How Safe is Your Home this Winter? 10 Home Fire Safety Checks to Consider

As winter approaches, ensuring the safety of your home should be a priority. We all know this. Unfortunately, in a lot of cases we become too busy to give it the priority it should have. In NSW, the cooler months see a significant increase in residential fires. In 2024 Fire and Rescue NSW reported 1,001 incidences of residential fires.

Many of these fires are caused by electrical malfunctions, including faulty wiring, overloaded power boards, unattended heating appliances, and the charging stations and cords we use every day. However, almost 50% of house fires in the home occur due to human activity, or inactivity. Issues such as failing to clean lint filters in dryers, leaving electric blankets switched on for extended periods, and using outdated or unsafe heaters contribute to a rise in house fires.

These statistics highlight the importance of proactive safety measures to protect your home and family. And not just by occasionally checking your smoke alarm batteries, but by considering what you can do to reduce risk from electrical malfunction and what you should have on hand should a fire start.

Faraday Group: Experts in Electrical and Fire Protection Inspections

With over 60 years of experience serving Sydney residents, Faraday Group has established itself as a trusted provider of electrical services, including electrical safety checks, before something goes wrong. Faraday Group specialises in electrical safety inspections to ensure homes are protected from potential hazards. A professional electrical safety inspection by Faraday Group covers:

• Wiring and Circuit Breakers – Checking for outdated, damaged or faulty wiring, ensuring circuits are not overloaded, and confirming that breakers function properly.
• Residual Current Devices (RCDs) – Testing RCDs to ensure they trip properly in the event of an electrical fault, preventing sparks and electrocution risks.
• Test and Tag Compliance – Inspecting electrical appliances for safety compliance and identifying potential hazards.
• Bonding, Earthing and Grounding Systems – Verifying that grounding systems are intact to prevent electrical surges and protect appliances.
• Surge Protection and Power Quality Analysis – Assessing the power supply to ensure it meets safety standards and prevents damage to electrical equipment and appliances, but more importantly, that it prevents damage to YOU!

But did you know that, in addition to our usual electrical inspections, Faraday Group also provides certified fire protection inspections? Holding a CPP20521 Certificate II in Fire Protection Inspection and Testing, their team is qualified to recommend, assess and maintain essential fire safety measures in residential homes, in conjunction with a thorough electrical safety check. Our fire safety inspection includes evaluating smoke alarms, fire extinguishers, fire blankets, and carbon monoxide detectors. Ensuring your home is equipped with properly maintained fire safety equipment significantly reduces the risk of fire-related incidents. And in the event of a fire, we can check that the personal fire protection equipment you do have, is suitable, safe and in good working order.

10 Safety Checks to Consider as Winter Approaches

1. Inspect and Maintain Heating Appliances Before using heaters, ensure they are in good working condition and free of dust or other flammable materials. Faulty or dirty heaters are a common cause of winter house fires.
2. Service Electrical Systems Have Faraday inspect your home’s wiring, outlets, and switchboards to identify and rectify potential hazards.
3. Test Smoke Alarms Regularly test smoke alarms and replace batteries every six months to ensure they function correctly. Remember, smoke alarms have been a legal requirement in homes since 2006.
4. Install Carbon Monoxide Detectors Place carbon monoxide detectors on every floor and near sleeping areas to detect this dangerous gas, especially if you have gas-powered appliances.
5. Equip Your Home with Fire Extinguishers Ensure fire extinguishers are accessible and that all household members know how to use them. For general home safety, an ABE fire extinguisher is recommended due to its versatility. ABE fire extinguishers are also called ‘dry chemical powder’ extinguishers.
6. Keep Fire Blankets Handy Store fire blankets in easily accessible locations, particularly in the kitchen, to quickly smother small fires.
7. Develop and Practice an Evacuation Plan Create a fire escape plan and practice it with your family to ensure everyone knows how to exit safely during an emergency.
8. Maintain Chimneys and Flues Regularly clean and inspect chimneys and flues to prevent blockages and potential fire hazards.
9. Use Electrical Appliances Safely Avoid overloading power outlets and ensure all electrical appliances are in good working order to reduce fire risks.
10. Schedule Comprehensive Safety Inspections Engage professionals like Faraday Group to conduct thorough electrical and fire safety inspections, addressing potential hazards before they become serious issues.

