Important Fireplace Safety Tips for Homeowners

Homeowners love fireplaces.  According to the U.S. Fire Administration more than one-third of Americans use fireplaces, wood stoves and other fuel-fired appliances as primary heating sources for their homes.

While the crackling of a warm fire can be great, there are certain risks involved with heating wood and other solid fuels in your home.

Every year …

• There are more than 25,000 chimney fires, responsible for 30 deaths and $126.1 million in property damage (Consumer Product & Safety Commission).

• Heating fires account for 36 percent of residential home fires in rural areas (U.S. Fire Administration).

• There are more than 150 carbon monoxide poisoning deaths related to heating systems and fireplaces (Chimney Safety Institute of America).

If your home has a fireplace, you need to take proper precautions to protect your home as well as your family.

Follow these important fireplace safety tips:

• Use Seasoned Hardwood – Never burn cardboard, paper or flammable liquids in your fireplace.

• Get a Chimney Inspection – Every year have a certified chimney specialist inspect your fireplace and chimney.

• Keep Front Area of Fireplace Clean – Make sure all flammable items are removed from the hearth of the fireplace.

• Keep Glass Doors Open – You’ll want to keep the glass doors open when a fire is burning.  Use your mesh screen to keep embers from jumping out of the fireplace.

• Close Glass Doors When Not in Use – This helps to keep air from the chimney opening from getting into the room.

• Keep Roof Clean – Keep your roof clear of twigs, leafs and bird nests.

• Store Firewood Away from Home – Try to keep stored firewood at least 30 feet away from your home.

• Check Smoke Alarms and Carbon Monoxide Detectors – Change the batteries and test your smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors at least twice a year.

Most importantly, never leave a fire unattended!  If a fire gets out of control, immediately contact the fire department.  Don’t try to extinguish an out-of-control fire.  Get your family out of the house and call 911.

At Hue & Cry Security Systems, we have worked side by side with fire departments and other emergency responders for more than 25 years.

When it comes to protecting your home, we have the experience in home security systems and fire alarms that homeowners and businesses in Northern California and Oregon count on.

To learn how to protect your home and family, give us a call today at 1-800-762-3196.

10 Ways to Prevent a Fire at Your Business

Business and office fires are more common than you may think.

According to the National Fire Prevention Association, there were more than 98,000 fires in non-residential buildings last year.  Many of these were offices and small businesses.

The fires caused more than $2.6 billion in properly damage.

As an example, more than 80 firefighters battled a fire at a Citrus Heights, California Strip Mall in November 2011.  The fire wiped out several stores in the strip malls, causing thousands of dollars in damage.  You can see a video of the blaze below.

If you want to prevent a fire at your business, you should follow these 10 tips.

1. Avoid Overloading Outlets – Make sure you don’t overload your electrical outlets with multi-socket plugs and lots of office equipment.  Also avoid using extensions cords.
2. Keep Space Heaters at Home – Make it a policy to keep space heaters at home.  Space heaters are a potential fire hazard, especially when left unattended.
3. No Candles – This may seem obvious, but you would be surprised how many people bring candles into private, one-person offices and businesses.  Make sure no one has any candles.
4. Watch Paper Products – Keep your paper products and shredded paper stored away from heat sources.  If possible, store paper products near a sprinkler head in your office. 
5. Avoid Running Cables Under Carpets – Don’t run any cables under carpets in main walkways of your office.  The cables could fray and spark a fire.
6. Unplug Electrical Items in Kitchen – At the end of the day unplug electrical items such as coffee makers and toasters in your office kitchen.
7. Have a Strict No Smoking Policy – There are still people who will sneak a cigarette in the office bathroom or storage closet.  Have a strict policy that punishes people who get caught smoking.
8. Service Computers and Other Equipment – Have professionals service your computers and other equipment to ensure it’s properly working and safe to use.
9. Have Fire Extinguishers – Make sure your fire extinguishers are all properly working.  You may even want to have a few extra just in case.
10. Smoke Detectors – Every office should have several functioning smoke detectors in it.  Be sure to replace the batteries once every sixth months.

