Your Home Fire Safety Checklist
Your Home Fire Safety Checklist
Table of Contents
About the Commission
Introduction
Sources Of Fire
Supplemental Home Heating Equipment
Cooking Equipment
Cigarette Lighters and Matches
Materials That Burn
Upholstered Furniture
Mattresses and Bedding
Wearing Apparel
Flammable Liquids
Early Warning and Escape
Smoke Detectors
Escape Plan
About the Commission
This Home Fire Safety Checklist was developed
by the U.S.
Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), an
independent
regulatory agency of the U.S. Government.
The Commission has four statutory missions:
-- to protect the public from unreasonable
risks of injury
associated with consumer products;
-- to assist consumers in evaluating the
comparative
safety of consumer products;
-- to develop uniform safety standards
for consumer
products and minimize conflicting state
and local
regulations; and
-- to promote research and investigation
into the causes
and prevention of product-related deaths,
injuries and
illnesses.
It has jurisdiction over more than 15,000
consumer
products used in the home, school and in public
places. Among
the products not subject to the Commission's authority
are
food, drugs, automobiles, tobacco, and fire arms.
The
Commission administers five safety laws: The Consumer
Product
Safety Act, the Federal Hazardous Substances Act,
the Flammable
Fabrics Act, the Poison Prevention Packaging Act,
and the
Refrigerator Act.
CPSC began operation on May 14, 1973.
It is headed by
three Commissioners appointed by the President
with the advice
and consent of the Senate.
On October 29, 1973, the Commission instituted
a toll-free
Hotline to make it easier for consumers to report
product-related injuries or potentially hazardous
products, and
to get information on recalled products seven
days a week, 24
hours a day. You may call the Commission's Hotline
from
anywhere in the continental U.S. by dialing 1-800-638-2772.
A
teletypewriter for the hearing impaired is also
available
(including Alaska and Hawaii) on a special Hotline
number
1-800-638-8270, in Maryland only dial 1-800-492-8104.
To order
publications, write to the Office of Information
and Public
Affairs, Washington, DC 20207.
Introduction
The United States has one of the highest
fire death and
injury rates in the world. Fire--in the form of
flames and
smoke--is the second leading cause of accidental
death in the
home.
More than 4,000 people die each year in
home fires. Every
year, there are more than 500,000 residential
fires serious
enough to be reported to fire departments. More
than 90 percent
of residential fire deaths and injuries result
from fires in
one and two family houses and apartments. Property
losses
exceed 4 billion dollars annually, and the long
term emotional
damage to victims and their loved ones is incalculable.
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
(CPSC) has
targeted the principal consumer products associated
with fires,
namely home heating devices, upholstered furniture,
bedding,
cigarette lighters, matches, and wearing apparel.
The
Commission is participating in a special Congressionally
authorized study of cigarette-ignited fires, which
cause more
deaths than any other kind of fire. The Commission
continues to
push for extensive use of smoke detectors. With
the help of
concerned consumers, the number of residential
fires has
declined about 30 percent since 1980.
The CPSC is fulfilling its role to make
products
inherently more fire safe. We recognize that much
more can be
done to cut down on the needlessly high and tragic
fire toll by
an alert and informed public. Many of the injuries
associated
with flammable products result from hazards that
are
overlooked. Fire experts agree that one key to
fewer fires is a
greater awareness of how accidents can be prevented.
By
spotting these hazards and taking some simple
precautions, many
fires and fire-related injuries can be prevented.
Use this checklist as a safety guide to
spot possible fire
safety problems which may be present in your home.
It is a
first step in reducing the risk of fire. Check
YES or NO to
answer each question. If you check NO to any question,
the
potential hazard should be corrected to avoid
the risk of
injury or death.
How safe is your home from fire?
PRODUCT SAFETY, IT'S NO ACCIDENT!
Sources of Fire
Supplemental Home Heating
The use of supplemental room heaters,
such as wood and
coal burning stoves, kerosene heaters, gas space
heaters and
electrical heaters, has decreased, along with
the number of
residential fires.
Even though there has been a decrease
in fires associated
with supplemental heaters, it is important to
remember that
about 120,000 residential fires still occur annually
with the
use of these heaters, or about 22 percent of all
residential
fires. These fires kill more than 600 people.
Annually there
are thousands of contact burn injuries and hundreds
of carbon
monoxide poisonings.
Wood Stoves
You should be able to respond "yes"
to the following
safety statements.
