When it comes to fire safety in the home, most people think it’s enough to fit a couple of smoke alarms and perhaps have a fire blanket in the kitchen.
However, with modern trends towards loft and basement conversions as well as open-plan living, these measures may no longer be enough. If you’re a landlord, you also need to make sure that your properties provide appropriate levels of safety for your tenants.
Escape Routes
Detectors and alarms will alert occupants to the presence of a fire, but it’s essential to ensure that there’s a safe means of escape available. In the case of loft conversions, for example, this might mean having a staircase that’s protected by fire doors and fire-resistant partitions so they remain usable, or providing emergency lighting so that people can safely find their way out. It could be a good idea to contact your local Locksmith In Dublin company to come and check all your locks to check they are working properly ready for your quick exit. A Locksafe Dublin Locksmith site will be able to show you all of the options you have and maybe even provide you with a quote on the work.
Your local building control department will be able to advise you on what’s required, and there are official documents that offer guidance on fire safety in domestic buildings.
Domestic Sprinklers
Sprinkler systems are usually associated with commercial and industrial premises, but new technology makes it possible to install systems in domestic premises with minimal disruption. These systems are also designed to minimise the amount of damage caused when they’re triggered, because they use less water and can be easily shut off when the fire is extinguished.
Companies who are Automist installers can advise on the options available and how they can fit into your project. Put simply, the system can be triggered by heat detection and will deliver a fine-mist spray that starves the fire of oxygen and lowers the temperature. Because it uses a much smaller amount of water than a conventional sprinkler system and because of the way it’s delivered, it minimises damage to décor and furnishings too.
These systems are even safe for use in kitchens, as the fine mist can extinguish a chip pan fire, whereas traditional water-based systems risk exacerbating the problem.
Because the design of the units is quite discreet, they’ll fit into any environment without looking out of place. If it’s not possible to run pipes and cables – in listed buildings, for example – it’s possible to have a self-contained system with its own water tank and battery back-up.