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Fire protection prevention: private fire protection
Each year human errors lead to an increasing
tendency in fire damage statistics for private households - unfortunately also
with many injured persons and deaths. To stop this development and to put you
in the position to protect yourself with the right fire protection measures, we
recommend the following:
- Do not wedge or tie up heating room or
car-park doors because in most cases these doors are fire-resistant and must be
self-closing.
- Emergency exits must not be locked. It must
be possible to open them from inside at any time.
- Applicable building laws require two independent escape
routes per building. The staircase is always the first escape route, while e.g.
an apartment window can be the second. Therefore please make sure that your
windows can always be opened easily and are not blocked with plants. If you
have barred windows, please make sure that the grilles can be opened from
inside.
- Multi-storey buildings and buildings with more than seven
floors either have two separate staircases or a safety staircase. Never use the
elevator as an escape route. A smoked elevator may become a mortal trap.
- Please make sure that the window at the top floor of a
staircase can be opened easily. In case of fire it is used as a smoke
outlet.
- The whole width of the staircase must be accessible and
must not be used as a storeroom for furniture, devices or other inflammable
material - which is quite common. Otherwise it may become a dangerous trap in
case of emergency.
- In case of fire, close the doors leading to the fire
source. Closed doors do not only hold up flames and heat but also protect from
smoke.
- If you are encircled in a room, fill up the keyhole with
wet cloths. Go to the open window and give signs to draw the attention of
people to your situation. If you cannot avoid getting out without going through
a room filled with smoke, stoop or creep over the floor. Smoke falls down
relatively slow.
- If you notice that you cannot extinguish a fire yourself
using an extinguishing device, first get persons at risk to safety and than
call the fire brigade. Answer the questions of the fire brigade giving precise
information.
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