A Range-Top Fire Suppression System Can Keep You From Being Homeless

Posted on: 11 December 2014

It is common knowledge that cooking is the leading cause of residential structural fires. It is also the leading cause of home fire injuries. What many homeowners do not realize is that there are some very simple steps that they can take to reduce their chances of having a fire in the kitchen. One of these steps is installing a simple range-top fire suppression system. When you combine this installation with another few simple steps, you will not only help keep you and your family safe, but keep yourself from being homeless as well.

How Bad Are Cooking Fires?

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) reports that within the five year period between 2007-2011, fire departments across the country reported to approximately 156,600 cooking fires. These fires produced more than $853 million in property damages each year, and these were just the fires that were reported. Many homeowners who were able to put the fire out themselves and sustained very little damage did not report the fire to the fire company.

While the property loss as a result of a cooking fire can be substantial, it is nothing compared with the approximately 400 deaths and over 5,000 injuries per year that happened as a result of the fires during the 2007-2011 period. Property can be replaced, but lives cannot. Many of these injuries could have been avoided and some of the deaths could have been eliminated if homeowners had a simple range-top fire suppression system.

What Is A Range-Top Fire Suppression System?

Fire suppression systems are nothing new. They have been used and regulated in commercial and industrial settings for many years. The most common of these systems are the fire sprinkler systems that are used in many settings, but other industries such as restaurants, not only use sprinkler systems, but also industrial hood suppression systems to protect their business, patrons, and employees from fires that start in the kitchen.

Anytime the hood senses that the temperature has increased to the point that it is unsafe, or senses that flames are present, it releases a chemical directly from the hood. This helps to smother the fire that is present prior to it doing any type of damage. While traditionally used in commercial settings, this type of system is now available for residential use.  

The Government Understands How Important A Range-Top Fire Suppression System Can Be

If renovation or new construction in anywhere in your future, you may be surprised to find that there are local laws and ordinances in place which dictate that you must install this type of system to be up to code. For example:

  • The City of North Richland Hills, TX, Section 98-535 in their Code of Ordinances now decree that all stove hoods in any multi-family housing are required to be equipped with some type of fire suppression system. 
  • The City of Winston-Salem, NC, did a full study which was submitted to FEMA. The conclusion of their study, is that the installation of range-top fire suppression systems would reduce the number of fires that they are experiencing.

These are just two examples, there are many more ordinances, and laws across the states that dictate this. You can rest assure that if the government has taken time to address this area, that it should be a concern of yours. Once you have installed your range-top fire suppression system, you can rest assured that it will provide an additional resource to keep the fire from running through your home, but no system is foolproof.

Additional Steps To Help Keep Your Family Safe

  • When using a stove top pan for frying, always keep a heavy lid within reach. Teach your family to immediately remove any hot grease off of the heat, and cover it with the lid until it stops smoking.
  • If your hot pan begins to heat, or goes up in flames, safely remove it from the heat and turn off the stove.
  • If the fire is in your oven, turn off the oven and leave the door closed until the fire is out. 
  • If someone is home with you and you choose to fight the fire, have them exit your home and call 911 while you are attempting to put out the flames. It is better to have the fire department respond and not be needed than to have to wait on the fire department after you have been unsuccessful.

Teach your family that the most important thing that they can do in the case of a fire is to leave out of the house and dial 911. Let the professionals deal with the fire. Have a spot where everyone can meet and stay together until help arrives. Property can be replaced, but people cannot. For more information, contact a company like Ridgeline Fire Suppression LLC.

Share