Fire Safety requirements for manufactured homes

Actualizado a fecha: 5 September, 2019

If buying or renting a manufactured home is in your future, make sure you keep fire safety in mind. By following a few tips that NFPA gives us and knowing the facts and the safety requirements for manufactured homes, you can help keep your family safe

– CHOOSE a home built after 1976 that has the label certifying that it meets certain minimum safety standards.

–  Be sure your home has enough smoke alarms. You need a smoke alarm inside each bedroom, outside each sleeping area and in or near the family/live room area(s). For the best protection, interconnect all smoke alarms so when one sounds, they all sound.

– TEST smoke alarms at least once a month.

– HAVE a home fire escaping plan that includes two ways out of every room and an outside meeting place. Make sure all ways out of the home are easy to use. Practice your fire drill at least twice a year.

-If smoke alarms sound when you are cooking, consider moving the alarm further from the kitchen area or install a photoelectric type alarm which is less sensitive to cooking.

– NEVER remove or disable a smoke alarm.

– CONSIDER having a licensed electrician inspect the electrical system to be sure it is safe and meets the applicable National Electrical Code® requirements.

– Always stay in the kitchen when frying on the stovetop.

– Have smokers smoke outside the home. Provide large, non-tip ashtrays and empty them frequently. Douse butts with water before throwing away.

FACT

Smoke alarms are missing in half of all manufactured home fires. Since they are required to be sold with smoke alarms, this may mean people are removing them.