Fire prevention in a rental apartment is very important. Nowadays, it is mandatory for both tenants and landlords to have fire insurance and to have a smoke detector in the house. Especially the latter is vital should a fire break out. That can happen to anyone, but there are still some things you can pay attention to so that the risk of fire decreases significantly.
Most common causes of house fires
There are some common causes of house fires. Some won’t surprise you, others you might not have even thought about. For example, the kitchen is logically one of the places where most fires start (never leave your gas fire on!), because that is a place where fire is often present. Furthermore, short circuits while charging devices often cause fires. Leaving your smartphone plugged in at night suddenly sounds a lot more dangerous… Lighting candles creates a cozy atmosphere, but don’t forget to blow them out! Every year, homes go up in flames because of something as trivial as a lit tea light. Did you know that chimneys also become very flammable if not properly maintained? So have this checked annually by a professional company. And the smokers among us better take extra care when putting out their cigarette. A cigarette can smolder for several hours (!) and still cause a fire. Paying attention to these things will help to prevent fire and (fire) prevention is better than cure! In addition to watching out for the classic causes, there are a few more things you can do to minimize the chances of starting a fire.
Preventing fires: what can you do yourself?
A smoke detector has been mandatory since January 2020. As a tenant, it’s your job to maintain it properly: replace the batteries as needed, although these days it’s mandatory to purchase a smoke alarm with a battery that lasts 10 years. Smoke alarms are especially vital at night: when you are sleeping, you are (more easily) intoxicated by smoke so you definitely want to be woken up by your fire alarm. As a landlord, you must provide a fire extinguisher in the common parts if your apartment consists of at least two floors, is larger than 100 m² and was built after 1994. It’s smart to provide one anyway, as is a fire blanket in the kitchen. We also like to give some general tips for preventing fires:
- Learn the number of the fire department by heart (which is 112). Check to see if your roommates know it too!
- Be careful about charging devices at night. Avoid this as much as possible.
- Do not place flammable objects near sources of heat. Leaving a fleece blanket in front of the fireplace is not a smart move.
- Start thinking about possible escape routes in case a fire breaks out. Make sure you know how to get out in different ways, not just through the front door.
Should it burn anyway…
It’s not a nice thought, but fire can happen to anyone. So make sure you know what to do if disaster strikes. Stay calm, get outside as quickly as possible (using the escape routes you’ve already thought about) and try to close as many windows and doors as possible. Then call the fire department as soon as you can. On your way out, avoid inhaling smoke: in fact, this can intoxicate you! It is mandatory to have fire insurance, so depending on how the fire started, the fire insurance of the tenant or landlord will be called upon. Thus, you are not going to prevent a fire, but you are protected from financial loss. For further questions you might have about fire prevention, you can contact your local fire department. You can find more info on the Civil Security website.