Fire safety in the home is important to protect one's home and the people living in it from the devastating consequences of a fire. Common household fire hazards are:
- Electricity / Socket
- Electrical appliances
- Cooker
- Open flames
To reduce the risk of fires in the home and to react quickly in case of emergency, we provide tips on fire safety in the home.
1. Free escape and rescue routes
The escape and rescue routes in the flat or house should be free of obstacles. All routes and doors must be freely usable at all times. If the house or flat door is locked for the night, we recommend leaving the key hanging from the inside so that you can escape quickly in case of fire.
2. Safe use of electrical appliances
To avoid short circuits and cable fires, we have the following tips for fire protection in the home.
- Do not overload sockets, e.g. if several multiple plugs are connected to each other.
- Have kinked or defective cables professionally replaced.
- Switch off the electrical appliance after use, do not leave it in stand-by mode.
- Place a fireproof mat or tile under electrical appliances.
3. Correct behaviour in the smoker's household
Fire safety in the home can be promoted by changing behaviour. Smoking in bed or on the sofa increases the risk of fire. Steadily refraining from smoking in a household reduces the likelihood of fires caused by smouldering cigarettes. It is better to smoke only on the balcony or in the garden, and to press cigarettes properly in the ashtray.
4. Safe handling of candles
Never leave candles burning unattended. Do not place candles near flammable objects (e.g. curtains, newspaper). Always place candles on a fireproof base or better in a glass. In the meantime, there are also alternatives such as LED candles, which promote safe fire protection in the household.
5. Smoke detector in the living and sleeping area
Early warning of smoke development can save lives. Smoke detectors are mandatory in all federal states for both new and existing buildings. Both rented and owner-occupied flats and houses must be equipped with smoke detectors. Smoke detectors should be installed in all bedrooms, children's rooms, hallways and living rooms and should be maintained regularly.
6. Fire extinguishers for the household
Fire extinguishers are mandatory in the commercial sector and recommended in private households. In principle, a household fire extinguisher is recommended for fire classes A, B and C. However, this combination is only available as powder extinguishers. Powder extinguishers leave behind a lot of dirt or damage, especially to electrical appliances. Therefore, we recommend the following fire extinguishers:
- Living room with electrical appliances: foam extinguisher with fire class A and B.
- Kitchen or rooms where cooking fat is used: Grease fire extinguisher with fire class F.
- Areas where gas cylinders are used (e.g. gas cooker, radiant heater, gas grill): Fire extinguisher with fire class C.
Note on the fire blanket:
Contrary to popular belief, the fire blanket is not suitable for the effective and efficient fighting of cooking oil and cooking fat fires (kitchen area). There are also major concerns about its suitability for personal fires. Detailed information on this can be found in our blog article: Extinguishing blanket for grease and incipient fires. | CWS
It is important that fire protection in the home is checked regularly. It is also advisable to practise what to do in case of fire. If you have any questions about fire protection in the home, please do not hesitate to contact us.