Fire extinguishers and domestic sprinklers

Multi-purpose, dry-powder extinguishers or Aqueous Film Forming Foam (AFFF) extinguishers are usually the best choices for home use. They have the fewest dangers and are effective on many types of fire.

There are 3 main types of fire extinguisher: powder, water and foam. No single type of extinguisher is totally effective on every kind of fire. Before buying one, it's vital to look carefully at what kinds of fires it can be used on to make sure you get one suitable for your own needs.

Tips for the safe use of any type of extinguisher are given below.

• Make sure you read the instructions and are familiar with how to use it.
• Placed in the hall and take to the site of the fire.
• Only buy one you can carry easily.
• Don’t place it near a heater or fire, but do fix it to the wall so that it is out of the reach of children, but easily accessible by others.
• Get it serviced once a year (or as often as the manufacturer recommends).
• When using the extinguisher on a fire, keep yourself on the escape route side of the blaze.

If you’re not sure which extinguisher to get for your home or business, you can contact your local Fire and Rescue Service for advice.

Sprinklers

If you want to reduce the risk of death in a fire as much as possible, you should get sprinklers fitted in your home. They provide a high level of protection from the risk of dying in a fire and are particularly suitable for older people and for those who have difficulty moving around or have some other impairment. In parts of the USA where sprinklers have become compulsory, almost no one dies from fire at home.

If you’re considering getting a sprinkler system fitted, here are some further points to bear in mind.

• Sprinklers are fitted in as many rooms as you want them to be - their pipes are small and run off mains water.
• They are individually heat-activated, so the whole system doesn't go off at once.
• They rarely get set off accidentally as they need high temperatures to trigger them.
• They operate automatically, whether you're at home or not.
• If you have a sprinkler system you should also have a smoke alarm, as this will alert you to slow-burning, smoke-generating fires which may not generate enough heat to trigger the sprinkler.
• Sprinklers also sound an alarm when they go off, so they alert you as well as tackling the fire.