Issue 02/2008 - Fire Safety in Private Homes
According to information of the German Insurance Association, about 600 human beings die from fire in Germany per year – most of them in private homes and at night. Normally not the fire itself but the smoke has fatal consequences, due to the fact that when sleeping we are not aware of the toxic gases. Suitable fire prevention measures and smoke detectors can reduce fire risks.
Most dangerous is smoke in case of fire
As can be taken from experience reports of fire fighters and medical scientists, the greatest danger is the toxic smoke produced by the fire. “Stiftung Warentest”, a German non-profit consumer organisation conducting independent tests of consumer products, speaks about
95 % damage to persons – caused by fire smoke.
Presumably, most people get caught in fire when they are asleep, i.e. between 23:00 and 7:00 h. The fatality: When you are asleep you cannot smell the perilous fire smoke. Three breaths of smoke, however, can already kill you. You will lose consciousness and suffocate.
Smoke alarms in private homes would considerably reduce the risks. Admittedly, in Germany less than 10 % of all private homes are equipped with smoke detectors. Whereas abroad the installation of smoke alarms is often required by law, such a regulation is in force in only six German federal states – partly with transition periods for existing buildings.
95 % damage to persons – caused by fire smoke.
Presumably, most people get caught in fire when they are asleep, i.e. between 23:00 and 7:00 h. The fatality: When you are asleep you cannot smell the perilous fire smoke. Three breaths of smoke, however, can already kill you. You will lose consciousness and suffocate.
Smoke alarms in private homes would considerably reduce the risks. Admittedly, in Germany less than 10 % of all private homes are equipped with smoke detectors. Whereas abroad the installation of smoke alarms is often required by law, such a regulation is in force in only six German federal states – partly with transition periods for existing buildings.
Flame retardants are not the solution
It is required by ACFSE (Alliance for Consumer Fire Safety in Europe), a consumer organisation for fire safety, that furnishing fabrics should be treated with fire proofing agents to prevent fire in private homes.
However, flame retardants are not a suitable solution. They are classified to be hazardous to human health and are even suspected of being carcinogenic. Therefore in Germany textile finishers are not permitted to use them any longer. In fact, it is recommended by German producers of home textiles to use smoke detectors for the protection against fire. As an alternative to flame retardants also home textile fabrics with in-woven flame-retardant fibres or made of wool are predestined. Fibre materials with flame-retardant properties are controlled by independent institutes and are authorised for use only if they are harmless to human health.
Also the Federal Environment Agency (UBA) views flame retardants critically. In particular brominated flame retardants could spread into the environment and accumulate. For example, the flame retardants used in textiles – decabromodiphenyl ether (DecaBDE) and hexabromecyclododecane (HBCD) – have been traced in fish, birds’ eggs and also in mothers’ milk. “Chemicals that accumulate in the human body or in animals do not belong in the environment,” said Prof. Dr. Andreas Troge, President of the Federal Environment Agency, in a recent press release.
However, flame retardants are not a suitable solution. They are classified to be hazardous to human health and are even suspected of being carcinogenic. Therefore in Germany textile finishers are not permitted to use them any longer. In fact, it is recommended by German producers of home textiles to use smoke detectors for the protection against fire. As an alternative to flame retardants also home textile fabrics with in-woven flame-retardant fibres or made of wool are predestined. Fibre materials with flame-retardant properties are controlled by independent institutes and are authorised for use only if they are harmless to human health.
Also the Federal Environment Agency (UBA) views flame retardants critically. In particular brominated flame retardants could spread into the environment and accumulate. For example, the flame retardants used in textiles – decabromodiphenyl ether (DecaBDE) and hexabromecyclododecane (HBCD) – have been traced in fish, birds’ eggs and also in mothers’ milk. “Chemicals that accumulate in the human body or in animals do not belong in the environment,” said Prof. Dr. Andreas Troge, President of the Federal Environment Agency, in a recent press release.
How to prevent fire in private homes
- In addition to smoke detectors and flame-retardant fibres in home textiles, also suitable fire protection measures can prevent fire risks. Special attention needs to be paid to the following aspects:
- Never leave open fire unattended
- Put candles away from combustible materials like shelves, curtains and electric devices
- Watch carefully electric equipment ready for use like electric irons, stoves or coffee makers
- Keep candles, lighters, matches, sparklers etc. beyond the reach of children
- Never cover lamps and bulbs with cloth
- Use low-energy light bulbs wherever possible – there is no direct fire risk arising from such bulbs
- Never extinguish burning grease with water but smother the flames with a metal lid or a woollen blanket
- No smoking in bed
Fire safety training can help to save lives
Kids and youngsters in Germany cause more than 20 fires a day. More than half of these are made by kids younger than 14 years. Therefore it is very important to train children for fire safety as early as possible. Kids learning from adults to deal with fire in a responsible way are familiar with the scope of risk and will behave reasonably in case of fire. Already in many nursery schools the accurate handling of fire is taught.
Also parents should show their kids how to handle fire correctly. For example, you can show how to light matches by striking them against the matchbox away from the body, how to blow out the flame in time and to put the matches into a fireproof pot. For training it is most suitable to prepare a dish of water. Your child can throw the match into this dish if it does not succeed in blowing out the flame.
Further information on fire safety training for kids and on behaviour in case of fire can be found on the internet at www.das-sichere-Kind.de.
Also parents should show their kids how to handle fire correctly. For example, you can show how to light matches by striking them against the matchbox away from the body, how to blow out the flame in time and to put the matches into a fireproof pot. For training it is most suitable to prepare a dish of water. Your child can throw the match into this dish if it does not succeed in blowing out the flame.
Further information on fire safety training for kids and on behaviour in case of fire can be found on the internet at www.das-sichere-Kind.de.
