In Case of Fire – Better Ready Than Sorry
The three typical causes of fire are intentional, negligence or simply by an accident when nobody is around. In all cases, one should always be prepared and equipped with at least one fire fighting detector or equipment and enough knowledge on how to get on with such facility. Having a load of water on standby in case a fire occurs in a household is not always practical. In the other hand, installation of an advance fire fighting system in a household may already cost a fortune.
Fire fighting equipment is a device used to detect fire, control, and offer escape for occupants just in case an incident happened.
Shall I equip my home with all fire fighting gadgets?
Just like burglar alarms, luxurious houses may be equipped with different types of sophisticated fire fighting devices. These devices may come costly with the installation and maintenance. Though it allows more reassurance of safety to install different variety of devices at home, a couple of smoke and heat detectors and an available fire extinguisher may prove practical.
It would be wiser to check that exits are unobstructed and an evacuation plan should be thoroughly instructed to all the occupants. Remember that it is dangerous to fight a fire in any circumstances. If one is in doubt, it is best to leave immediately, close off the area to ensure fire isolation and prevent the spread, and wait outside until the fire department arrives.
Institutions and other taller buildings
Bigger buildings have a different requirement. The Fire Code requires the minimum safety precautions for buildings at the onset of construction. The sprinkler system is the most common device installed. There are a number of devices required to be placed in strategic areas in a building:
o Panic doors (panic hardware) are fire safety appliances which permit self-closing locked doors to be opened from the inside when pressed with sufficient force allowing a person to open the door without having to turn a knob or a lever
o A fire exit ladder installed at the second floor of a building leading to the open ground
o Hose boxes equipped with a fire man’s axe hose reels and enough length of fire hose to envelope the entire hallway installed before staircases
o A standpipe attached to a fire hose; “wet” or readily pressurized with water, or “dry” – until activated in an emergency; can be supplied by a fire hydrant or from a fire engines pump;
o A fire alarm system or a fire warning bell placed on hallways, before exits, wherever accessible;
o Hydrant valves and adaptors: plumbing accessories used to control water from the hydrant, and to connect hoses and pipes of incompatible diameter, thread, or gender.
o Branch pipes and nozzles are devices attached to the end of a fire hose that directs and regulates the flow of water or fire fighting agent pumped;
o Sprinklers or fire suppression system which are activated either by individual heat-sensitive valves or remotely controlled by other types of sensors;
There are a number of variations for fire fighting equipment for each kind of industry available in stores but this doesn’t mean that one should be facing the flames not unless you are an expert. Diesel Fire Pump