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HOME SAFETY AND SECURITY
The following strategies should be adopted to provide reasonable occupant safety and household security.
Fire/smoke protection
- Install at least one smoke detector on each floor
- Store one hand operated fire extinguisher in/near the kitchen area and/or in the garage.
- Install a carbon monoxide (C.O.) detector at/near the sleeping quarters. Additional C.O. detectors can be installed at each floor level; the basement level being the least important.
- Exposed foam plastic insulation should be covered with 1/2" drywall.
- All openings in the garage walls and ceilings, common with the home, must be gas proofed.
- Any door leading from an attached garage into the dwelling must be equipped with a self-closing device.
Security
- Front entrance doors should have a window or be equipped with a door viewer.
- Have all locks/keyed cylinders changed upon taking possession of a new house. All doors should be equipped with a deadbolt.
- Basement windows should be protected with security bars.
- Install motion activated lighting at secondary exits and access points of your property.
- Ensure that all basement and main floor windows have operable locking mechanisms.
- The digital combination on automatic garage door openers and remotes can be changed.
General safety
- Do not store flammable materials in the furnace room or next to your hot water tank.
- Ensure that adequate ventilation is provided to rooms containing gas/oil fired furnaces/boilers and gas/oil fired hot water tanks.
- Handrails must be installed alongside all staircases containing more than two steps.
- Eliminate repair any trip hazards or flooring defects.
- Do not overload electrical circuits. Do not install screw-in fuses over 15 amps. for general purposes.
- Avoid permanent electrical extension cord use.
Clear access must be maintained in front of the electrical panel, the furnace/boiler access panels and the main water shut-off valve.
- Emergency and family contact telephone numbers should be displayed permanently at/near the kitchen telephone.
