The first week of October focuses the spotlight on Fire Prevention. On the authority of The US Census Bureau, the week was declared in 1925 by Calvin Coolidge, 30th President of the United States, in remembrance of the Great Chicago Fire. That devastating blaze began on October 8th, 1871, destroying more than 17,400 structures and taking hundreds of lives.
Fire prevention week is dedicated to learning about, preventing, and surviving a fire.
What Causes House Fires?
The National Fire Protection Association gathered data from 2014-2018 to determine how many residential fires occur per year. It was estimated that U.S. fire departments responded to 353,100 house fires every year. Cooking was the leading cause, with heating equipment coming in second.
With the majority of residential fires being accidental, it is essential to learn how to prevent them.
How to Protect your Home Against a Fire
Clear your yard of debris. Removing dead plants, fallen leaves, and keeping your gutters clean can help prevent the spread of wildfires and may deter a fire from spreading to your home.
Check your fire alarms. The insurance agency Allstate suggests testing your fire alarms once every month. To test if your fire alarm is functioning effectively, have a family member or friend stand in your home as far away as possible from the alarm. Hold down the smoke detector’s test button, and a loud beep should emanate from the device. If the sound is weak or the other person cannot hear it, you will need to replace the batteries. In addition to testing the smoke detector once a month, you should also replace the batteries every six months to ensure optimum responsiveness from the device.
Prepare a fire safety plan. Conversing with those living in your household about a fire escape plan is critical to ensuring everyone has a strategy to exit the home quickly and safely. The National Fire Protection Association provides a detailed explanation for creating your fire safety plan.
Install fire-resistant materials in your home. Choosing fire-resistant insulation when you renovate or build your home can help slow the spread of a fire. Fiberglass insulation is naturally non-combustible and is able to achieve Class I (unfaced and FSK faced) when tested to ASTM E84 for surface burning whereas some insulations have added flame retardant coating or raw materials. Our newest insulation, InsulPure™, is recognized as a fire block in wood-frame walls under international and many domestic building codes. We also offer unfaced EasyTouch™, a Class A fire-resistant insulation for ceilings, attics, and crawl spaces. Any of our unfaced insulations (including loose fill) provide fire blocking in combustible and concealed locations.
Discover a variety of our fire performance products:
https://www.certainteed.com/building-insulation/fire-performance/
If you have any questions, we’re always available to assist you. Don’t hesitate to reach out!
