10 tips for preventing fires during building or renovation work

If you’re planning a home maintenance or renovation project, don’t let your dreams go up in smoke before the work is finished. Fire, including spontaneous combustion, poses a real and dangerous risk.

With approximately one-third of house fires caused by a third party working in the home, homeowners should educate and supervise all contractors to avoid potential fire hazards. Help safeguard your home by sharing these 10 simple fire safety tips with your contractor or other workers.

1. Discard oily rags properly.

Oil and solvent-soaked rags may spontaneously combust, even under normal weather conditions; the warmer the weather, the quicker the rags can reach ignition temperature. Used rags or wiping cloths should NEVER be allowed to pile up around a house, garage or construction site.

2. Safely store products and supplies.

Paints and solvents should not be kept near heat-generating equipment such as furnaces, water heaters or vehicles.

3. Keep the work site clean and dispose of materials properly.

Waste material, packing materials, wood shavings must be removed daily. DO NOT:

• Use fires as a disposal method.

• Ball up, pile, stack or fold any wiping cloth, rag, towel, drop cloth, steel wool or piece of work clothing that becomes moistened or wet due to contact with a solvent-based material.

• Toss used rags into a rubbish bin or plastic bucket.

4. Know what flammable materials are being used.

Ask that all flammable paints be kept off the site if possible.

5. Avoid portable heaters.

According to Fire & Rescue NSW, portable heaters are a significant cause of home fires in Australia, with electrical appliances and faults accounting for almost 40% of residential fires. Flammable items placed too close to a heater are the most common cause of fires.

6. Initiate a no smoking policy.

Smoking is the single most common cause of fire-related fatalities. This also applies to e-cigarettes and vaping devices.

7. Ensure there is a fire extinguisher on site.

Make readily accessible firefighting equipment such as fire extinguishers, hoses, hydrants and emergency water tanks—and make sure everyone knows how and when to use it. Water extinguishers should not be used on electrical fires, for example.

8. Implement a fire alarm procedure.

In the event of a fire, determine who will be responsible for calling the fire department, who will deal with the fire, and who will set the evacuation plan in motion.

9. Follow gas cylinder safety protocols.

If gas cylinders are being handled, ask that they are safely secured in an upright position and fitted with a regulator and flashback arrester.

10. Implement “hot work” guidelines.

Hot work involves working with ignition sources near flammable materials, such as welding, soldering and cutting. Make sure your building team clears the work area of combustible material and that wooden floors are properly covered before doing any hot work.