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Don’t be penny wise, fire foolish
31/07/2004 NST

While many people have taken well to the call by the Fire and Rescue Department for at least one fire extinguisher in every house (as reported in PropertyTimes last week), there’s still the matter of affordability that remains a concern of many.

However, all you need to fork out is between RM50 and RM80 to own either a conventional cylinder extinguisher or the new generation aerosol type that may just save your life and property.

Just be sure that it is suitable for multiple uses. This means it can be used to put out most fires that start in houses, for example in the kitchen or from electrical appliances.

Additionally, smoke detectors, useful as the first indicator of a fire, should also be installed. Blurred vision caused by thick smoke within confined space and smoke inhalation are common reasons people fail to escape from burning buildings - so this is where smoke detectors will help.

These are available from RM30 to RM70. Opt for battery operated and non-radioactive ones as they are easy to install and maintain.

Experts advise that every house should have both these items as the first line of defence against fire disasters.

Here are a few things to consider when equipping your home with the right fire fighting equipment.

The first thing to note, according to industry expert Eugene Wong, is that an extinguisher has been tested and approved by the standards authority, Sirim Bhd, and endorsed by the Fire and Rescue Department as well.

Wong, who is general manager of The Safety Shop Sdn Bhd, a firm dealing with fire safety equipment for residential, commercial and industrial use, said cheaper extinguishers are available in the country, but these may not have the necessary approvals or meet Malaysian standard requirements.

The extinguisher you buy should be portable and easy to use in an emergency. Choose one that’s lightweight and with an effective discharge range of between two and four metres.

A conventional extinguisher will need servicing once every year. This would cost about RM20 to RM30, and involve changing the dry powder content, which hardens over time.

However, if you want to save on recurring expenses, opt for a maintenance-free unit that comes with a warranty of four to five years.

Wong said the 1kg and 2kg dry powder conventional cylinder types that cost from RM50, and the less than 1kg dry powder aerosol can extinguishers that are priced from RM60, are suitable for residential use.

A fire extinguisher left unused for long periods may leak, so make sure the one you buy comes with a cap and tamper proof seal. Also, it can explode if kept in a place where there’s intense heat: Check the label - a fire extinguisher can normally take heat of up to 70 degrees Celsius.

The aerosol can extinguisher usually comes with a paper label attached, so make sure that it remains intact, to prevent it from being mistaken for something else, such as insect spray.

And, in order to be better equipped to face a fire at home, a working torchlight and a first aid kit are also necessary.
 

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