Yes No
1. The wood stove or fireplace has been
installed according to existing
building codes and manufacturer's
instructions. _____
_____
2. The chimney and stovepipe are checked
frequently during the heating season
for creosote buildup and are cleaned
when necessary. _____
_____
3. The stove sits on a non-combustible
or on a code-specified or listed
floor protector. _____
_____
4. Combustibles such as curtains, chairs,
firewood, etc., are at least three
feet away from the stove. _____
_____
5. Only proper fuel is used in the stove.
_____ _____
6. A metal container with a tight-fitting
lid is used for ash removal. _____
_____
Recommendations:
* Do not use wood burning stoves and fireplaces
unless they
are properly installed and meet building
codes.
* Follow the label instructions on the stove
which
recommends an inspection twice monthly. Have
chimneys
inspected and cleaned by a professional chimney
sweep.
Creosote is an unavoidable product of wood
burning stoves.
Creosote builds up in chimney flues and can
cause a
chimney fire. To cut down on creosote buildup,
avoid
smoldering fires.
* Use a code-specified or listed floor protector.
It should
extend 18 inches beyond the stove on all
sides. This will
reduce the possibility of the floor being
ignited.
* Follow the instructions on the stove label
for proper
location of the stove from combustible walls.
* Never burn trash in a stove because this
could over heat
the stove. Gasoline and other flammable liquids
should
never be used to start wood stove fires.
Gasoline will
ignite and explode. Use coal only if designated
as
appropriate by the manufacturer.
Kerosene Heaters
You should be able to respond "yes"
to the following
safety statements.
Yes No
1. Only 1-K kerosene is used and it is
bought from a dealer who can certify
that the product is 1-K kerosene. _____
_____
2. The heater is placed out of the path
of traffic areas such as doorways and
hallways. _____
_____
3. Kerosene is stored outdoors, and out
of the reach of children in a tightly
sealed, preferably blue plastic or
metal container, labeled "kerosene."
_____ _____
4. No attempt is to be made to move the
heater if flare-up (flames outside the
heater cabinet) occurs. The fire
department is called immediately. _____
_____
5. The heater is used in well ventilated
rooms. _____
_____
6. The heater is turned off while
sleeping and is never left operating
unattended. _____
_____
7. The heater is placed at least three
feet away from anything that might
catch fire such as clothing,
furniture, curtains, etc. _____
_____
Recommendations:
* Check with your local fire marshal regarding
local and
state codes and regulations for using a kerosene
heater.
* NEVER USE GASOLINE. Even small amounts
of gasoline mixed
with kerosene can increase the risk of fire.
* Use properly labeled containers. It reduces
the likelihood
of mistaking gasoline for kerosene.
* Place heater so it will not be knocked
over or trap you in
case of fire.
* Use 1-K kerosene because grades other
than 1-K contain
much more sulfur and will increase sulfur
dioxide
emissions, posing a possible health problem.
If you buy
kerosene from a gasoline station make sure
you and/or the
attendant are using the kerosene pump, not
the gasoline
pump.
* Never fill the heater while it is operating.
Always refuel
the heater outdoors to prevent spillage on
floors and rugs
which could later result in fire ignition.
* Keep the room in which the heater operates
ventilated
(e.g. door open or the window ajar). This
will prevent an
indoor air pollution problem and minimize
health problems.
Kerosene heaters are not usually vented.
* Keep flammable liquids and fabrics away
from an open
flame.
* Never try to move the heater or try to
smother the flames
with a rug or a blanket if a flare-up occurs.
Activate the
manual shut-off switch and call the fire
department.
Moving the heater may increase the height
of the flames
and cause leakage resulting in personal injury.
Gas-Fired Space Heaters
You should be able to respond "yes"
to the following
safety statements.
Yes No
1. Only vented heaters are installed or
used in sleeping quarters. _____
_____
2. Vented heaters are properly vented to
the outside. _____
_____
3. The unvented gas-fired room heater has
a warning label and instructions that
are followed. _____
_____
4. The unvented gas-fired room heater has
a label stating it has a "pilot safety
system" which turns off the gas if not
enough fresh air is available. _____
_____
5. The vented heater has a label stating
that is equipped with a vent safety
shutoff system. _____
_____
6. If the heater uses liquified petroleum
(LP) gas, the container is located
outside the house. _____
_____
7. The manufacturer's instructions for
lighting the pilot are followed. _____
_____
8. Matches are lighted before turning on
the gas if pilot lighting is required. _____
_____
9. Flammable materials and liquids are
kept away from gas heating appliances. _____
_____
Recommendations:
* Follow the manufacturer's instructions
regarding where and
how to use gas space heaters. Unvented heaters
should not
be used in small enclosed areas, especially
bedrooms
because of the potential for carbon monoxide
poisoning.
