Garage fires can occur, There are measures that you can take to limit the possibility of a fire in your attached garage from spreading to your home. At least you will have more time to escape the home in the event of a fire. A good home inspector will look for these necessary safety measures.
What are the usual causes of garage fires
-Working on cars or other machinery can cause sparks and ignite a fire
– Sometimes sources of ignition are located in the garage. The sources of ignition can be a boiler or water heater. Flammable gas vapors can reach these ignition sources and ignite.
– Gas leaks from cars and other equipment
– Other flammable liquids can ignite
Here are several tips in how to keep a garage fire from spreading:
-Make sure your attic access door if located in the garage is fire rated. Or at a minimum install fire rated drywall over the thin wood hatch in order to help improve its fire rating.
– Both the walls and the garage ceiling should be fire rated.
– Keep clutter and storage to a minimum inside the garage. All flammable items such as gas and kerosene should be kept elsewhere. A detach shed works well to store these types of materials. Never keep oil soaked rags in the garage. These rags can combust when enough heat builds up.
– Install a sufficient number of electrical outlets. Avoid using thin lamp cords and power strips. Make sure the cord to the automatic opener is designed to accommodate the electrical demands placed on it from the garage door motor.
– Make sure the door from the garage into the living space is fire rated. A thin door will allow fire to spread from the garage more quickly then if a solid core fire door is in place. These doors should not have windows or pet entries. You should avoid installing a storm door with glass windows because the glass can shatter and cause injury if there is an explosion.
– Consider installing a self closer on your fire rated door. A self closer will help make sure the door is always in the closed position.
– All gaps around your fire rated door should be sealed in order to help keep fire and smoke out.
– Never store propane gas tanks indoors. Tanks can explode if temperatures get high enough.
There are plenty of items that a qualified home inspector will look for to make sure that your garage is as safe as it can be. Taking simple measures can allow you the time needed to exit the home in the event of a fire.