The garage is often a storage place for flammable materials, such as gas, oil, paints and paint thinners, and cleaning products. Then there’s electrical wiring and equipment, as well as high levels of moisture and combustible materials like cardboard boxes, if you use your garage for storage. This all adds up to big potential fire risks in your garage. So, let’s look at some safety considerations and precautions to take to keep your garage, home, and family safe.
Install a heat detector
Just like inside your home, the inside of your garage should be equipped with detectors and alarms to alert you of a fire. However, heat detectors are better than traditional smoke detectors for your garage. This is because things like humidity and fumes that are common in garages, especially if you park your car there, are likely to trigger a smoke alarm. If a fire starts in your garage, then a heat detector will sound an alarm in response to the increase in temperature.
Consider electrical safety
A frayed cable or loose connection in your garage could cause a serious fire risk, so make sure to check your wires, extension cables, and sockets frequently to check for damage or wear. GFCI (ground fault circuit interrupter) outlets are recommended for garages. These automatically shut off the flow of electricity when a fault is detected, helping to prevent electrical fires and injury.
Store flammable materials properly
Flammable materials that are improperly stored or contained pose a great fire risk, as well as releasing potentially harmful fumes into your garage. Make sure that containers storing paint, gas, and other solvents and flammable liquids are properly sealed and the containers are intact without any cracks or holes. If you have another place to store them, such as a garden shed, then this can be a safer option than the garage.
Fire-rated garage doors
A fire-rated side door is essential if you have a garage that’s attached to your home. If a fire breaks out inside your garage, a fire-rated door helps to prevent or at least slow down the spread of the fire into your house. This will help to limit the amount of damage that occurs, as well as keeping you and your family safe from the smoke and flames.
If you need a new garage door or side entry door to improve the safety of your garage, then contact Carolina Garage Door for our installation, repair, and maintenance services around Winston Salem, Greensboro, High Point, and Kernersville.