* Do not use a propane heater (LP) which
has a gas cylinder
stored in the body of the heater. Its use
is prohibited in
most states and localities in the United
States.
* Follow the manufacturer's instructions
for lighting the
pilot. Gas vapors may accumulate and ignite
explosively,
burning your hand or face.
* Light matches, if needed for lighting
the pilot, before
turning on the gas to prevent gas buildup.
* Do not operate a vented style heater unvented.
It could
allow combustion products, including carbon
monoxide, to
reach dangerous levels which will result
in illness and
death.
Portable Electric Heaters
The Commission estimates that half the
deaths and
one-third of the injuries resulting from electric
heater fires
occurred at night when family members were asleep
and the
heater unattended. The Commission is also concerned
about the
use of power or extension cords which can be too
small to
supply the amount of current required by the typical
portable
electric heater.
You should be able to respond "yes"
to the following
safety statements.
Yes No
1. The heater is operated at least three
feet away from upholstered furniture,
drapes, bedding and other combustible
materials. _____
_____
2. The extension cord (if used) is
marked #14 or #12 American Wire Gauge
(AWG). _____
_____
3. The heater is used on the floor.
_____ _____
4. The heater is turned off when family
members leave the house or are
sleeping. _____
_____
Recommendations:
* Operate heater away from combustible materials.
Do not
place heaters where towels or the like could
fall on the
appliance and trigger a fire.
* Avoid using extension cords unless absolutely
necessary.
If you must use an extension cord with your
electric
heater, make sure it is marked with a power
rating at
least as high as that of the heater itself.
Keep the cord
stretched out. Do not permit the cord to
become buried
under carpeting or rugs. Do not place anything
on top of
the cord.
* Never place heaters on cabinets, tables,
furniture or the
like. Never use heaters to dry wearing apparel
or shoes.
Cooking Equipment
Cooking equipment is estimated to be associated
with more
than 100,000 fires annually, and almost 400 deaths,
and 5,000
injuries. Gas cooking equipment accounts for about
30,000
fires, and electric cooking equipment for about
55,000 fires.
You should be able to respond "yes"
to the following safety
statements.
Yes No
1. The storage area above the stove is
free of flammable and combustible
items. _____
_____
2. Short or tight fitting sleeves, and
tight fitting shirts, robes, gowns,
etc., are worn while cooking. _____
_____
3. Items that could attract children
(e.g. cookies and candy) are not kept
above the range and are kept out of
the immediate area. _____
_____
4. The stove is not left unattended when
cooking especially when the burner is
turned to a high setting. _____
_____
Recommendations:
* Never place or store pot holders, plastic
utensils, towels
and other non-cooking equipment on or near
the range
because these items can be ignited.
* Roll up or fasten long loose sleeves with
pins or elastic
bands while cooking. Do not reach across
a range while
cooking. Long loose sleeves are more likely
to catch on
fire than are short sleeves. Long loose sleeves
are also
more apt to catch on pot handles, overturning
pots and
pans and cause scalds.
* Do not place candy or cookies over top
of ranges. This
will reduce the attraction kids may have
for climbing on
cooking equipment, thus reducing the possibility
of their
clothing catching fire.
* Keep constant vigilance on any cooking
that is required
above the "keep warm" setting.
Cigarette Lighters and Matches
Each year more than 200 deaths are associated
with fires
started by cigarette lighters. About two thirds
of these result
from children playing with lighters. Most of the
victims are
under five years old.
You should be able to answer "yes"
to the safety statements
below.
Yes No
1. Cigarette lighters and matches are
kept out of the reach of children. _____
_____
2. Cigarette lighters are never used to
entertain a child. _____
_____
Recommendations:
* Keep lighters and matches out of sight
and out of the
reach of children. Children as young as two
years old are
capable of lighting cigarette lighters and
matches.
* Never encourage or allow a child to play
with a lighter or
to think of it as a toy. Do not use it as
a source of
amusement for a child. Once their curiosity
is aroused,
children may seek out a lighter and try to
light it.
* Always check to see that cigarettes are
extinguished
before emptying ashtrays. Stubs that are
still burning can
ignite trash.
