Are there holiday decorations in your dolled-up home, such as twinkling lights, wreaths made of winter greens, and glittering objects? One thing you should remember while decorating your home or garage for the holidays is to make sure they are fire-safe. Nobody wants their home to catch fire due to your holiday decorations. Instead of happy celebrations, sirens might fill the air.
Quick Facts on Christmas Fires
Fires over the holidays are supposedly prevalent. And the generators of the flames are the everyday decorations you use to brighten the season.
1. Candles cause more than one-third of all home decorating fires.
2. Candles spark half of all home decorating fires in December.
3. The number of candle fires is at its highest on Christmas.
4. A heat source too close to the tree started more than 1 in every 5 Christmas tree fires.
5. Electrical issues are to blame for over one-third of home Christmas tree fires.
6. A dry Christmas tree may catch fire quickly and rather hotly.
7. Even though they are uncommon, Christmas tree fires are more likely to be catastrophic when they do happen.
Fireproof your holiday home and garage by following these appropriate measures.
Christmas tree and candle handling.
According to the US Fire Administration, keeping candles at least 12 inches away from any object that burns is advised.
Choose a tree with fresh, green needles that do not come off when touched. Before putting the tree in the stand, trim two inches from the base of the trunk. Make sure your Christmas tree is at least three feet away from anything that might generate heat, such as radiators, space heaters, fireplaces, lights, candles, or air vents. Additionally, make sure your tree doesn't obstruct any exits. Every day, fill the tree stand with water. When a tree starts to dry out, it's time to remove it.
Make sure to check the manufacturer's instructions for the recommended amount of light strands to connect before you begin decorating your Christmas tree with lights. Use lighting certified by an accredited testing facility, as specific lighting is only suitable for use inside or outside. Any light string with frayed cables, loose connections, or worn-out bulbs should be replaced.
Don't ever use a candle to adorn the tree, just a word of caution. Additionally, always switch off the holiday lights before retiring for the night or leaving the house.
It's also essential to think about how to dispose of Christmas trees when the festivities are over. A fire hazard arises from dried-out trees. They shouldn't be left in the house, the garage, or outside next to the house. Make doubly sure to inquire with your local groups or authorities, as recycling initiatives in the neighborhood may assist with the process.
Last but not least, to avoid risks and extend the life of outdoor electrical lights, bring them inside after the holidays. It should be stored properly. Put them safely in a box and arrange them on wall shelves or ceiling racks for storage. Look no further if you're still seeking a dependable storage option since Fleximounts has a variety of options to suit your requirements.
Decorating for the holidays and setting up your place.
If you're purchasing Christmas decorations, search for flame-resistant or flame-retardant. You can make an educated decision if you read the product labels and cautionary remarks. So that the cables are not harmed, hang the lights with clips rather than nails. If you want to avoid having decorations that may blow in the wind and obstruct the room's doors and windows, place them away from these openings.
Maintain a kid-friendly environment if you have children living with you or staying with you temporarily. Matches and lighters might be attractive for kids since they tend to play with anything that piques their curiosity. Keep the candles out of their sight. Additionally, matches and lighters should be arranged neatly and securely in a secured cabinet.
Christmas is typically a good time to have friends at your house or garage conversion. Additionally, some of your visitors may certainly smoke. Particularly during the colder months, smokers will probably light a stick or two while staying in your gorgeous house. As a precaution, always consider three steps ahead of the problem.
Smokers should be given clear notice to smoke outside of the home and should keep their smoking items with them so that the children present cannot access them. Provide big, deep ashtrays in the smoking area. Wet the cigarette butts before throwing them out to prevent a fire. Check your home's smoke alarms as well, which is very crucial. Confirm to see if they are operating correctly. Additionally, let your visitors know the fire escape plan for the house, just in case. Although we do not hope for the worst, nothing surpasses a well-prepared visitor in an emergency.
Adding Fire-Resistant Features to Your Garage or Home
The majority of residences have previously installed fire-resistant components and have undergone inspections by local authorities. However, the house garage causes the majority of us the most concern despite the fact that this location is often utilized as a parking lot, during the festive seasons, the garage space doubles as a meeting area. Consequently, it's crucial to incorporate safety precautions as well.
The majority of garage flooring is made of carpet and interlocking tiles, which attract all types of filth, chemicals, and debris and degrade more quickly when exposed to severe fire dangers like motor fluids. Although there are currently carpets made of synthetic fibers that are fire-resistant, these do not provide the security and comfort we want. Utilizing garage floor epoxy is a better flooring substitute. It resists the chemical absorption of materials like grease or oil. Epoxy is also scratch-resistant, which creates a surface for your concrete floor that is quite durable. Additionally, it is fire-resistant, non-slip, and waterproof.
One must consider the garage walls and doors and the garage floor. The wall dividing the house's living space from the garage has to be fire-rated. Use gypsum board type X or an equivalent at least 5/8 inch thick. Gypsum board or a comparable material should extend at least 12 inches within the outside walls of a garage three feet away from the primary residence.
To prevent the spread of fire from reaching the home for at least 20 minutes, installing fire-rated garage doors is essential. The fire-rated door slows and lessens the fire, giving the inhabitants plenty of time to flee. A decent fire-rated door should be one of the following: a solid or honeycomb-core steel door with a thickness of at least 1 3/8 inches, a 20-minute fire-rated door with a self-closing mechanism, or a solid wood door with a thickness of at least 1 3/8 inches. Installing a door that leads directly to any of the bedrooms in the main home is also not recommended.
