| Materials That Burn How Safe Is Your Home? The following was taken from the Home Fire Safety Checklist. The checklist was developed by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), an independent regulatory agency of the U.S. Government. MATERIALS THAT BURN Your home is filled with materials and products that will burn if ignited. Upholstered furniture, clothing, drapery fabrics, and liquids such as gasoline and volatile solvents are involved in many injury-causing fires each year. Most of these fires could be prevented. Upholstered Furniture In 1989, there were 18,600 residential fires associated with upholstered furniture; about 900 people lost their lives. About one half of these fires were caused by smoking materials. Property losses amounted to over $100 million from fires started by cigarette ignition of upholstered furniture. You should be able to respond "yes" to the safety statements below. Yes No 1. Upholstered furniture fabrics made from vinyl, wool or thermoplastic fibers are generally selected for safety reasons. ___ ___ 2. I check thoroughly after parties for ashes or unextinguished cigarettes that may have fallen behind and between cushions and under furniture. ___ ___ Recommendations: Look for furniture designed to reduce the likelihood of furniture fire from cigarettes. Much of the furniture manufactured today has significantly greater resistance to ignition by cigarettes than upholstered furniture manufactured 10 to 15 years ago. This is particularly true of furniture manufactured to comply with the requirements of the Upholstered Furniture Action Council's (UFAC) Voluntary Action Program. Such upholstered furniture may be identified by the gold colored tag on the furniture item. The legend on the front of the tag in red letters states -- "Important Consumer Safety Information from UFAC." Always check the furniture where smokers have been sitting for improperly discarded smoking materials. Ashes and lighted cigarettes can fall unnoticed behind or between cushions or under furniture. Do not place or leave ashtrays on the arms of chairs where they can be knocked off. Look for fabrics made predominantly from thermoplastic fibers (nylon, polyester, acrylic, olefin) because they resist ignition by burning cigarettes better than cellulosic fabrics (rayon or cotton). In general, the higher the thermoplastic content, the greater the resistance to cigarette ignition. Mattresses and Bedding Smoldering fires in mattresses and bedding materials caused by cigarettes are a major cause of deaths in residential fires. In 1989, over 35,000 mattress/bedding fires caused about 700 deaths. You should be able to respond "yes" to the following safety statements. Yes No 1. "No smoking in bed" is a rule that is practiced in my home. ___ ___ 2. Heaters, ash trays, smoking materials and other fire sources are located away from bedding. ___ ___ Recommendations: DO NOT smoke in bed. Smoking in bed is a major cause of accidental fire deaths in homes. Locate heaters or other fire sources three feet from the bed to prevent the bed catching on fire. Consider replacing your old mattress with a new one if you are a smoker. Mattresses manufactured since 1973 are required to resist cigarette ignition. Wearing Apparel Most fibers used in clothing can burn, some more quickly than others. A significant number of clothing fires occur in the over 65 age group principally from nightwear (robes, pajamas, nightgowns). In 1989 about 200 clothing fire deaths were reported; about three fourths occurred in the 65 and older age group. The severity of apparel burns is high. Hospital stays average over one month. Small open flames, including matches, cigarette lighters, and candles are the major sources of clothing ignition. These are followed by ranges, open fires and space heaters. The most commonly worn garments that are associated with clothing ignition injuries are pajamas, nightgowns, robes, shirts/blouses, pants/slacks and dresses. You should be able to respond "yes" to the following statements. Yes No 1. When purchasing wearing apparel I consider fiber content and fabric construction for safety purposes. ___ ___ 2. I purchase garments for my children that are intended for sleepwear since they are made to be flame resistant. ___ ___ Recommendations: Consider fabrics such as 100% polyester, nylon, wool and silk that are difficult to ignite and tend to self extinguish. Consider the flammability of certain fabrics containing cotton, cotton/polyester blends, rayon, and acrylic. These are relatively easy to ignite and burn rapidly. Look at fabric construction. It also affects ignitability. Tight weaves or knits and fabrics without a fuzzy or napped surface are less likely to ignite and burn rapidly than open knits or weaves, or fabrics with brushed or piled surfaces. Consider purchasing garments that can be removed without having to pull them over the head. Clothes that are easily removed can help prevent serious burns. If a garment can be quickly stripped off when it catches fire, injury will be far less severe or avoided altogether. Follow manufacturer's care and cleaning instructions on products labeled "flame resistant" to ensure that their flame resistant properties are maintained. Flammable Liquids One of the major causes of household fires is flammable liquids. These include gasoline, acetone, benzene, lacquer thinner, alcohol, turpentine, contact cements, paint thinner, kerosene, and charcoal lighter fluid. The most dangerous of all is gasoline. You should be able to respond "yes" to the following safety statements. 1. Flammable liquids are stored in properly labeled, tightly closed non-glass containers. ___ 2. These products are stored away from heaters, furnaces, water heaters, ranges, and other gas appliances. ___ 3. Flammable liquids are stored out of reach of children. ___ Recommendation: • Take extra precautions in storing and using flammable liquids, such as gasoline, paint thinners, etc. They produce invisible explosive vapors that can ignite by a small spark at considerable distances from the flammable substance. Store outside the house. Copyright 2005, Arrowhead Communities Fire Safe Council |