never try to leave the building by elevator in the event of a fire: 

“During a fire emergency, never attempt to leave a building by an elevator. Heat can activate elevator call buttons, sending the elevator to the fire floor, where dense smoke may interfere with the elevator’s light-sensitive eye and prevent the door from closing. Also, you may become trapped in the elevator if water from fire fighting operations creates a power failure. In addition, firefighters require designated elevators to carry them and their equipment to the floor below the fire.”

Fire-Alert takes pride in equipping homeowners with all necessary fire safety devices to ensure the well-being of families across the nation. Reach out to us using our contact form to find out more.