They say that fire has respect for no one. Its a good servant but a horrible master. It devours anything in its path to ashes. Your home also stands the risk of going up in flames. If you own a home or are renting one, you wouldn’t want to have it destroyed by fire. Here are some tips that you can use to keep your home safe from all types of fires.

1. Keep your work area free of waste paper, trash and other items that can easily catch fire.
2. Check on your electrical cords. If a cord is damaged in any way, replace it. Try not to lay cords in places where they can be stepped on, as this will contribute to the deterioration of the protective outside coating.
3. Don’t overload your circuits.
4. Turn off electrical appliances at the end of each day.
5. Keep heat-producing equipment away from anything that might burn. This includes copiers, coffee makers, computers, electric grills, irons, etc.
6. Contact your local fire station for a suitable fire extinguisher and let them help teach you how to use it and install it at the appropriate place in the work premises.

Get a Fire Certificate

A fire certificate ensures that your building has met all the necessary requirements by law to ensure the safety of lives and property in case of a fire. The Ghana Fire and Rescue Service is the only state institution that has the authority to issue a fire certificate for building projects.

How To Get A Fire Certificate For Your Home

 These are the steps to acquiring a fire certificate:

STEP 1

Request for inspection and submit the following to the Fire Department, each of them with dimensions.

1. Site Plan
2. Block Plan
3. Floor Plan

STEP 2:

Inspection of Project/Building by Fire Department.

STEP 3

Present Fire Engineering drawings to the Fire Department.

STEP 4

Apply for Fire Certificate/Permit from the Fire Department.

STEP 5

The Fire Department operates a Risk-based system. Categorised as:

1. Low-Risk Projects
2. Medium Risk Projects
3. High-Risk Projects

STEP 6:

The turnaround time for the majority of projects (Low Risk) is five (5) days.

Issued by the Fire Safety Directorate.

These are simple steps which when can be applied to help prevent fires from having a field day on our property and life.