Close Your Door To Prevent Fire Deaths

7/12/2017 (Permalink)

One simple action, closing your bedroom door, could save your life.

Tests by UL’s Firefighter Safety Research Institute found that in the event of a fire rooms with an open door showed temperatures over 1,000°F, while a room with a closed door had temperatures at only 100°F. Research also showed that a closed door kept room conditions survivable longer than an open door.

“If you can get out of a burning structure, get out,” explains Steve Kerber, FSRI’s Research Director. “If you can’t, put a closed door between you and the fire to buy yourself valuable time.”

UL states that four decades ago, victims had an average of 17 minutes to escape a burning home after the activation of a smoke alarm. Today, that time has dropped to 3 minutes or less. Homes incorporating more open layouts and lightweight construction materials, and new materials in furnishings, allow fires to spread much quicker.

A closed door gives a layer of protection between you and a fire, which is especially important at night when the household is sleeping. A closed door also helps limit oxygen flow, which may help prevent a fire from growing. When escaping a burning structure, closing the door behind you can help limit property damage.

A reminder from Prevention 1^st: In addition to closing your door, make sure you also install and test smoke alarms. Having a working smoke alarm cuts your risk of dying in a fire in half.