Safety in residential buildings through fire protection measures
The first step towards greater safety: recognizing sources of danger
Particular attention should be paid to electrical devices. If energy-saving lamps, chargers and computers are poorly manufactured or overloaded, they pose a fire hazard. Many electronic products have voltage spikes. This means that the electricity is not used evenly. If the integrated neutral conductors are not designed for them, there is a risk of overheating. If they fail, an overvoltage occurs. Possible consequences can be the device scorching, burning or exploding. There is also a risk of fire from poorly ventilated objects. If heat builds up, they can catch fire. For this reason, electrical products should not be stored in narrow cupboard compartments and the like.
A fire can also result from overloading sockets, cables and plugs. It may occur when too many large electrical items are plugged into a single power strip. In this case, the power lines are overheated. When purchasing electrical devices, you should always pay attention to the VDE test mark. Among other things, it offers safety in the area of toxic, thermal, radiological, mechanical and electrical hazards. Stand-by circuits also represent a risk factor. Televisions, stereo systems, PCs and the like are constantly live, which means they heat up inside and can cause overheating, overvoltage or a short circuit.
Most fires in the kitchen start on the stove, and overheated fat is often the cause. Extractor hoods are problematic: They suck in the flames and cause a kitchen fire. The more grease-soaked the filters are, the easier they are to catch fire. Replacing or cleaning at regular intervals should therefore be a matter of course.
Tip: Never throw water on burning fat, it can cause a fat explosion! At best, you smother the flames with a fireproof tool such as a baking sheet or a saucepan lid.
Smoking in the home increases the risk of fire. Still glowing cigarette butts that have been carelessly thrown into the trash can are just as much a cause of the fire as falling embers. Anyone who empties their ashtray should also make sure beforehand that nothing glowing is left in it.
Another risk is flammable liquids, including gases, paint, detergents and spirits. They ensure enormous acceleration of a fire that has broken out. Gas cylinders are sometimes even highly explosive. What many people don’t know: Fire accelerators of any kind must not be stored in the attic or in the basement.
Fire protection starts with building a house
Every structural system must be designed in such a way that the spread of fire and smoke as well as the outbreak of a fire is prevented. In addition, it must be possible for rescue workers to carry out extinguishing work unhindered and to be able to save people and animals. The model building regulations (MBO) contain relevant regulations and minimum requirements for the
- flammability of building materials,
- fire resistance of the structure,
- tightness of closures of openings,
- Arrangement, location and design of escape routes as well as
- access for the fire brigade.
The prudent selection of building materials for the construction of a property serves to ensure the safety of the residents. Let’s take steel, a popular construction material, as an example. It is available in different versions, each with their own individual properties. There is a classification for construction products and parts based on European standards. Tests are primarily carried out to demonstrate fire behavior and fire resistance. In this case, the relevant standard for classifying construction products is DIN EN 13501-2. If you want to be on the safe side, pay attention to various certificates from a steel producer. The steel frame manufacturer Wulf, for example, has various fire protection approvals for Austria and Switzerland.
What else can be done to protect against fire?
We recommend self-triggering smoke detectors, which trigger the alarm immediately if a fire breaks out. The faster those affected can intervene, the easier it is to prevent the spread of flames. A fire extinguisher should also not be missing in any household. They are available with various extinguishing agents such as powder, foam, water and CO2. In addition, there are fat fire extinguishers on offer that are used to extinguish burning cooking fat and oil. Their place should be near the hob. Fire blankets made of glass fiber fabric or Nomex fibers are also a good choice, they are particularly suitable for smothering incipient fires.