How to avoid Joan’s drama
It can happen to anyone — so do everything you can to fireproof your home,
We tend to think of unattended candles, stray cigarettes or forgotten frying pans as the main cause of household fires.
But as dame Joan Collins recently learned to her cost, the trigger for a fire can be utterly unexpected. A blaze broke out at the actress’s London home after sunlight reflected by a shaving mirror set fire to a blind.
It’s a situation, experts say, which highlights the importance of keeping mirrors or other glass objects such as paperweights away from direct sunlight.
But other seemingly innocuous actions can put our home at risk. these include overloading plug sockets, charging appliances for too long — such as overnight when we’re asleep — and storing kettles under cupboards where heat can build up.
‘We have seen many unusual causes of fires,’ says London Fire Brigade Assistant Commissioner dan daly. ‘One started by someone turning their toaster on its side to make cheese on toast, and another started by sunlight coming through a jam jar.’
So how can you fireproof your home? Fitting regularly tested smoke alarms throughout your home, and a heat alarm in the kitchen, is vital.
Since faulty household appliances account for 60 house fires a week in the UK, according to consumer group Which?, you should avoid leaving them on when you’re asleep or away from home. But it’s also possible to reduce the risk of a household fire without sacrificing style.
If you can, opt for granite work surfaces and tiles on the floor. Granite tops ( granitetopsuk.co.uk) has granite worktops in an array of colours and patterns.
‘Consider using bricks or stones for the exterior walls of your house,’ says interior designer eva Bowker. ‘You can paint them to achieve your desired look. And a great trick to create a fire- resistant paint is to add sand to the mixture.’
Bowker suggests replacing wooden window frames with metal ones. ‘ Use
multi-layered tempered glass. You can paint the frames in metallic colours to add extra style to your exterior.’
Doors are, of course, an important way to prevent fire spreading. ‘If you have a letterbox or peephole in a door and they aren’t fire safe, the whole door is no longer fire safe,’ explains chartered surveyor natasha Collins of NC Real estate.
Manny Atkinson, director at architecture firm BTP, adds, ‘ As open- plan living becomes increasingly popular, there may be temptation to remove internal fire doors without expert advice, so always consult an architect or specialist to ensure your alterations are not endangering life.’
And, Atkinson adds, you should avoid furnishing your home with flammable materials. Always check your sofa has fireretardant tags, especially when buying second-hand or vintage furniture.
Chris Stanley, housing manager with the Concrete Block Association, says: ‘If you’re building a home or having an extension or renovation, fire-resistant materials such as concrete blocks should be used for walling and internal partitioning — this compartmenting would limit the spread of fire.’ Fire safety is vital if you decide to do a loft conversion — you must have a safe route out of the space.
‘If you are in any doubt or have any concerns, contact a fire safety specialist’, adds dan daly of the London Fire Brigade. ‘
They can visit your home and provide you with recommendations on how fire safety can be improved.’