We are all aware of the dangers that fire can cause. Many fatal fires occur within the home and for many, the fatalities can be avoided by taking a few simple steps. Have you stopped to take a moment to consider if your home office and the rest of the home are fire safe?
ELECTRICAL
Is it up to date? You may not think an electrical inspection is worth it but they may detect any faulty or old wiring, and can advise if you should repair or replace.
If faced with the issue of repair or replace - my thoughts are to go for the replacement option. A repair may not be an adequate long-term solution and simply a quick fix. If you plan to work from home for a lengthy time then the investment of upgrading and replacing the wiring is most definitely to your advantage.
You may even see a decrease in your home insurance once you have your wiring updated. Be sure to talk to your insurance broker or insurance provider.
Make sure outlets aren't overloaded. With the amount of equipment required for many telecommuters, it's easy to overload an outlet. If you need more outlets then find an electrical contractor who can advise you on the best solutions. It may be easy to add another outlet or it could get more involved and require more upgrades throughout the house. This goes back to getting an inspection done and learning about the options available to you.
After you are sure that your electrical system is in the best shape it can be, then don't forget surge protection or even investing in an UPS (uninterrupted power source) to further protect yourself and your equipment.
Do-it-yourselfers can cause problems with things improperly installed. So if in doubt hire a professional, a common cause of household fires occurs when someone not properly trained has done electrical work.
Don't use incorrect fuses - using wrong size fuses and even putting a penny behind the fuse when they don't have a replacement can cause overloads and fires.
When arranging items in your office think about the location of flammables placed too near light bulbs, this includes decorative shades and curtains.
Ensure you have the correct wattage for lighting fixtures, using a bulb that is too high wattage for the device can cause overheating and lead to fires.
Don't enclose extension cords within walls, under carpets or other tight spaces, the cords can heat up and cause a fire to start. The fire will not always start immediately but take time for the heat to build up and then flame up.
GAS
An alarming increase has been seen in the number of accidents caused by leaking gas, improperly stored gas and carbon monoxide leaks. Be smart! If you smell gas in your house then call the Gas Company to come investigate. Catching a problem right from the start makes it much easier to correct. Don't store gas for lawn equipment in your basement or anywhere in the house. You are asking for trouble.
SMOKE DETECTORS/CARBON MONOXIDE DETECTORS/FIRE EXTINGUISHERS
Quite often the most overlooked safety measure that can be taken. For telecommuters in apartment buildings it can be a serious concern. Not all buildings have sufficient smoke detectors. If you live in an apartment and you do not have at least one smoke detector then go buy one. In an average sized two-bedroom apartment, it's wise to have a minimum of two detectors, one near the kitchen and one near the bedrooms. In a house, there should be a smoke detector on every level of the house. Make certain there is one near the bedrooms. Smoke detectors do save lives!
Carbon monoxide detectors are a wise investment. They are easy to install and quite effective at detecting the carbon monoxide.
Last, but not least make sure you have at least one multi use fire extinguisher in your house. If you are lucky and never have to use your extinguisher, you should still have it checked each year and kept full. Check with your fire department to see who services residential fire extinguishers.
Above all use common sense and if you are not certain then ask a professional! Your local Fire Dept. have people that are more than willing to answer your questions and help ensure your home and home office are fire safe. Remember if they can help prevent one fire it just makes their job that much easier!
