Improving workplace health & safety through collaboration
The Fundamentals Of Family Fireplace Safety
Principal Author / Publisher:Safetyhow Admin
Article Rating:
Body
Northshore Fireplace wants to make sure you and your family enjoy your fireplace, while also practicing smart fireplace safety. With this helpful guide, you can enjoy your fireplace with peace of mind.
Fire & Emergency Evacuation Gear and Supply – From Fire Axes and Fire Escape Ladders to Barricade “Caution” Tape, Fire Extinguishers, Fire Escape Masks and Kidde Digital Carbon & Fire Alarms – we’ve got your Emergency and Fire Evacuation Supplies in one easy location and at great prices
1. Always have an adult supervise a fire, from the moment it is lit until the ashes are cold. This is the most important part of fireplace safety – a fire should never burn unattended.
2. Used licensed installers when setting up your fireplace. These professionals will ensure your fireplace is heat-proofed and properly vented.
3. Use a safety gate. A non-toxic, heat resistant, metal safety gate is the best way to keep your children or pets a safe distance from the fire.
4. Do not keep a fire alarm in the same room as your fireplace. While it may seem natural to keep a fire alarm nearby, the smoke and heat can trigger false alarms. However, you should keep fire alarms in every sleeping area, as well as at least one on every floor of your home.
5. Do install a carbon monoxide detector in the same room as your fireplace. Carbon monoxide is a silent danger that has no odor. Installing carbon monoxide detectors in hallways near sleeping areas is also recommended.
6. Do not clutter the fireplace area. While it may be tempting to decorate your hearth with knick-knacks or other decorations, it is essential to fireplace safety that the area remains free and clear of any decorations, debris, or flammable materials.
7. Do not mount your television over your fireplace. The heat from the fire can damage your television. Also, such a placement is too high and can result in neck strain.
8. Before lighting your fire, make sure to open your damper. This is generally done by pulling the handle all the way to the right. Opening your damper ensures that gases are properly vented. To make sure that your damper is fully open, it is recommended to check it with a flashlight.
9. While your fire is burning, leave the glass doors open. This helps make sure there is enough air available for complete combustion, which helps to keep your chimney free of creosote – a tar that can build up in your chimney, becoming a dangerous fire hazard. You will want to keep a mesh screen in front of your open glass doors, however, to keep embers from escaping.
10. After your fire is out and the ashes are cool, close the glass doors. This prevents air in the chimney from seeping into your room. You should also close your damper to help keep the cold air out of your home.
11. Let your damper handle cool before touching it. It is also recommended to wear an oven mitt while touching the metal handle to help prevent any burns or injuries.
12. You should only burn dried, cut firewood. Softwood (such as fir and pin) burns more quickly and is better used when beginning a fire. Hardwood (such as maple and oak) is more suited to burning in an established fire, once your chimney is heated. Fallen tree limbs make excellent kindling if they are given the proper amount of time to try.
13. Never burn flammable liquids, charcoal, soft or moist wood, painted or pressure-treated wood, or trash in your fireplace. The vapors from flammable liquids can explode, charcoal produces carbon monoxide, soft or moist wood encourages more creosote, and trash and painted or pressure-treated wood can release harmful vapors or chemicals.
14. Make sure to dispose of your ashes properly. Allow your ashes to cool at least overnight before disposing of them in a metal container outside your home. Always moisten the disposed ashes, and never put anything but ashes in the container. Ashes should be hauled away with the rest of your garbage.
Fire & Emergency Evacuation Gear and Supply – From Fire Axes and Fire Escape Ladders to Barricade “Caution” Tape, Fire Extinguishers, Fire Escape Masks and Kidde Digital Carbon & Fire Alarms – we’ve got your Emergency and Fire Evacuation Supplies in one easy location and at great prices
1. Always have an adult supervise a fire, from the moment it is lit until the ashes are cold. This is the most important part of fireplace safety – a fire should never burn unattended.
2. Used licensed installers when setting up your fireplace. These professionals will ensure your fireplace is heat-proofed and properly vented.
3. Use a safety gate. A non-toxic, heat resistant, metal safety gate is the best way to keep your children or pets a safe distance from the fire.
4. Do not keep a fire alarm in the same room as your fireplace. While it may seem natural to keep a fire alarm nearby, the smoke and heat can trigger false alarms. However, you should keep fire alarms in every sleeping area, as well as at least one on every floor of your home.
5. Do install a carbon monoxide detector in the same room as your fireplace. Carbon monoxide is a silent danger that has no odor. Installing carbon monoxide detectors in hallways near sleeping areas is also recommended.
6. Do not clutter the fireplace area. While it may be tempting to decorate your hearth with knick-knacks or other decorations, it is essential to fireplace safety that the area remains free and clear of any decorations, debris, or flammable materials.
7. Do not mount your television over your fireplace. The heat from the fire can damage your television. Also, such a placement is too high and can result in neck strain.
8. Before lighting your fire, make sure to open your damper. This is generally done by pulling the handle all the way to the right. Opening your damper ensures that gases are properly vented. To make sure that your damper is fully open, it is recommended to check it with a flashlight.
9. While your fire is burning, leave the glass doors open. This helps make sure there is enough air available for complete combustion, which helps to keep your chimney free of creosote – a tar that can build up in your chimney, becoming a dangerous fire hazard. You will want to keep a mesh screen in front of your open glass doors, however, to keep embers from escaping.
10. After your fire is out and the ashes are cool, close the glass doors. This prevents air in the chimney from seeping into your room. You should also close your damper to help keep the cold air out of your home.
11. Let your damper handle cool before touching it. It is also recommended to wear an oven mitt while touching the metal handle to help prevent any burns or injuries.
12. You should only burn dried, cut firewood. Softwood (such as fir and pin) burns more quickly and is better used when beginning a fire. Hardwood (such as maple and oak) is more suited to burning in an established fire, once your chimney is heated. Fallen tree limbs make excellent kindling if they are given the proper amount of time to try.
13. Never burn flammable liquids, charcoal, soft or moist wood, painted or pressure-treated wood, or trash in your fireplace. The vapors from flammable liquids can explode, charcoal produces carbon monoxide, soft or moist wood encourages more creosote, and trash and painted or pressure-treated wood can release harmful vapors or chemicals.
14. Make sure to dispose of your ashes properly. Allow your ashes to cool at least overnight before disposing of them in a metal container outside your home. Always moisten the disposed ashes, and never put anything but ashes in the container. Ashes should be hauled away with the rest of your garbage.
- 282b6766408c4f8da2846f2d0559ec003a.jpg
References
http://thumbnails-visually.netdna-ssl.com/the-fund ... 0.jpg
http://www.safety.com/articles/fundamentals-family ... afety
http://www.safety.com/articles/fundamentals-family ... afety
Article Rating
This article has been read 923 times.
DISCLAIMER: All contents published on this website is for informational purposes only. In as much as we encourage write-ups to be originally written by the claimed authors, we might not be able to control those who will try to copy articles from other authors/writers. In view of the above, the owner and management of Safetyhow.com will not be liable for any loses, injuries, or damages from the display or use of the contents herein. Likewise, the owner and management will not be liable for any errors or omissions in the information stated. Furthermore, we highly recommend that any form of plagiarism or libel committed as a result or implication of the articles written by any specific author in this platform be reported to us immediately so that appropriate action will be given.