Information Archives - Infinity Fire Protection

April 9, 2025

Fire Prevention Safety Information

Workplace Fire Safety

Workplace fire safety tips from the U.S. Fire Administration:

A fire in an office or store can be devastating to your community. In addition to potential deaths and property loss, people may lose their jobs, and the community may lose a vital service provided by the businesses.

Every year in the United States there are 16,500 office and store fires that cause over $932 million in direct property damage. Here are some tips to help prevent workplace fires, keep workers safe and keep businesses open.

Employees should eliminate fire hazards:

Check for damaged or overloaded electrical outlets, cords and cables.
Keep anything that can burn away from electrical equipment.
Never leave portable heating devices unattended.

Employers need to prepare for emergencies:

Make sure smoke alarms and fire sprinklers are properly installed and working.
Post clear escape plans on every level of a building.
Teach employees about exit locations, escape routes and fire protection equipment.

If there is a fire:

Call 911.
Notify co-workers of the fire.
Never use the elevator. Walk, don’t run, down the stairs.
If you can’t evacuate, remain calm. Seal door gaps with jackets and wait at the window.

The author of this content cannot be liable for any use or misuse of the contents. This is a guideline and is meant for information only.

Infinity Fire Protection Workplace Fire Safety Tips

April 2, 2025

Fire Prevention Safety Information

Safeguard Your Home From Fire

Ways to safeguard your home from fire from the American Red Cross:

Install smoke alarms on every level of your home and outside every sleeping area.
Install a carbon monoxide alarm in a central location outside each separate sleeping area.
Make sure your house number is easily readable from the street, even at night.
Make sure your home heating sources are clean and in working order. Many home fires are started by poorly maintained furnaces or stoves, cracked or rusted furnace parts, or chimneys with creosote buildup.
Use kerosene heaters only if permitted by law. Refuel kerosene heaters only outdoors and after they have cooled.
Check electrical wiring in your home:
- Replace extension cords that are frayed, have exposed wires, or loose plugs.
- Make sure wiring is not under rugs, attached by nails, or in high traffic areas.
- Make sure electrical outlets have cover plates and no exposed wiring.
- Avoid overloading outlets or extension cords.
Purchase only appliances and electrical devices (including space heaters) that bear the label of an independent testing laboratory.
Store combustible materials in open areas away from heat sources. Place rags used to apply flammable household chemicals in metal containers with tight-fitting lids.

The author of this content cannot be liable for any use or misuse of the contents. This is a guideline and is meant for information only.

Infinity Fire Protection Home Fire Safety Tips

March 26, 2025

Fire Prevention Information

Clothes Dryer Fire Safety

Safety tips from the U.S. Fire Administration on ways to reduce your clothes dryer from starting a fire:

You are at higher risk of having a clothes dryer fire if you don’t clean your lint filter and dryer vents.

Follow these simple safety tips to prevent a clothes dryer fire in your home –

Have your dryer installed and serviced by a professional.
Do not use the dryer without a lint filter. Clean the lint filter before and after each cycle.
Do not forget to clean the back of the dryer where lint can build up.
Check the venting system behind the dryer to make sure that it is not damaged, crushed or restricted.
Make sure that the outdoor vent covering opens when the dryer is operating.

The author of this content cannot be liable for any use or misuse of the contents. This is a guideline and is meant for information only.

Infinity Fire Protection Clothes Dryer Safety Tips

March 19, 2025

Information

Preparing for Power Outages

How to Prepare for a Power Outage from the American Red Cross:

A power outage occurs when the electrical power goes out. Planned or unexpected, it can last for days or longer, disrupting communications, water, transportation, stores, banks and other services. This may impact needs such as lighting, heating, cooling, communication, food and medicine refrigeration, cooking and medical equipment. Plan now to have what you need and to know how to stay safe.

Create a support network –

Identify people who can help you stay at home or evacuate during an extended power outage.
Keep a paper copy of your contact list.

Stay connected and alert –

Sign up for alert systems and apps for text alerts.
Have communication devices that work without home power, including a crank or battery radio, a non-cordless home phone, chargers/batteries for your cell phones and your computers.

Stock food and water –

Store non-perishable food and water supplies for at least two weeks.
Plan to use coolers and ice to extend food refrigeration and keep a thermometer in the fridge, freezer or cooler to monitor the food temperature.

Know and plan for your personal and medical electrical needs –

Take an inventory of your electrical needs.
Consider both back up and non-power alternatives for lighting, communication, medical devices and refrigerated medicine, cooking, garage doors, locks and elevators.
Discuss a plan with your primary care or medical device providers for your medical needs.

