What would you do if you heard the fire alarm in your house go off? Would you quickly grab the fire extinguisher? Do you own a fire extinguisher and know where it is located? In this blog, you will learn where to mount fire extinguishers in home.
Fires start unexpectedly and give you little time to react. It is therefore essential to act fast to prevent it from spreading. That is why your fire extinguisher must be in spots easily accessible.
Where to Mount Fire Extinguishers in Your Home?
The best idea is to have multiple fire extinguishers in your home. However, some spots are more prone to fires or more accessible. About 62 percent of Americans approximately count on a fire extinguisher, and having one could save you from catastrophic damage.
Moreover, not all Americans know how to handle it, which is incorrect because when you get one, you must have guidelines. Also, most fires could come from the electric system or the kitchen. It has been studied that half of Americans don’t have experience in electrical fires, demonstrating that they are not trying to learn about fires and how to control them.
But have you ever thought about what is the best place to have an extinguisher? Well, there exist various places where you can install a fire extinguisher. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) assures “one 2-A fire extinguisher for every 3,000 square feet.”
Besides, a recent study by the NFPA demonstrated that 56% of house fires know the origin. For that reason, it is vital to count with various extinguishers. Remember that there exist multiple types of fire extinguishers, so it means you must rely on the correct one.
Are you not confident about where to mount fire extinguishers in home? Following, you will find a list of the most important places to put a fire extinguisher:
- The Kitchen
- Mount Fire Extinguishers on Every Floor
- Areas Near Heating Installations
- Garages and Workshops
- The Bedrooms
The Kitchen
No other spot in the house sees more naked flames than the kitchen. The US Fire Administration says most of the fires reported in homes start in the kitchen, meaning 50.2% of the fire report. Cooking equipment is the culprit most of the time.
Place the fire extinguisher within 30 feet of your stove. However, take care not to place it where flames or smoke can impede access to it. A fire extinguisher in the kitchen remains useless if it cannot be quickly used when necessary.
For small kitchens, fix the extinguisher on a wall nearby. In the kitchen, you can find flammable objects that could spread fire quickly.
Mount Fire Extinguishers on Every Floor
Put a fire extinguisher on each floor in your home. It means occupants who need it will not need to climb up or down the stairs to use it. It makes it easier to prevent fire from spreading from floor to floor. Some houses count with extra spaces, a basement or attic, so every area must count with one.
Fires start anywhere, especially where there is electrical wiring. Therefore, remember the basement and attic when placing extinguishers.
Areas Near Heating Installations
Household heating equipment and installations cause a lot of fire. Place an extinguisher near your chimney or fireplace, stoves, and room heater. Ensure the extinguishers are not too close to the source of heat. Did you know that one in six home fires start from damaged heating systems?
Moreover, if you let the dust accumulate in the heating motors or let the air filter get clogged, you can suffer from a fire. Be sure to count on a maintenance schedule. After kitchens, most home fires come from heating systems making them more dangerous.
Garages and Workshops
People keep combustible materials in their garage to keep them out of the way. However, garage and workshop power tools may start electric fires when they produce sparks. Keep a fire extinguisher close by when using them.
Garages require special extinguishers that can contain fires from liquids and oil. Therefore, make sure the fire extinguishers are rated for flammable liquids and grease fires.
Ensure your access to the extinguisher is not blocked by keeping your garage tidy.
The Bedrooms
When you have to respond to a home fire in the night, you will most likely be in your bedroom. As such, keep a portable fire extinguisher in there, so you can have quick access to it. That is important even when the fire is not burning in your room.
Train everybody in your house to use extinguishers for fire prevention correctly, including the children.
When selecting where to mount a fire extinguisher in your home, your goal is to have it ready when you need one. Remember to kill the fire before it spreads.
Get Professional Assistance When Needed
Whenever you need fire protection services, do not hesitate to contact our experts. Through proactive methods and installing products such as fire suppressors, we will help you prevent a fire.