Dear Valued Broker,
Fire is one of the most devastating causes of loss or damage to a home as not only can it destroy a home in a matter of minutes, but the resultant hassle of your client having to live in a temporary residence while the site is cleaned up and structural damage is repaired, can be both frustrating and costly.
It is important to advise clients on precautionary measures they can take to help avoid the risk of residential fires, as most clients do not realise that they may have multiple fire risks present in their home.
Below are some useful tips courtesy of Fire-Fox, specialists in fire restorations, you can pass onto your client to make them aware of the potential fire hazards lying around:
- Electric Blankets
- Many homeowners are unaware of the deterioration that occurs to the wiring in electric blankets due to the heating and cooling process and when they are folded and packed away during the summer months. This results in fractures in the wiring and presents an extreme fire risk when it comes into contact with a fabric of the blanket. In addition, many people load the bed with extra pillows or blankets to speed up the heating process, without realizing that this may cause the blanket to overheat and catch alight.
- It is also advisable for clients to ensure they turn the blanket off when they are sleeping to avoid overheating and place the electric blanket in an open position under the mattress during summer than folding it away.
- Over-loaded Plug Points
- With the number of electrical appliances in the home increasing- think laptops, iPads, coffee machines, game consoles, etc.- there are typically not enough plug points for all appliances, resulting in many customers using mult-plug adaptors (sometimes together with additional plug adaptors for 2-prong power points). This electrical ‘nest’ presents one of the most common causes of domestic fires.
- To avoid these fires, advise your client to use a multi-plug adaptor that has individual plug isolators or one with a trip switch. However, the best solution would be for your client to get an electrician to assess the home’s current wiring system and advise on the possibility of installation additional points if necessary.
- ‘Stand-by’ Mode for Electrical Appliances
- Many clients do not realise that an electrical current is still flowing into appliances in ‘stand-by’ mode. This presents a fire risk in the event of a power surge occurring which causes damage the transformers.
- Instead of leaving appliances in ‘stand-by’ mode, advise your client to switch off the unit using the on/off button or at the plug point itself to mitigate the risk of these types of fires. However, it is important to note that switching a television on and off directly at the plug point will damage the transformers and could distort the picture colour or clarity.
- Electrical Inspect Repellents and Room Deodorisers
- Due to the fact that plug-in bug relents or room deodorisers can be an eye-sore, they are often plugged into out-of-sight points and forgotten, resulting in a potential fire risk should the liquid run out, causing the device to overhead and melt into the plug point. Always advise your client on the importance of plugging devices into visible areas and unplugging them when not needed.
- Gas Installations
- An annual service and overall general inspection of the system including all gas connections, regulating or isolating valves, especially before winter, will significantly reduce the risk of an unexpected fire.
- Storage tanks should always be placed on the outside of the structure for a property that utilises gas as a primary source for heating and cooking.
- Ensure that the isolating valves are always isolated before leaving the premises or going to bed, as this will contain the fire to the outside of the building should a failure of any valves occur.
The above-mentioned scenarios are a common occurrence in many homes and many clients may be unaware of the potential fire risks lurking in their home. The cost of implementing the above precautions, aside from being relatively inexpensive, pales in comparison to the inconvenience an insured may have to endure, even when sufficiently insured.
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