Protecting your house against fire could help save one of the most important assets in your life - your home. Here are 7 tips to consider when thinking about safeguarding against fires:
Smoke alarms are a legal requirement for any home. They can be one of the first things to alert you if there’s a fire and help you and your family get to safety. Smoke alarms should be tested regularly, and lead or alkaline batteries replaced every year.1
In the event of a fire in or around your home, the last thing you want is flammable dry leaves and grass around. Leaves can accumulate in gutters and around the edges of your garden when not regularly cleared out - especially if you have trees that shed leaves in winter.2
Leaving cooking unattended can be dangerous for many reasons, including causing house fires. According to NSW Fire and Rescue, approximately 56% of all residential fires are kitchen fires.3 Some basic things to remember are:
Heaters can be a necessary part of the home, especially in winter. While we’re keeping toasty and warm, we need to be aware of the dangers that can come with having heaters. Be sure to avoid letting anything cover or lean up against heaters (e.g. curtains and blankets) to remove the risk of things catching fire.
Fire extinguishers can literally be a lifesaver but it’s important that you’re using them correctly. Different coloured fire extinguishers are used for different types of fires. There are 6 different classes of fires5:
Different types of fire extinguishers are required depending on the type of fire. This table shows the type of fire extinguisher you need for each fire type.
Source: QLD Fire and Emergency Services.
Having a fire evacuation plan can mean the difference between making it out of a house fire safely and disaster. NSW Fire and Rescue recommends6:
When you’re safe and out of harm's way, call Emergency Services on Triple Zero (000).
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Sources:
1 https://www.fire.nsw.gov.au/page.php?id=444
2 https://www.fire.nsw.gov.au/page.php?id=289
3 https://www.fire.nsw.gov.au/page.php?id=83
5 https://www.fastfireprotection.com.au/fire-extinguishers/
6 https://www.fire.nsw.gov.au/page.php?id=883
Benefits are subject to the terms and conditions including the limits and exclusions of the insurance policy. Any advice provided is general only and may not be right for you. Before you purchase this product you should carefully read the Home Insurance Product Disclosure Statement and consider the Target Market Determination to decide if it is right for you.