Fire Safety Products

by Deb Murphy on July 8, 2008

There are a number of fire safety products on the market to help keep you, your family and possessions safe in a home fire.

We will continue to research and present products available on the marketplace that increase the safety of your family and home.

First, a list of smoke alarm and fire extinguisher manufacturers. These products are available in hardware and home improvement stores as well as auto parts shops, or over the Internet.

Smoke Alarm Manufacturers

Kidde   /   kidde.com

EiElectronics   /   eielectronics.com

BRK Electronics   /   brkelectronics.com

Firex   /   firexsafety.com

Fire Control Instruments   /   firecontrolinstruments.com

Jarden Consumer Solutions   /   firstalert.com

Monitronics   /   monitronics.com

Fire Extinguisher Manufacturers

Kidde   /   kidde.com

BRK Electronics   /   brkelectronics.com

Jarden Consumer Solutions   /   firstalert.com

Brooks Equipment Co., Inc.   /   brooksequipment.com

Ansul   /   ansul.com

H3R Performance   /   h3rperformance.com

Amerex Corp.   /   amerexfire.com

Buckeye Fire Equipment Co.   /   buckeyef.com

Getz Mfg.   /   getzmfg.com

Consumer Products

Tree Shield, available through Fire Safety Products Online

Local news shows always bring out the film of Christmas trees virtually exploding when exposed to flame. It’s the fire department’s way of scaring us all into safe and sane Christmas tree practices. If you’ve read the tips on Holiday fire safety and incorporated them into your holiday tradition, but still can’t get that explosive image out of your head, try Tree Shield as extra insurance. Tree Shield offers flame resistant protection for a tree up to 7-feet tall, is safe and easy to apply.

Fireproof Boxes, Fire Safes and Fire Data Safes

We all have “important papers” that would be difficult to replace: birth certificates, marriage licenses, divorce decrees, plus financial and insurance documents. These are the things we’ll realize we left behind when it’s too late to do much more than worry. You can stash them in a safety deposit box in a bank or provide similar protection in your home with a fireproof box or safe. What you need to look for is the time and temperature rating on these safes. For instance, a MerloSafe model is rated at 2-hours at 1880 degrees with a 30-foot drop impact test. That latter rating is based on the possibility that the floor under the safe will collapse in the event of a fire. A safe that can withstand high temperatures over the duration of a fire and the aftermath wouldn’t do much good if it fell to your basement and broke apart or cracked. Another consideration is what you need protecting: paper documents, electronically stored data or both. Some safes and fire boxes will protect paper but would not be appropriate for discs or CDs.

Fire Escape Ladders

Again, you have a choice, especially from companies like FireEscape Systems that offers 55 different sizes and 12 different models. The determining factor is the age and mobility of those who will have to use it in an emergency. Some examples include chain rung ladders that hook over the window sill and allow for exit from 2- through 5-story structures. Interior permanent ladders are bolted to the floor directly below the window; exterior permanent ladders mount beneath the exterior window, are enclosed in a case unfolding when the case latch is released.

Building Materials

You’ll find a number of home construction, or retrofit, tips on our Wildland Fire Safety pages. The following products range from materials used in the construction of your home or applied after the fact.

Intumescent Caulkis a water-based sealant avalable through Net-TECH Distributing. The caulk seals openings where building services (pipes or cables) penetrate fire-rated assemblies.

NSi FireStop Silicon, a primerless, single component sealant designed for use in joint and service penetration firestop configurations, forming a watertight bond. Also available in a self-leveling formula–FireStop Silicon SL

Fire-Kote 100 by Universal Fire-Shieldis a heavy-duty Class A fire retardant that chemically changes the wood as it is absorbed. Nitrogen is produced as the by-product under heat or flame, displacing oxygen and reversing theignition process. Fire-Shield also produces Wood-Shield W1000, a fire and flame retardant that can be applied on-site and includes FirePoly for ember control. Shingle Safe is a clear, resin-based flame retardant for wood shingles.

 We’re not endorsing or verifying the information on these products, simply making you aware of what’s out there.

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