Doing A Fire Risk Assessment At Home

All business premises should carry out fire risk assessments at least once a year to ensure the safety of the premises and all staff, but how many people will actually do one in their own home? Probably not that many, which is why residential fires are far more numerous and deadly than those at business premises. Doing a fire risk assessment does not take that long, and below you will find some advice on how to complete one.

Fire Risk Assessment Advice

All fires need a source of ignition, such as faulty electrical equipment, cigarettes, lighting, heaters and anything else than can cause a spark or a flame. They then need fuel such as paper, wood, rubbish, carpets, curtains and furniture. The final thing a fire needs is oxygen, and this is what fire doors are for, they block the flow of fresh oxygen to the fire.

It may not seem possible to make a home a fire risk free environment, whereas it can be much easier when it comes to business premises. However they both should have certain things in common such as smoke alarms, a home should have at least two, powered by the mains with a battery backup. Small fire extinguishers only costs a few pounds these days, and it is a small price to pay if it means you can quickly control a fire in the home. Kitchens usually see the most fires, and a fire blanket is always handy to have close by.

Some things you can do to lower the risk of a fire are:

• Keep heaters away from all flammable materials, and make sure they are stable and cannot be knocked over.
• Do not allow rubbish to pile up.
• Check furniture to see if it complies with the latest EU laws on being fire retardant.
• Never keep petrol in a place where people live or work.
• Gas cylinders shouldn’t be free standing or have clutter around them.
• If you have locked doors and windows, always know how to open them in a hurry.
• Keep all doors closed, especially while you are asleep.

For a few minutes of your time every now and again, it may not only save your life, but those of others. Even when you are at work, the owner and managers should have fire safety measures in place, and you will be doing yourself a favor if you take the time to find out what they are.