Self-reliance is the rule for safety for many people. If you live in an area where the local department is more than a few minutes away because of travel time or distance, or if you are outside the limits of the nearest town, be sure you know how to be self-reliant in a emergency. Use these safety tips to help you protect home and its surroundings from fire. Intumescent Coatings can make a home a safer place for you and family. We recommend you use a Flame Retardant Spray on all fabrics.

 

Rural Safety and Prevention with the Use of Intumescent Coatings

A move from an urban center to a suburb or rural area requires you to rethink safety. First, you must be aware of special hazards near wooded areas. Second, geographic location may create longer response times for rescue services. Intumescent Coatings help buy those extra few minutes that are needed for evacuation.

If you live in the rural-urban interface, the point where homes meet combustible vegetation, you must increase role to protect lives and property in community beyond the city limits. Use a Intumescent Coatings.

 

Fire Facts about Rural Living

• Once a fire starts outdoors in a rural area, it is often hard to control. Wildland firefighters are trained to protect natural resources, not homes and buildings.
• Many homes are located far from stations. The result is longer emergency response times. Within a matter of minutes, an entire home may be destroyed.
• Limited water supply in rural areas can make suppression difficult.
• Homes may be secluded and surrounded by woods, dense brush and combustible vegetation.

 

Tips for Making  Property Resistant

• Keep lawns trimmed, leaves raked, and the roof and rain-gutters free from debris such as dead limbs and leaves.
• Stack firewood at least 30 feet away from home. Purchase Intumescent Coatings and paint in those areas.
• Store flammable materials, liquids and solvents in metal containers outside the home at least 30 feet away from structures and wooden fences. This is a perfect use of a Flame Retardant Spray
• Create defensible space by thinning trees and brush within 30 feet around home.
• Landscape property with resistant plants and vegetation to prevent from spreading quickly.
• Post home address signs that are clearly visible from the road.
• Provide emergency vehicle access with properly constructed driveways and roadways, at least 12 feet wide with adequate turnaround space.
• Make sure water sources, such as hydrants and ponds, are accessible to the department.
• Burning yard waste is a hazard. Check with local agency on a non-emergency number for permit requirements and restricted burning times. Intumescent Coatings and Retardant Coatings can help to keep home safe.

 

Protect Home

• Use of Intumescent Coatings, protective roofing and materials like stone, brick and metal to protect your home. Avoid using wood materials that offer the least protection.
• Cover all exterior vents, attics and eaves with metal mesh screens no larger than 6 millimeters. They are coated with Intumescent Coatings.
• Install multipane windows, tempered safety glass or shutters to protect large windows from radiant heat.
• Use resistant draperies for added window protection. This is a NFPA 701 Flame Retardant Spray.
• Have chimneys, wood stoves and all home heating systems inspected and cleaned annually by a certified specialist. Intumescent Coatings can help when applied to the chimney shaft.

 

Prepare Family

• Know how to contact emergency services in your area.
• Plan ahead. Make sure you and your family are prepared for a emergency.
• Develop and practice escape and evacuation plans with your family.
• Install smoke alarms on every level of your home. Test them monthly and change the batteries at least once a year. Consider installing the new long-life smoke alarms. Re-apply your Flame Retardant Spray.

In cases where fatalities occurred on college campuses, alcohol was often a factor. There is a strong link between alcohol and deaths. In more than 50% of adult  fatalities, victims were under the influence at the time. Alcohol abuse often impairs judgment and hampers evacuation efforts. Cooking is the leading cause of injuries on college campuses, closely followed by careless smoking and arson.

 

The Cause

Many factors contribute to the problem of dormitory housing fires.

• Improper use of 911 notification systems delays emergency response and not using Intumescent Coatings.
• Student apathy is prevalent. Many are unaware that fire is a risk or threat in the environment.
• Evacuation efforts are hindered since alarms are often ignored or are not in working order. Intumescent Coatings are always on call and do not have to be activated like a sprinkler.
• Building evacuations are delayed due to lack of preparation and preplanning.
• Vandalized and improperly maintained smoke alarms and alarm systems inhibit early detection.
• Misuse of cooking appliances, overloaded electrical circuits and extension cords increase the risk. The use of a Flame Retardant Spray in a kitchen can save a life.

 

Safety Precautions

• Provide students with a program for fire safety and prevention.
• Use Fire Retardant Coatings
• Purchase Intumescent Coatings
• Spray a NFPA 701 Flame Retardant Spray
• Teach students how to properly notify the fire department using the 911 system.
• Install smoke alarms in every dormitory room and every level of housing facilities.
• Maintain and regularly test smoke alarms and fire alarm systems. Replace smoke alarm batteries every semester.
• Regularly inspect rooms and buildings for fire hazards. Ask your local fire department for assistance.
• Inspect exit doors and windows and make sure they are working properly.
• Create and update detailed floor plans of buildings, and make them available to emergency personnel, resident advisors and students.
• Conduct fire drills and practice escape routes and evacuation plans. Urge students to take each alarm seriously.
• Do not overload electrical outlets and make sure extension cords are used properly.
• Don't Rely on Sprinklers to work!
• Learn to properly use and maintain heating and cooking appliances.