Renovating your home is a surefire way to increase market value. It can also improve the living conditions of the house residents, you and your family. For small renovations, homeowners usually prefer to do this themselves. They research and watch educational videos to prepare for the tasks ahead. However, with major renovations, it may be better to hire contractors to ensure that no mistakes are made. After all, it is the value of your home that decreases after a botched renovation. It is worse if an accident occurs, such as a fire, while your home is being built. According to statistics, 27% of the reported fires are domestic fires. There have also been an average of 354,400 house fires in the past five years. This data is so relevant that it is a good idea to practice fire protection at home, especially during renovation.
That said, here are some fire protection tips to keep in mind and practice during a renovation project:
Always have a fire extinguisher handy in the construction area
It is always a safety measure to have a fire extinguisher on hand near the work or renovation area while construction is ongoing. Since the installation space is susceptible to fire accidents, a handy fire extinguisher can disperse the fire immediately and reduce the damage. You can buy different types of fire extinguishers at Firechief Global, and the fire extinguisher you should place in your renovation area should be the multi-purpose or ABC fire extinguisher that weighs 10 pounds. or larger.
No Smoking
If you are in the construction area of your house during the renovation work, you should never smoke, as there are many easily flammable materials lying around. For example, sawdust, paint thinner, cardboard containers and other flammable items are distributed on the renovation site. Smoking in the area is very dangerous as cigarette butts that have not been properly extinguished can start a fire in your home. Smoking in the construction area increases the risk of fire, and this should never be allowed.
Clean the installation space after every working day
After each working day, the workers must practice cleaning the building area of easily flammable waste. Cardboard boxes that are no longer needed should be thrown in the household waste. Sawdust residue must be wiped off the floor and other small pieces of wood that are not useful must also be collected and disposed of. Highly flammable liquids must be stored properly and away from home after the working day. Never leave the installation space in disarray, as accidents can happen if there are no people nearby.
Hire a professional electrician as part of the team
Home fires due to faulty electrical wiring are common. So when renovating your home, make sure there is a professional electrician on the team who will take care of the wiring during construction. After completion of the construction work, the electrician should also check whether the wiring is properly installed to prevent fires in the house.
Make sure the fire alarms are working
There are people who advise you to turn off fire and intrusion alarms during the construction phase, as these alarms may be erroneously triggered during the construction phase. The best thing, however, is to cover the alarm sensors with a plastic cover during construction and ensure that they are reactivated after the working day. Fire alarms and smoke detectors are very helpful in informing residents in the event of a fire, so they can leave the premises and immediately ask for help to avoid further damage. So make sure your fire alarms work by checking them every six months.
Make sure contractors have insurance
Insurance is a great help in covering damage costs for home fires. During the renovation, make sure that the contractors and subcontractors you hire have a liability certificate to ensure that they have adequate insurance. Homeowners should also consider insurance when renovating their homes. Contact your broker to find out about an insurance policy that covers your home and insurable valuables during the renovation.
Conclusion
Although your home is more prone to fire during renovation work, you can take steps to ensure that your home is safe. Aside from following the safety tips above, it also helps you hire professional contractors who know what they're doing. This way you can be sure that you will find a quality renovation and a house that is not prone to fire.
