Fire safety can save lives.

It’s crucial that everyone has a level of understanding about fire safety and how to keep safe.

But what happens when what you know about fire safety is wrong?

Unfortunately, we come across this all too often which is why we’re sharing some of the most common fire safety myths.

Smoke detectors last forever.

Smoke detectors have come a long way, but manufacturers still advise replacing them every 10 years. If you’ve moved house and have no idea how long the smoke detector has been there, replace it.

Smoke detectors are subject to wear and tear as dust and grease can coat the sensors and trigger false alarms. You should regularly test your alarm; it’s good to make this part of a routine e.g. include this step if you’re cleaning light fittings once per week, something that prompts you to test it. Smoke detectors should be tested no less than once per month and kept clean and free from dust.

Fire fatalities are caused mostly by flames and burns.

Whilst fire causes serious burns and damage, the number one cause of death in the event of a fire is smoke inhalation. The effects of smoke inhalation can take effect within as little as two minutes, causing a person to lose consciousness.

Using flame resistant paint makes doors or furniture fireproof.

When painting furniture or an internal door, it’s smart to consider using a flame resistant paint, but this should never be considered an effective method of slowing or stopping the spread of fire in an emergency.

Fire doors are called just that because they slow the spread of fire due to the materials they are made of. The FD code shows how many minutes of fire a door can withstand, for example an FD30 has been tested to withstand 30 minutes.

Watch the difference between a fire door and a normal door in the event of a fire.

Another crucial component of a fire door is the intumescent strip fitted around the door (or in the doorframe). In the event of a fire, these seals expand to close the gap between the door and the frame, stopping the smoke spreading from room to room.

Learn more about intumescent strips, or shop our collection.

People don’t always panic when faced with an emergency…

We believe that in the event of a fire or an emergency people go into panic mode and run to the exits, when research has actually confirmed the opposite “most people make quite rational decisions in the face of adverse circumstances” (J.D. Sime and G. Proulx).

It’s important to have an evacuation plan should a fire occur. People respond well when they have clear instructions and understand procedures. Fire exit signs should be in place and everyone should know of a safe place to meet, away from the building.

…but this doesn’t mean we can just take our time.

It’s important to remain calm and level headed in emergency situations, but this doesn’t mean we can take our time. Did you know that modern day construction leaves less time to escape in a fire?

Forty years ago, people had about 17 minutes to escape in the event of a fire, according to research from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). Today, the time you have to escape in the event of a fire may be closer to about 3 minutes. Read more about this on our blog.

So if you ever need to evacuate a building in an emergency, don’t stop to collect belongings, follow procedures and head to the exit.

Fire extinguishers don’t require maintenance or servicing.

This is an important one for commercial or non-domestic properties. Fire extinguishers require an annual inspection from a competent person to British Standard 5306 Part 3.

“There is no single law stating that a property owner must install fire extinguishers. However, the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 requires that anyone responsible for a property or a business with 5+ people must have a Fire Risk Assessment completed by a ‘suitably qualified’ person.

It is possible that extinguishers would not be recommended (for example, an automatic suppression system may be required) but in many situations extinguishers are recommended as an affordable fire protection solution” (OHeap Fire & Security).

If you’ve received fire safety advice that you’re not sure about, or need help understanding the fire safety equipment you should have in place in your building, give us a call. We’d be more than happy to help.