Don’t Forget Your Garage, Shed, or Workshop

While checking your home’s main living spaces, don’t overlook external areas such as outdoor entertaining areas, swimming pool infrastructure, garages, sheds, and workshops that use power. These areas often contain flammable materials, power tools, and electrical circuits that require regular inspection. Ensure that all power points, extension cords, and electrical devices in these spaces are functioning correctly and do not pose a fire risk. Having a fire extinguisher suited for electrical and flammable liquid fires (ABE or BE types) and a fire blanket in these areas is also crucial for added home electrical fire safety protection.

The Importance of Combined Electrical and Fire Safety Inspections

Engaging Faraday’s qualified fire protection inspector alongside our electrical safety inspection service ensures an holistic approach to home safety, and it’s a dual service that not many electrical companies provide. As we’ve mentioned, electrical faults are a known cause of residential fires, making it crucial to address potential hazards before they escalate. A combined electrical fire safety inspection can identify risks such as faulty, damaged or badly installed wiring, high-risk appliances, and inadequate fire safety equipment, providing homeowners with peace of mind as winter approaches.

In the case of fire, your first priority is you, and your family’s safety. You should never hesitate to evacuate to keep everyone safe. There are some items that could help slow or extinguish a small, localised fire if you’re confident in their use. Here are some items we recommend you consider having on hand, but NEVER put yourself or your family at risk when there is a safer option.

Essential Fire Safety Equipment for Your Home

To enhance your home’s safety, consider having the following fire safety equipment on hand:

1. Smoke Alarms: Smoke alarms have been required by Australian law for almost 20 years, and the legislation states that you must install one alarm on each floor of your home. FRNSW recommends you also include them inside each occupied bedroom, and outside sleeping areas. Test them monthly and replace batteries every six months, regardless of their remaining life, to ensure optimal functionality. Why not add a reminder to your calendar now and set it to alert you every months? You may know that landlords are legally responsible for fitting smoke alarms to their property, but did you know that the tenant is then responsible for checking and replacing batteries (unless they are physically unable to do so)? Your smoke alarm must also meet the requirements of Australian Standard AS 3786.
2. Fire Extinguishers: Keep accessible fire extinguishers in key areas like the kitchen, garage, and workshop. A dry chemical powder extinguisher (ABE type) is the best all-purpose option for home use, as it is effective against Class A (wood, paper), Class B (flammable liquids), and Class E (electrical) fires. If you have a fire extinguisher already, check its age. Dry chemical powder systems solidify over time, and will be of no use when you need them most. Our team can assess whether you need to replace your extinguisher or not, but if you can’t remember when you bought, then it’s safer to replace it. You should have at least one fire extinguisher on each level of your home, but it would be wise to have an additional unit in both your kitchen and garage. Ensure all household members know how to operate them safely.
3. Fire Blankets: Store fire blankets in an accessible, dry location near potential fire sources like kitchens or garages. They are ideal for smothering small fires and are easy to use. We recommend you read the instructions carefully and ensure you and your family practice – without a fire hazard – to become familiar with how to use them.
4. Carbon Monoxide Detectors: Common sources of carbon monoxide include gas stoves, heaters or fireplaces, and water heaters. Carbon monoxide is an odorless, invisible gas, so place detectors to alert you to its presence. Our safety inspectors can recommend the best positioning of these alarms in your home to ensure they give the best coverage.
5. Fire Escape Ladders: This may be something you haven’t previously considered. In multi-story homes, fire escape ladders provide a safe evacuation route in case your primary exits are blocked on your home’s ground level.

Additional Fire Safety Precautions for Winter

• Inspect and maintain power boards: Overloaded power boards can overheat and catch fire. Avoid plugging multiple high-wattage devices into a single board.
• Inspect portable heaters: Keep them away from flammable materials, keep them free of dust, and never leave them unattended.
• Check electric blankets: Ensure they are in good condition before use. Frayed or damaged blankets are a fire hazard.
• Supervise open flames: Never leave candles or fireplaces unattended.
• Have an emergency plan: Ensure every household member knows what to do in case of a fire.

Safety First

As winter draws nearer, prioritising the safety of your home is essential. By implementing these safety checks and ensuring you have the appropriate fire safety equipment, you can significantly reduce the risk of fire-related incidents. Faraday Group’s expertise in both electrical and fire protection inspections makes them an ideal partner in safeguarding your home.

Don’t wait for an emergency; contact us on 02 9809 5299 to book an electrical and fire safety inspection to ensure a safe and secure winter season, or click here for a free quote.