Installing Fire Extinguishers in Your Home: 3 Locations to Consider
A fire extinguisher plays a key part in any home safety system as they provide you with a way of tackling a small fire before it engulfs your entire home, damaging property and placing the lives of those you love at risk. However, it is important that fire extinguishers are properly located in the right places around your home so they can be easily and quickly accessed in an emergency situation. Below is a guide to three locations in your home which are a good place to store a fire extinguisher.
The kitchen
Because the kitchen contains the oven and stove, it is a prime location for a fire. A pan of oil can catch fire in a matter of seconds if it is left unattended. When installing a fire extinguisher in your kitchen, you should avoid placing it under the sink. If a fire does break out on your stove, you may find it difficult to access the cupboards under the sink. You should instead place the fire extinguisher on the outside of a kitchen cabinet so it can be easily reached in the event of an emergency. Remember that water is ineffective when it comes to fighting grease fires, so having a fire extinguisher on hand is crucial.
The garage
A household garage will typically contain a lot of different flammable materials such as paints, oils, grease and turpentine. If an electrical spark ignites one of these agents, the fire could quickly spread throughout the garage and into any adjoining property. You should avoid placing a fire extinguisher at the back of the garage as you may be cut off from reaching it by the fire. Instead, you should install a fire extinguisher near to the doorway so you can grab it as you exit the garage in an emergency.
The patio
If you have a patio which features a BBQ or outdoor grill, you should make sure you have a fire extinguisher near by. A build up of fat when cooking can easily cause a fire to breakout. You should not remove a fire extinguisher from another location in order to place one outside, as doing so could place the other areas of your home at risk. Instead, you should invest in a portable fire extinguisher which can be stored in your shed or garage and quickly deployed when cooking outdoors. You should avoid storing fire extinguishers outdoors as contact with the elements could damage the casing.