Don’t let your house burn down

Image by David Mark from Pixabay

​Unfortunately numerous homes burn down each year. Not only do people lose their home, but they lose their personal effects, treasured memories, and sometimes even their pets and their own lives. House fires can be devastating and they take hold very quickly.

Causes of house fires

​House fires are caused by:

• Faults within the house structure, which could include:
  • Faulty electrical wiring causing a spark, or heat build-up.
  • Faulty appliances, such as air-conditioning or stoves, which cause a spark, or heat build-up, which then ignites flammable material.
  • Leaking gas from damaged, poorly fitted, or old gas pipes or fittings, which then ignites when encountering a flame or spark.
  • Faulty chimney flues allowing sparks to get onto the roof, or heat to build-up, causing combustion of flammable materials.
  • Non-compliant fittings, such as lights, that overheat causing fires.
• An accident within the house which could include cooking oil catching fire, candles being knocked over or accidently coming in contact with clothing, curtains or other materials, electrical or gas heaters being knocked over or coming in contact with clothes and curtains, cigarettes not being extinguished properly, and sparks or embers from an open fireplace.
• Fires coming from the outside of the house, which could include bush fires, neighbouring house fires spreading to your home, and lightning strikes on your house.

Image by Hands off my tags! Michael Gaida from Pixabay

Preventing house fires

​Accidents are difficult to design against, although proper design and construction can eliminate faults and even protect against lightning strikes. Installing smoke alarms will assist with the early detection of fires enabling occupants to escape and early action to be taken to fight the fire. Having a fire extinguisher and fire blanket readily accessible may help to extinguish small fires.

Building materials and construction techniques must comply with fire codes for your area. In particular wall and ceiling materials must have the required fire rating to prevent the rapid spread of fires. (Grenfell Tower cladding discussions focused on ‘appearance and price’ rather than fire safety, architect tells inquiry). Fire resistant materials should be used in all areas that could be subject to heat build-up, such as around fireplaces and stoves. All electrical installations and fittings must comply with the codes.
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For adjoining houses where walls touch there should be firewalls extending up inside the roof void, closing tight against the underside of the roof covering to limit the spread of fires between the houses.

Use licensed contractors for installing gas and electrical systems. Leaking gas lines and faulty electrical wiring result in many homes burning down each year. Importantly use material and equipment that is sourced from a reputable supplier and which complies with your country's codes and regulations. Regrettably there are many second rate products available from overseas suppliers which do not comply with safety regulations and are dangerous. Don't try and save a few hundred dollars only to have your home destroyed when a substandard product catches fire.

The threat from wildfires

Image by sippakorn yamkasikorn from Pixabay

Wildfires are becoming more common. Hundreds of homes have been destroyed in recent wildfires in California, Greece, Spain, Australia, and elsewhere. (Australia bushfires: Dozens of houses destroyed or damaged)​

​In areas prone to bush fires there’re a number of things that can be done. (Are you living in an area prone to fire - See Fire and Flood risks in America). These include:

• Installing sprinkler systems to wet the roof.
• Having additional water storage tanks and pumps not reliant on electricity to maintain water pressure to firefighting systems.
• Keeping trees and vegetation away from the house.
• Using fire resistant materials for exterior walls and the roof.
• Building a fire resistant bunker within the house that can withstand extreme heat and which can provide shelter to occupants, documents and valuables, in a fire.

Designing and building a safe home

You can prevent your home from burning down by:

• Installing materials that comply with the local building codes.
• Using licensed electricians and reputable building contractors.
• Considering the design of your house to comply with the local building regulations and conditions in your area.
• Maintaining electrical and gas installations.
• Having smoke alarms and fire fighting equipment.
• Taking care when cooking, or charging appliances.
• Ensuring that electrical and gas systems are repaired by licensed and reputable tradespeople.

Don't let your home burn down. When building or renovating your home don't take shortcuts, or save a few dollars, only to expose your home to a fire hazard. Don't risk your family, your life, or your home. Always be fire aware.

Other Useful Articles:
​How to make your home green and environmentally friendly and save money
Understanding Electrics in Your New Home Build
Designing Cooking Kitchens - Practical Advice For Your Dream Kitchen Part 1

​​This is an extract from the author's book  'An Introduction to Building and Renovating Houses: Volume 2 - Finding Your Ideal Property and Designing Your Dream Home' 
​© 2021 This article is not to be reproduced for commercial purposes without written permission from the author.​

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​Want to learn more about designing, renovating and building houses?

​Paul Netscher has written 2 easy to read books 'An Introduction to Building and Renovating Houses - Volumes 1 and 2'. An Introduction to Building and Renovating Houses Volume 1 deals with Hiring Contractors, Managing Construction and Finishing Your Home.  and Designing your ideal home Volume 2 deals with Finding Your Ideal Property and Designing Your Dream Home. 
​("Great for those that DIY. Very helpful in home renovations!" said a Reader on Amazon.com 5*****)
These books are available from Amazon and other online bookstores in paper and ebook.

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