Materials That Burn
Your home is filled with materials and
products that will
burn if ignited. Upholstered furniture, clothing,
drapery
fabrics, and liquids such as gasoline and volatile
solvents are
involved in many injury-causing fires each year.
Most of these
fires could be prevented.
Upholstered Furniture
In 1989, there were 18,600 residential
fires associated
with upholstered furniture; about 900 people lost
their lives.
About one half of these fires were caused by smoking
materials.
Property losses amounted to over $100 million
from fires
started by cigarette ignition of upholstered furniture.
You should be able to respond "yes"
to the safety
statements below.
Yes No
1. Upholstered furniture fabrics made
from vinyl, wool or thermoplastic
fibers are generally selected for
safety reasons. _____
_____
2. I check thoroughly after parties for
ashes or unextinguished cigarettes
that may have fallen behind and
between cushions and under furniture. _____
_____
Recommendations:
* Look for furniture designed to reduce
the likelihood of
furniture fire from cigarettes. Much of the
furniture
manufactured today has significantly greater
resistance to
ignition by cigarettes than upholstered furniture
manufactured 10 to 15 years ago. This is
particularly true
of furniture manufactured to comply with
the requirements
of the Upholstered Furniture Action Council's
(UFAC)
Voluntary Action Program. Such upholstered
furniture may
be identified by the gold colored tag on
the furniture
item. The legend on the front of the tag
in red letters
states--"Important Consumer Safety Information
from UFAC."
* Always check the furniture where smokers
have been sitting
for improperly discarded smoking materials.
Ashes and
lighted cigarettes can fall unnoticed behind
or between
cushions or under furniture.
* Do not place or leave ashtrays on the
arms of chairs where
they can be knocked off.
* Look for fabrics made predominantly from
thermoplastic
fibers (nylon, polyester, acrylic, olefin)
because they
resist ignition by burning cigarettes better
than
cellulosic fabrics (rayon or cotton). In
general, the
higher the thermoplastic content, the greater
the
resistance to cigarette ignition.
Mattresses and Bedding
Smoldering fires in mattresses and bedding
materials
caused by cigarettes are a major cause of deaths
in residential
fires. In 1989 over 35,000 mattress/bedding fires
caused about
700 deaths.
You should be able to respond "yes"
to the following
safety statements.
Yes No
1. "No smoking in bed" is a rule
that
is practiced in my home. _____
_____
2. Heaters, ash trays, smoking materials
and other fire sources are located
away from bedding. _____
_____
Recommendations:
* DO NOT smoke in bed. Smoking in bed is
a major cause of
accidental fire deaths in homes.
* Locate heaters or other fire sources three
feet from the
bed to prevent the bed catching on fire.
* Consider replacing your old mattress with
a new one if you
are a smoker. Mattresses manufactured since
1973 are
required to resist cigarette ignition.
Wearing Apparel
Most fibers used in clothing can burn,
some more quickly
than others. A significant number of clothing
fires occur in
the over 65 age group principally from nightwear
(robes,
pajamas, nightgowns). In 1989 about 200 clothing
fire deaths
were reported; about three fourths occurred in
the 65 and older
age group. The severity of apparel burns is high.
Hospital
stays average over one month.
Small open flames, including matches,
cigarette lighters,
and candles are the major sources of clothing
ignition. These
are followed by ranges, open fires and space heaters.
The most
commonly worn garments that are associated with
clothing
ignition injuries are pajamas, nightgowns, robes,
shirts/blouses, pants/slacks and dresses.
You should be able to respond "yes"
to the following
statements.
Yes No
1. When purchasing wearing apparel I
consider fiber content and fabric
construction for safety purposes. _____
_____
2. I purchase garments for my children
that are intended for sleepwear since
they are made to be flame resistant. _____
_____
Recommendations:
* Consider purchasing fabrics such as 100%
polyester, nylon,
wool and silk that are difficult to ignite
and tend to
self extinguish.
* Consider the flammability of certain fabrics
containing
cotton, cotton/polyester blends, rayon, and
acrylic. These
are relatively easy to ignite and burn rapidly.
* Look at fabric construction. It also affect
ignitability.
Tight weaves or knits and fabrics without
a fuzzy or
napped surface are less likely to ignite
and burn rapidly
than open knits or weaves, or fabrics with
brushed or
piled surfaces.
