How to Fireproof Your Apartment
This post was provided by the Des Moines apartment experts at Haverkamp Properties
When it comes to protecting your apartment, one safety practice that is often overlooked is fireproofing. Unfortunately, not too many people actually know what fireproofing is, or how it is done. What is fireproofing and why is it needed?
Fireproofing something is to take passive fire protection measures to protect an apartment or a building in case of a fire. This is usually done by installing certain materials that are fire resistant already. The better materials you use, the better fire resistance will be achieved. Keep in mind though that this does not 100% guarantee that the item will be entirely unaffected by fire, however, it will give you a better chance of protection when the fire occurs. So, how does one fireproof an apartment? Here are some of the ways:
1. Install smoke detectors. This is your first line of defense in preventing a fire in your home. Put a smoke detector outside of every bedroom, on every level of the house, and other areas, including the basement. Make sure these smoke detectors are maintained at least once a month. Test if they are functioning correctly and change the batteries if needed.
2. Place fire extinguishers on each floor of the home or apartment in an easily accessible spot. Also, check that they are the multi-purpose extinguishers that work well on wood, grease, flammable liquid and electrical fires. Perform inspection on them monthly.
3. Practice electrical safety. Turn off coffee pots, irons and other electrical appliances as soon as you've used them. Before you leave the house, check to make sure everything is turned off. Use surge protectors whenever several devices are plugged into a single wall socket, especially energy-eaters like computers, color televisions, stereo sound systems and cordless phones. In addition to preventing damage to electrical equipment, surge protectors keep circuits and appliances from becoming suddenly overloaded. Finally, Install circuit breakers on the main lines for added protection.
If you are renting a house or apartment with an outdated or unsafe electrical system, ask the landlord to update the circuitry. Normally, property owners are eager to protect their investment and will do this willingly.
When it comes to protecting your apartment, one safety practice that is often overlooked is fireproofing. Unfortunately, not too many people actually know what fireproofing is, or how it is done. What is fireproofing and why is it needed?
Fireproofing something is to take passive fire protection measures to protect an apartment or a building in case of a fire. This is usually done by installing certain materials that are fire resistant already. The better materials you use, the better fire resistance will be achieved. Keep in mind though that this does not 100% guarantee that the item will be entirely unaffected by fire, however, it will give you a better chance of protection when the fire occurs. So, how does one fireproof an apartment? Here are some of the ways:
1. Install smoke detectors. This is your first line of defense in preventing a fire in your home. Put a smoke detector outside of every bedroom, on every level of the house, and other areas, including the basement. Make sure these smoke detectors are maintained at least once a month. Test if they are functioning correctly and change the batteries if needed.
2. Place fire extinguishers on each floor of the home or apartment in an easily accessible spot. Also, check that they are the multi-purpose extinguishers that work well on wood, grease, flammable liquid and electrical fires. Perform inspection on them monthly.
3. Practice electrical safety. Turn off coffee pots, irons and other electrical appliances as soon as you've used them. Before you leave the house, check to make sure everything is turned off. Use surge protectors whenever several devices are plugged into a single wall socket, especially energy-eaters like computers, color televisions, stereo sound systems and cordless phones. In addition to preventing damage to electrical equipment, surge protectors keep circuits and appliances from becoming suddenly overloaded. Finally, Install circuit breakers on the main lines for added protection.
If you are renting a house or apartment with an outdated or unsafe electrical system, ask the landlord to update the circuitry. Normally, property owners are eager to protect their investment and will do this willingly.
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