The Sound That Alerts You To Tragedy | Masterguard

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In this world of noise, there is one sound that alerts to impending tragedy. A functioning smoke alarm is a necessity in any structure. Smoke detectors can be found in everything from planes and trains to office buildings and homes. But why do we need them? MasterGuard answers some of these questions.

Some people insist that they “would know” if their building or home was on fire. What if you weren’t home? What if it was in the middle of the hustle and bustle of a busy office and no one heard the alarm? Smoke detectors are required by law in all public indoor spaces. These alarms are there for one reason, to save lives.

Research done by fire safety experts MasterGuard state that 50% of lives are saved with the use of operational smoke detectors. Many fatalities have been reported from faulty or disabled detectors. Many detectors have been found to have dead batteries or no batteries at all. In older homes where ventilation is murky, research shows that many detectors have been removed from essential areas due to the alarm sounding while someone is cooking in the kitchen. Other fire evidence has shown there were too few alarms in the house and they were ineffective in warning the occupants within.

So the question is how many smoke detectors do you need and where should they be placed? MasterGuard recommends one detector to be placed on every level of the home, including one alarm placed outside sleeping areas or bedrooms. If a person habitually sleeps with their door closed, this will impede the smoke within from reaching the alarm. Therefore these individuals should have an additional alarm within the bedroom space. Additionally, those with televisions inside bedrooms should also add alarms to those rooms. Places that should not have smoke detectors are kitchens and garages. Smoke, heat and car exhaust fumes can give the detectors the wrong information and cause the alarms to sound needlessly. Also, never put alarms in non-insulated areas like crawl spaces. Extreme heat and cold can confuse the detectors as well. 

 Smoke detectors have come a long way and many detectors can be hardwired into the existing power of the home or office, ensuring durability and functionality. Hardwired alarms also have back up batteries that should be checked semi-annually. MasterGuard warns there are two types of detectors available. The ion type smoke detector is more useful in fires that consist of open flame. The photoelectric type of alarm detects smoldering fires more quickly and is less likely to cause kitchen heat miscues. A good idea is to place a mixture of these in your home.

Alarms should be installed within 4-12 inches from the ceiling in your home. Some alarms can be installed directly on the ceiling. They should be no closer than 3 feet to a heat register. Also, they should not be within 3 feet from a door of a bathroom with a shower. MasterGuard states that alarm placement near bathrooms or heat registers can be ineffective due to the constantly changing temperatures of these items in the home; steam from the shower and hot or cool air from the registers.

Smoke detectors are essential for a safe and fireproof home. Taking a few moments and working with fire safety specialists Masterguard will help you ensure that your house is ready in case of  FIRE.

Statistics On Fires And The Damage It Causes - Masterguard

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MasterGuard - Statistics on Fires and the damage it causes                            

Fire is one of the most devastating elements that can destroy homes, buildings and structures. It can also destroy lives.  In America, the number of household fires is increasing. While state and local building codes require the placement of smoke detectors in homes, it is clear that citizens do not know enough about fire safety procedures. MasterGuard is working to bring fire safety to every home.

 

Residential fires historically have caused over $7 million annually in damages. The cost for rebuilding these homes, if it is possible, is untold. Fire safety specialists MasterGuard state that many people who have suffered from fire loss do not carry fire insurance. In 2008, the accumulated cost of fire damage was estimated at $362 billion with an economic loss of $20.1 billion. 

Nonresidential fires, while declining slightly, are still accountable for over $3 million in damages annually. Stricter building codes are a major factor in the decrease of these fires.  MasterGuard works with businesses to have a fire safety “plan of action” in place in case of an emergency, and can equip these businesses with the tools to help save lives.

Fire not only destroys structures, unfortunately it destroys lives. In 2011 so far, 59 professional firefighters have lost their lives battling flames. The amount of civilian casualty is also devastating. Burn injury is the number one cause of accidental deaths in children under 2 years of age. It is the second cause in children 2-4 years of age and third in children under 18.

One of the most prevalent causes for human loss in a fire is when occupants do not know what to do. People panic in these situations and not having a practiced escape route could potentially result in negative outcome. MasterGuard also recommends having functional smoke detectors and extinguishers within the household.

Structural fire damage can be just as devastating. A small household fire can cost a homeowner not only time and money to rebuild, but it can also jeopardize the structural integrity of the home.

Fires can double in size in 30 seconds. Depending where the fire originates, this could prove deadly for your family. Kitchen fires often spread far faster than other household fires due to the amount of fire accelerants that are stored in the area. Oils, pressurized cans of cooking product as well as alcohol based household cleaners will ignite at lower burn temperatures than other items in the home. Homes that have excessive clutter can also be considered dangerous due to the amount of paper and fabric accelerant available to feed a potential fire. MasterGuard professionals state that clearing some of this clutter from pathways or near exits is the best strategy to survive a house fire. Many house fires are caused by human negligence. Smokers who fall asleep with a lit cigarette account for a majority of these fires and usually result in personal injury or even death. Other causes of house fires are overloading electrical circuits and neglecting items left on the stove.

While fire damage is costly and devastating, it can be prevented with the correct equipment and proper fire safety training. MasterGuard is committed to protecting families and business from impending tragedy.

How To Create A Masterguard Fire Safety Plan

How and Why You Need to Have a Masterguard Fire Safety Plan for Your Family

Having a fire safety plan is the first step in keeping your family safe should a fire break out in your home. Every parent knows that fire is dangerous but it is imperative to also teach your children what they should do if a fire occurs in the house. When a fire breaks out, it is natural to panic; having a plan in place ahead of time, and having a fire drill at least every six months, will help to ensure that you and your family make it out of the home safely.

How to Create a Fire Safety Plan

-Draw a diagram or simple blueprint of your home. The younger your children are, the simpler the drawing should be. Label the escape paths with arrows, making sure there are at least two routes out of every room (if possible).

-Decide on an outside meeting place that your child will remember. The place should be both a safe distance from your house and easy to see in the dark; light poles or large trees are a good idea.

-Teach your children how to get out on their own. You may not have a safe route to them, or they to you, and waiting for each other could prove dangerous.

In addition to having a fire safety plan, you should also teach your children basic fire safety tips. They’ll often learn these in preschool or kindergarten but reinforcing them at home will help your child remember them.

Masterguard Fire Safety Tips

-Always feel the knob of a door before you open it. If the knob is hot to the touch, leave the door closed.

-If at all possible, close doors behind you as you leave a room.

-If the house or room is filled with smoke, stay low to the ground.

-Once you are outside, don’t go back into the house.

-Call the fire department when you get outside.

Make Your Home Safe

-Every floor in your home should have at least one fire extinguisher and everyone in the family should know where it is located and how to use it.

-Each floor should have at least one working smoke alarm.

-Make sure the doors and windows in your home are easy to open.

-Install fire safety ladders in bedrooms on the upper floors of your home and teach your children how to use them.

-Put fire warning stickers near any entry doors (not on the child’s bedroom window). This will alert firefighters to how many people and pets should be accounted for.

-Keep lighters and matches out of the reach of children.

-If you have a furnace and/or chimney, maintain them properly to prevent fire hazards.

According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), 71% of Americans have a fire escape plan but only 45% of those people have actually practiced that plan. Having a plan in place is just not enough. To protect your family from the dangers of fire, develop a plan, share the plan and practice the plan!  Masterguard Fire Safety. 
Source: http://www.nfpa.org/assets/files/PDF/Public%20Education/EscapePlanningTips.pdf