A fire extinguisher is one of the most fundamental safety devices any home should have, as it is a very simple device that can help prevent fires in the house. To be precise, records from the Singapore Civil Defence Force depicts that on average, there are 2700 fire incidents every year. Some older HDB flats or private condominiums may not have fire safety devices such as hose reels and sprinklers as it is only necessary for newer building structures that are constructed. In the same manner, even when such passive kind of fire protection systems have been put in place in the building, fire extinguishers are considered as an active form of protection against fire. They enable people to easily extinguish a comparatively small and localized fire before it becomes worse.
Here are the top 5 reasons why every home in Singapore needs a fire extinguisher:Here are the top 5 reasons why every home in Singapore needs a fire extinguisher:
1. It is important to know that fires can start at anytime and at any place
The major sources of fire in Singapore homes are electrical problems, cooking without supervision and other things such as lit candles or coils to keep away mosquitoes. Most of these everyday fire hazards are present in almost all homes, therefore a fire can erupt at any one’s home at any given time and we may not be ready. To contain a fire, having a fire extinguisher enhances one’s ability to tackle the fire at an early stage before it gains full proportions thus a potential threat to life or property.
2. Fire extinguishers are very self-explanatory, and one does not need expert help to operate it.
Current fire extinguishers, as those in most Singapore homes, are easily usable, with simple mechanisms that do not need practice or instruction. Most of them are packaged in simple, ready to use formats which include instructions even on the label. Even if this is the first experience of handling an extinguisher, the PASS – Pull the safety pin, Aim the nozzle at the base of the fire, Squeeze the trigger, and Sweep side to side method will help to put out small contained fire quickly. This means extinguishers are very valuable especially to households with young kids or elderly people who are not very flexible if there is an emergency.
3. Minimize cases where fire is likely to spread between rooms
Research done on fire incidences reveal that most of the deaths that are as a result of fire are more so as a result of suffocation from smoke than from the burns. A house section can become full of thick smoke in the shortest time as soon as a fire begins. This can be easily explained through the fact that instead of having fire extinguishers accumulated in one room, it is better to have fire extinguishers in several rooms as this helps to grab an extinguisher nearest to the fire site. This enables the residents to put off the fire before it moves from kitchen to the living room or from a bedroom to the door to the corridor, thus buying time enough for people to escape safely.
4. Secondary support in case the main fire alarms are not operational
New HDB flats and condominiums incorporate a centralized fire fighting system which includes alarms, hose reels, sprinklers and emergency light at the corridor or at stairwells. However, it has been observed that such systems can sometimes fail or are insufficient even at certain moments. In the past, there has been cases whereby the central sprinklers and hose reels were inoperative during fires due to power or water interruption. It is also important to have a backup fire extinguisher that is located within the residential building in case the outside fire systems do not work.
5. He wanted to ensure that he lived a peaceful life and also his house was protected against the dangers of fire.
Aside from the tangible aspect of protection, fire extinguishers at home also give psychological comfort to the homeowners and those residing in the house. The presence of extinguisher nearby makes a lot of difference in moments where you want to prevent fire outbreaks. It gives a sense of security as families with young children, or even the elderly, know that people are capable of handling a fire in case it occurs. These are the other non-financial gains that would warrant people to purchase fire extinguishers as well as smoke alarms, escape ladders, first aid kits, and other safety products needed at home.
Therefore, these five reasons are clear as to why fire extinguishers are an absolute essential in fire safety, and how it gives the homeowner the peace of mind to handle a fire if it were to occur. According to the SCDF guidelines, it is necessary to position the multipurpose (Class ABC) dry chemical extinguishers that can put out most common fires involving paper, wood, plastics, etc. These must be placed in conspicuous areas such as along the escape route, inside or outside bedrooms and kitchen. Fire extinguishers should be in a state of readiness to be inspected at any one time and this can best be done if fire extinguishers are serviced at least once a year. Adopting these fire safety best practices ensures that every household is prepared and able to respond aptly to preventable fire mishaps.
