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Making Your Apartment Fire Safe |
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Keeping your apartment safe is important, and being prepared and knowledgeable about fire safety is just one way to ensure your rental stays intact.
Be prepared
 Just because your apartment comes with a fire escape doesn't mean you're completely ready to deal with a conflagration. Prep in advance by stocking your apartment with:
- Working smoke detectors in several rooms
- Non-expired fire extinguishers around your rental--especially in fire-prone areas such as the kitchen
- Become familiar with using the aforementioned fire extinguisher in advance
- Listed emergency numbers
- An idea of when the last fire safety inspection was performed in your rental
- A planned and posted escape route (see more below)
TIP: Replace fire extinguishers when they expire and be sure to check your smoke detectors on a regular basis. Replace the batteries in your detectors when required.
Have an exit strategy
In addition to having the correct equipment on hand, work on a fire escape plan in advance. This plan should have several alternate routes in case one or more exit is blocked.
If you live in a high-rise apartment, don't forget to use the fire escape as a means of exit. Under no circumstances should you take the elevator. Need to get to ground level and the fire escape is inaccessible? Take the stairs and stick low to the flow to keep your lungs and eyes free of smoke.
Avoid fire hazards
While apartments are small and certain creative measures may be required to make the space feel larger, never sacrifice safety for decoration's sake.
- Keep flammable furniture away from heating sources
- Turn off electric items such as the stove, portable heaters and hair styling tools when not in use
- Do not leave lit candles unattended and never place them too close to flammable items like curtains
- Avoid overloading electric outlets with extension cords, surge protectors and power strips
- Follow rental guidelines laid out in your lease
- Smokers, refrain from tossing lit cigarette butts onto any surface, especially inside garbage cans
Invest in tenant insurance
After moving into your new apartment, sign up for tenant insurance to protect yourself and your belongings from damages often associated with fires.
To obtain tenant insurance:
- Make an inventory of your belongings to estimate the total cost of your apartment
- Look into several different insurance companies for price comparison purposes
- Ask your car insurance company if they sell tenant insurance--bundling policies is a great way to save money on both your car and your home
- Be sure to ask the company if they offer the Actual Cash Value (ACV) or the Replacement Cost Value (RCV) of potential damaged belongings
- ACV - the cost of your items at the time they were destroyed by fire
- RCV - the market value of your items regardless of how long they've been in your possession
- Don't forget to ask each company about their fire policy and what is and isn't covered
- For example, ask whether the policy comes with basic liability coverage, which protects the apartment in addition to your belongings
Preparing in advance for a fire that may never occur can seem unnecessary, but you will greatly appreciate the time you took should a blaze ever start in your home or apartment building.
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Author : Cassandra Rose
on November 25, 2014
TopMoving.ca - Moving Expert
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