Month: October 2021

Every Moment Counts. Especially when there’s a fire. Criminals are selective about what they take, but a fire takes it all. It’s important to have the proper equipment in your home to protect yourself and your loved once should a fire occur.

The independent review site, Safewise.com, interviewed fire-fighters to determine which fire extinguisher they’d recommend.

Their pick: Amerex B402.

Amerex B402 is one of the most recommended fire extinguishers on the market, and its steel casing and aluminum valves make it durable enough to withstand a fire and be recharged for future use.

Other top contenders:

• First Alert Standard Home Fire Extinguisher: Best for Budget
• The Fireman Fire Extinguishing Spray: Best for Convenience
• First Alert Tundra Spray: Portable Pick
• Kidde ABC Multipurpose Fire Extinguisher: Disposable Pick

Types of Fires Extinguishers & Ratings

Before you purchase a fire extinguisher, it’s important to understand the different types of fires. Chemical fire extinguishers are filled with different fire suppressants, and choosing a type of extinguisher with the wrong contents could actually make a fire worse (like throwing water on a grease fire).

Household fires fall under three classifications, depending on the type of fuel burning. The most common fire extinguisher classifications are A, B, C, and K. Class A-B-C fire extinguishers will handle most household fires, but just to be on the safe side, it’s smart to also have a K-rated fire extinguisher on hand for your kitchen.

• Class A: Solid combustible materials that are not metals, like wood, paper, cloth, plastics, and rubber.
• Class B: Flammable liquids, like gasoline, oil, grease, and paints.
• Class C: Electrical equipment, like appliances and outlets.
• Class K: Cooking oils and greases, animal fats, and vegetable fats.

Where to Store Your Fire Extinguisher

It is best to store your extinguisher in your kitchen, 5–8 feet from potential fire sources like deep fat fryers, fireplaces, or clothes dryers. This way you can access them quickly and safely in case of a fire.

Make sure that there is always a fire extinguisher no farther than 40 feet away from any location in your home.

While it’s very important to have a fire extinguisher readily available in your home, it’s equally important to have smoke detectors installed. EMC Security recommends installing at least one monitored smoke detector outside the bedrooms. This way, if there’s a fire, we’ll work to get you the help you need, while you can concentrate on getting your loved ones to safety.

EMC Security monitors for fire at no additional monthly cost.

The room was fully ablaze in 3 minutes.

A recent Good Morning America investigation demonstrated how much more vulnerable today’s modern home is to fire than its older counterparts.

A group of researchers set a fully furnished 12×16 foot room (similar to one found in a modern, open floor plan) on fire to see how long it took for the room to reach a “flash point,” or the moment in a room where everything is engaged in a fire. The result? The room was fully ablaze in 3 minutes.

Read below for tips on how you can prevent this from happening in your home.

1. The first safety tip is a simple one that many homeowners forget—close the interior doors. When each room is compartmentalized, fire has less room and oxygen and grows more slowly, giving the family more time to get out safely. Get into the habit of closing doors (especially bedroom doors) at bedtime.

2. Get fire resistant clothing and furniture. When you’re shopping for new furniture or appliances, check the manufacturer’s label to see if the item has been tested for its resistance to fire.

3. Dense, heavy, solid materials will burn more slowly, so consider the heft of building materials if you’re building or remodeling a home. Heavier doors, handles, and non-synthetic construction materials will slow the spread of flames.

4. Create a fire escape plan. As the safety window for escaping a home fire shrinks, it’s more important that ever to create a fire escape plan for your family that includes two exit points for every room, and a plan for meeting up outside. An escape ladder is a must for 2nd floor bedrooms.

5. The NUMBER ONE thing you can do to protect your home: install a fire monitoring system. EMC Security monitoring includes fire monitoring, starting at $16.95 per month. With the purchase of a monitored smoke detector (from $79) you can help save your home and everyone inside.

Call 770-963-0305 and schedule a free consultation to find the fire monitoring and intrusion alarm system that fits your home and your family.