Finally, be sure to have your fire alarm system regularly checked by a professional.

At Hue & Cry Security Systems, we can help you with your fire and security needs.  We have long standing relationships with fire and law enforcement officials in Northern California and Oregon.

To learn more how we can help you, call us today at 1-800-762-3196 or visit the Hue & Cry Contact Page.

SACRAMENTO 2009 FIRE FORUM

The Sacramento Area Alarm Association

Where: TMS Event Center  

Seating is limited, so please R.S.V.P. in advance to Dave Lomas at dlomas@adt.com OR Rich Whitlock at r.whitlock@hueandcry.com.   Thank you in advance!   We look forward to seeing you there.

How Hue & Cry Saves you time and money on fire inspections

                                        Minimal Investment. Maximum Compliance. 

 

Building Reports’ innovative web-based solution guarantees timely inspections and maintenance that are fully-documented in accordance with regulatory standards. Simplify the process of costly paper-based inspections with real-time data and on-demand reports.

Inspectors use standard PDAs with Building Reports software to scan devices and upload results to a secure, web-based account. The data is compared to past inspections and statistical analysis using an online database. Unique bar-code registration ensures comprehensive inspections by monitoring inspectors’ progress in real time during the inspection, preventing missed items, and facilitating fast action on repairs. Scanned timestamps cannot be modified, and reports are ready immediately as either a dynamic web page or a downloadable document to authorized users only.

Building Reports’ Third Party Verification and Authentication ensures verifiable compliance backed by a Certificate of Authenticity. Inspection results are audited online and reviewed for certification. Instantly-retrievable documentation from a detailed database of every time-stamped, bar-coded inspection means you can deliver up-to-date, verifiable documentation on demand. Authentication is guaranteed with regular independent audits, both online and onsite. It is intelligent compliance designed by industry experts that produces accurate, verifiable results you can trust.

Building Reports’ web-based wireless technology is convenient and easy-to-use. This intuitive system uses any standard internet browser, so you can access reports from any location at any time for flexible management of multiple properties. Exceptions are clearly displayed in real time. Links to local codes and manufacturer recalls maximize your efficiency. Forms are always up to date, along with continuous and seamless technology updates. Affordable subscription packages offer a variety of hosting and branding options, from using the full resources of BuildingReports.com to integrating your existing website into a custom-branded solution. As your compliance partner, this portability and accessibility comes with industry-proven commitment to customer service.

Building Reports guarantees your information is secure. You control who has access to create, edit, or view data and reports in your account. Inspection data cannot be modified. Servers are vigorously protected with encryption and firewall technologies. Multiple data-backups daily, off-premise records archiving, and instant records retrieval further secure your investment. Now you can have confidence in the security and integrity of your compliance.

Building Reports’ comprehensive, adaptable compliance system begins with a minimal investment and delivers cost-effective, streamlined inspections and reports without labor-intensive paperwork. Industry experience, web-based wireless technology, and a variety of hosting options make Building Reports an outstanding compliance investment.

Is your fire alarm company compliant?

                                                          CALIFORNIA LAW

The State of California passed a law in 1999 making it mandatory that all persons making connections to fire alarm circuits that operate at over 100 VA be either:

                    A) Certified as a Fire/Life Safety Technician

                    B) Become an indentured apprentice   in a DAS  Approved Fire/Life Safety program

The WBFAA Fire/Life Safety Apprenticeship Program was the first Statewide Apprenticeship Program approved by the Division of Apprenticeship Standards in California

The WBFAA is currently developing an Online Fire/Life Safety Apprenticeship Program

                                                              CALIFORNIA LAW

Who is required to be certified?

           Anyone who performs work for a C-10 Electrical Contractor involving the installation, construction, or maintenance of fire alarm circuits exceeding 100 VA that are covered in Article 760 of the National Electrical Code.

I have a C-10 license. Do I have to be certified?

           If you’re the holder of a C-10 license and are working under that license, you don’t have to be certified. If you’re performing covered work and not working under your own license, for example, if you’re working under someone else’s C-10 license, you must be certified.