Perhaps you done your homework – you’ve made plans to prevent against and prepare for a fire. The fire plan drilled into everyone.  Flammables stored. Smoke detectors charged. But when you only have as little as two minutes to escape the moment a fire starts, you really want to cover all your bases. 

So the next time you renovate, you might want to ask your ID how to fireproof your home. Here are 6 suggestions you could give them.

Alternative Altar Cabinets 

Altars are how many honour their ancestors, remember late loved ones, and give offerings like food and burning incense. That last bit is important. In many homes, these altars are placed on cabinets. Cabinets made of wood. Wood where you burn incense. Wood. Fire. Fwoosh.

If removing the altar isn’t an option, then set it atop a non-flammable material like quartz or glass. They’ll look classy and keep you from joining your ancestors prematurely. 

 Photo Credit: Line8 Power Rail System ( Line8 )

Power Point Placement

Power points are a basic modern necessity. However, just because they are doesn’t mean you should willy nilly scatter them all about the house – they’re still prone to the rare short circuit due to heat, water, or some other random thing. Keep these away from curtains, heat-producing appliances, and water, to keep them from turning your home into a raging inferno.

Photo Credit: Line8 Power Rail System with Smart Home IOT Control

Getting Smart with Plugs

Now that your power points are safe, let’s get on point with safely using them. Just as the need for powering appliances and charging devices is a reality so is the fire risk of short circuits and overcharged devices. So what should you do? Invest in smart plugs. These let you power down everything that’s not in use with very little intervention on your part. No more sticking your arm down hard-to-reach spaces to turn them off. 

Stovetop Safety

For some of us, the glow and heat gas stoves are somewhat romantic and simply irreplaceable, even by induction cookers. Ever tried whipping up a proper char kuey teow with induction? Thought so. But they’re inherently dangerous. So how do we make gas stoves safer? Two words: smart hobs. These babies can cut off gas supply when flames are extinguished by water or even strong winds so you’re not inadvertently filling your home with toxic and flammable gas.

Photo Credit: Ciseern

Wide Walkways

You might be one of those that enjoy cozy corridors or walkways. But in an emergency, time is of the essence – you really don’t want to have squeeze your way to safety. Make way. Give these places a 1.2m wide clearance (or more) for such space. That ensures smooth traffic for when you truly need it.

Safety Marks

Insist on appliances and fixtures with SAFETY Marks. That way you know that someone who knows what’s what has tested them and you can rest easy that it’s not going to blow up and burn you house down. Don’t compromise.

Fireproofing ahead of a renovation

Planning for a fire shouldn’t be an afterthought. So the next time you renovate, think about how to fireproof it before you start. With these 6 tips, you know where to begin.

Posted on 23rd of June 2023

Written by Kenny Tan

SIXiDES Editorial Team