* Consider purchasing garments that can
be removed without
having to pull them over the head. Clothes
that are easily
removed can help prevent serious burns. If
a garment can
be quickly stripped off when it catches fire,
injury will
be far less severe or avoided altogether.
* Follow manufacturer's care and cleaning
instructions on
products labeled "flame resistant"
to ensure that their
flame resistant properties are maintained.
Flammable Liquids
One of the major causes of household fires
is flammable
liquids. These include gasoline, acetone, benzene,
lacquer
thinner, alcohol, turpentine, contact cements,
paint thinner,
kerosene, and charcoal lighter fluid. The most
dangerous of all
is gasoline.
You should be able to respond "yes"
to the following
safety statements.
Yes No
1. Flammable liquids are stored in
properly labeled, tightly closed
non-glass containers. _____
_____
2. These products are stored away from
heaters, furnaces, water heaters,
ranges, and other gas appliances. _____
_____
3. Flammable liquids are stored out of
reach of children. _____
_____
Recommendation:
* Take extra precautions in storing and
using flammable
liquids, such as gasoline, paint thinners,
etc. They
produce invisible explosive vapors that can
ignite by a
small spark at considerable distances from
the flammable
substance. Store outside the house.
Early Warning and Escape
Even when you have complied with every
item in this Home
Fire Safety Checklist, you still need to have
a plan for early
warning and escape in case a fire does occur.
Many fire deaths and fire injuries are
actually caused by
smoke and gases. Victims inhale smoke and poisonous
gases that
rise ahead of the flames. Survival depends on
being warned as
early as possible and having an escape plan.
You should be able to respond "yes"
to the following
statements.
Smoke Detectors
Yes No
1. At least one smoke detector is
located on every floor of my home. _____
_____
2. Smoke detectors are placed near
bedrooms, either on the ceiling or
6-12 inches below the ceiling on the
wall. _____
_____
3. Smoke detectors are tested according
to manufacturer's instructions on a
regular basis (at least once a month)
and are kept in working condition at
all times. _____
_____
4. Batteries are replaced according to
manufacturer's instructions, at least
annually. _____
_____
5. Batteries are never disconnected.
_____ _____
6. The detector has a distinct warning
signal that can be heard whether
asleep or awake. _____
_____
Follow manufacturer's directions for testing
the detector.
Make sure detectors are placed either
on the ceiling or
6-12 inches below the ceiling on the wall. Locate
smoke
detectors away from air vents or registers; high
air flow or
"dead" spots are to be avoided.
Recommendations:
* Purchase a smoke detector if you do not
have one. Smoke
detectors are inexpensive and are required
by law in many
localities. Check local codes and regulations
before you
buy your smoke detector because some codes
require
specific types of detectors. They provide
an early warning
which is critical because the longer the
delay, the
deadlier the consequences.
* Read the instructions that come with the
detector for
advice on the best place to install it. As
a minimum
detectors should be located near bedrooms
and one on every
floor.
* Follow the manufacturer's instructions
for proper
maintenance. Smoke detectors can save lives,
but only if
properly installed and maintained.
* Never disconnect a detector. Consider
relocating the
detector rather than disconnecting it if
it is subject to
nuisance alarms, e.g. from cooking.
* Replace the battery annually, or when
a "chirping" sound
is heard.
* Follow the manufacturer's instructions
about cleaning your
detector. Excessive dust, grease or other
material in the
detector may cause it to operate abnormally.
Vacuum the
grill work of your detector.
Escape Plan
Planning ahead, rehearsing, thinking,
and acting clearly
are keys to surviving a fire. How prepared are
you?
You should be able to respond "yes"
to the following
statements.
Yes No
1. The family has an escape plan and an
alternate escape plan. _____
_____
2. Escape routes and plans are rehearsed
periodically. _____
_____
3. The escape plan includes choosing a
place safely outside the house where
the family can meet to be sure
everyone got out safely. _____
_____
4. At least two exits from each part of
the house are established. _____
_____
5. The fire department number is posted
on every telephone. _____
_____
Recommendations:
* Establish advanced family planning for
escape. It is an
important partner with smoke detectors and
it will prepare
you for a fire emergency.
* Include small children as a part of the
discussion and
rehearsal. It is especially important to
make sure they
understand that they must escape; they can't
hide from
fire under a bed or in a closet.
Your life and that of your family can
be saved by
foresight, planning, discussing and rehearsal.
PRODUCT SAFETY, IT'S NO ACCIDENT!
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