Garage Safety

Safety Tips

Garage Safety:

Garages pose a statistical fire threat to homeowners because they not only contain motor vehicles but also gas dryers, water heaters, and lawnmowers, all of which use volatile fuels and emit vapors that heavier than air and float just above the slab. For this reason, garages are subject to a phenomenon known as flash ignition, which doesn’t mean that that the vapors ignite and burn but that the air itself erupts in a literal flash.

For this reason, every attached garage should have a firewall and self-closing fire-rated door, and any gas appliance should be raised a minimum of 18 inches above the floor. For the same or similar reasons, garages should be ventilated to dispel flammable vapors and carbon monoxide. This is especially important in cold climates because people will warm up there cars in a closed garage. Also, in the interest of small children and pets, the best type of garage door is a lightweight roll up instead of a heavy wooden door. Regardless, if a garage door is controlled by a remote control, it should have an infra-red (electric eye) reversing mechanism or reverse automatically under pressure. Often times the amount of activation pressure will need to be adjusted if the door reverse mechanism lacks sensitivity and simply does not work. In addition, if the garage door in your house provides the only access, make sure that the opener has an emergency release mechanism that would permit access during a power failure.

In your garage, store fuels and flammable objects away from ignition sources. All electrical outlets should be ground fault protected with GFCI outlets.

Electricity can kill, and should only be serviced by qualified personnel. As a homeowner, you should never service any component unless you are qualified to do so.

Thank you for considering us for your home inspection needs.

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	home Safety Tips Garage Safety: Garages pose a statistical fire threat to homeowners because they not only contain motor vehicles but also gas dryers, water heaters, and lawnmowers, all of which use volatile fuels and emit vapors that heavier than air and float just above the slab. For this reason, garages are subject to a phenomenon known as flash ignition, which doesn’t mean that that the vapors ignite and burn but that the air itself erupts in a literal flash. For this reason, every attached garage should have a firewall and self-closing fire-rated door, and any gas appliance should be raised a minimum of 18 inches above the floor. For the same or similar reasons, garages should be ventilated to dispel flammable vapors and carbon monoxide. This is especially important in cold climates because people will warm up there cars in a closed garage. Also, in the interest of small children and pets, the best type of garage door is a lightweight roll up instead of a heavy wooden door. Regardless, if a garage door is controlled by a remote control, it should have an infra-red (electric eye) reversing mechanism or reverse automatically under pressure. Often times the amount of activation pressure will need to be adjusted if the door reverse mechanism lacks sensitivity and simply does not work. In addition, if the garage door in your house provides the only access, make sure that the opener has an emergency release mechanism that would permit access during a power failure. In your garage, store fuels and flammable objects away from ignition sources. All electrical outlets should be ground fault protected with GFCI outlets. Electricity can kill, and should only be serviced by qualified personnel. As a homeowner, you should never service any component unless you are qualified to do so. Thank you for considering us for your home inspection needs. Back To Safety Tips Page Back To Home page Web page and all contents copy written © 2007 For Safety Sake all rights reserved