Tips for Designing Your Home for Fire Resistance and Sustainability

Ensuring the protection of your home from any fire hazards is essential for the welfare of your family. However, many homeowners do not have any idea where they should start to strengthen the fire-resistance of their house or unit aside. Moreover, considering their household budget is also one reason why a lot of them cannot do the necessary repairs of appliances or pedestal fans and renovations of their houses.

Still, this is a matter that every homeowner must never take lightly, and it can cost or save a life. To start, you must consider the life cycle of your building and its systems and components. Look through your wall, roof, floor and subfloor system. We will discuss them in this article for more elaborate tips and explanations on how you can design a fire-resistant and sustainable house.

Have proper maintenance to fix gaps and cracks.

If you are residing in an area prone to bushfires, there is a high probability of embers entering your home through the cavities. It could result in an ember attack, which could ultimately devastate your family. As soon as the wind blows on your building, it can start a fire that is not easy to detect and could, eventually, lead to a big fire.

To achieve better fire-resistance, have regular maintenance to check the gaps and cracks on your windows, roof, walls, and door frames. You can also install fire-resistant windows and door frames that could protect your home. Moreover, there are non-combustible roofs and clads that you can purchase. There are specific standards that these materials should meet to help in the sustainability and fire-protection of your building. After installing them, check them from time to time to see if there are any issues.

Choose non-flammable and non-combustible materials.

When deciding on ways to protect your home from any fire hazard, you should be wise at all times. It is only natural that you have to make sure to choose materials that are non-flammable and non-combustible. These materials can provide enough fire-resistance on your house and will not burn even when they are exposed to severe fire.

It will increase the building’s occupants’ survival rate and chance if your home experiences a fire incident. You can also avoid the toxic fumes that flammable materials release when burning and could affect your family’s health. When choosing, look for earthen or brick walls, rigid glass panes, and steel framing from a reliable company. If you don’t have any idea what fire rating mean, check it on this article.

Consider your electrical and solar panel system.

If you consider using mains gas and bushfire concerns, you should ditch it right away and go electrical for everything in your house. Many issues arise from places connected to mains because the gas fixtures and piping are prone to melting and explosion when exposed to fire. If you want to avoid these instances, it is safer to make your home all-electric.

However, if you think that going all-electric is not efficient, you can install solar panels on your home. It can reduce your electrical bills for heating or cooling your home and help you save more money. Solar is also eco-friendly and supports environmental sustainability. Even if your power is cut due to some emergencies, you will still have electricity in your house.

Create a clear escape plan.

Nothing beats preparedness for anything. You should note that no matter how much fire-resistant materials you install, you still can’t guarantee that you will never experience a fire. If you aim to provide yourself and your family a higher chance of survival, it is essential to create a clear escape plan for your house, starting from its design. By having an exact escape route, and talking to your family members about it, getting out of your home to a safe zone will be quicker and more efficient.

For starters, call for professionals asks them for their opinion on the best escape route that you could have at your home, especially if it is two-story. Declutter the pathways and doorways leading to your fire exit and avoid putting flammable items near it. Instead, place a fire extinguisher nearby that you can use if the fire reaches the fire exit already. Installing smoke vents will also help prevent harmful smoke and chemicals while providing clean air to breathe for everyone while going out.

Conclusion

There are a lot of effective ways to make your house fire-resistant and sustainable without compromising on the solarium. From the materials and equipment that you can use up to having a wise escape plan, preparing for the worst could save your loved ones’ lives. If you are looking for fire-rated access doors, quality smoke vents, and fire extinguishers and accessories, make sure to check out our products at Best Access Doors.

Elise Wu

Elise Wu, an alumna of Yale University with a degree in Environmental Policy, has spent more than two decades advocating for environmental protection and sustainable resource management. Before joining our website in 2019, she worked with various NGOs and governmental bodies, playing a key role in developing eco-friendly policies. Besides her professional pursuits, Elise is also a passionate hiker and loves nature photographer, often exploring the untamed wilderness to reconnect with the environment she tirelessly works to preserve.

Leave a Comment