Prepare a pet emergency kit for your companion animals.

Plan for heating or cooling your home –

Use methods such as sealing around windows to insulate your home. If the weather is very hot or very cold, plan to go to a location with air conditioning or with heat.
Never use a generator, outdoor stoves or heaters indoors.

Install smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms –

Install smoke alarms with battery backup on every floor, inside and outside sleeping areas.
Test monthly.
Make sure that you have one carbon monoxide detector on each level of your home.

Plan for surge protection –

Make sure that you have current surge protectors for household electronics.

Plan how to decide whether to stay or go –

Plan how and when you will evacuate safely to maintain needs such as power-dependent medical devices.
Keep your car gas tank at least half full.

The author of this content cannot be liable for any use or misuse of the contents. This is a guideline and is meant for information only.

Infinity Fire Protection - Preparing for a Power Outage

March 12, 2025

Information

Home Emergency Supplies

What to Keep at Home in an Emergency Supply Kit from the National Safety Council (NSC):

Every home should have an emergency supply kit located in an accessible storage area. It’s best if you store the items in plastic containers that are easy to grab and carry. Kits should be checked every six months, and expired items should be replaced.

Emergency kits are meant to help you survive not only during an emergency, but also during the aftermath.

Home emergency supply kits should include:

One gallon of water per person per day for at least three days
Three day’s worth of nonperishable protein-packed foods you can cook without electricity, such as tuna, peanut butter and granola bars, and don’t forget about food for your pets
Can opener
Hand-crank or battery-powered radio with extra batteries
Flashlight with extra batteries
First aid kit with gauze, tape, bandages, antibiotic ointment, aspirin, a blanket, nonlatex gloves, scissors, hydrocortisone, thermometer, tweezers and instant cold compress
Tool kit with basic tools, in case you need to shut off utilities
Hand sanitizer and garbage bags for sanitation
Plastic sheeting and duct tape in case of broken windows or a leaky roof
Whistle to signal for help so rescuers can locate you

The author of this content cannot be liable for any use or misuse of the contents. This is a guideline and is meant for information only.

Infinity Fire Protection Home Emergency Supplies

March 6, 2025

Safety Information

Apartment Fire Safety

Apartment fire safety begins with a plan, tips from the U.S. Fire Administration –

If you live in an apartment or condominium you need to know how to get out quickly if a fire starts. Follow these steps to stay safe:

Don’t prop open exit or stairway doors. These are installed to slow the spread of heat and smoke if there is a fire.
Speak to your apartment manager if you see a damaged smoke alarm, fire extinguisher or an emergency light that has burned out.

Be Prepared – Create an escape plan. Discuss how you will get outside. Practice your plan.

Count the number of doors there are between your apartment and the nearest fire exit. Memorize the number in case you have to find the exit in the dark.
Know where all the exit doors and stairs are on your floor.

Stay Calm – In the event of a fire, stay calm.

Move to the exit as you have practiced. Call the fire department once you are outside.
If your door feels warm to the touch, do not attempt to open it. Call 9-1-1 and tell the dispatcher your apartment number and that you can’t open your door.
Stuff the cracks around the door with towels, rags, bedding, or tape. Cover vents.
Wait at a window and signal for help with a flashlight or by waving a white cloth.
If your apartment door is cool to the touch, open it slowly. Stay low and check for smoke or fire in the hallway. If the hallway is safe, follow your building’s evacuation plan.
Never use an elevator to escape a fire. Always use the stairs.

Wait Outside for the Fire Department – Once you are outside, move away from the building. Give firefighters and fire trucks plenty of space.

Stay outside. Do not go back inside for any reason.
If you think someone is still inside, tell firefighters where you think they are.
Wait until firefighters tell you it’s safe to go back inside.

The author of this content cannot be liable for any use or misuse of the contents. This is a guideline and is meant for information only.

Infinity Fire Protection - Apartment and Condo Fire Safety Tips

February 26, 2025

Information

What is Cross-Connection

What is Cross-Connection and why the annual testing of it is important from The Washington State Department of Health:

A cross connection is a point in a plumbing system where the potable water supply is connected to a non-potable source. Briefly, a cross connection exists whenever the drinking water system is or could be connected to any non-potable source (plumbing fixture, equipment used in any plumbing system). Pollutants or contaminants can enter the safe drinking water system through uncontrolled cross connections when backflow occurs.

Backflow is the unwanted flow of non-potable substances back into the consumer’s plumbing system and/or public water system (i.e., drinking water).

Backflow preventers are mechanical devices designed to prevent backflow through cross connections. However, for backflow preventers to protect as designed, they must meet stringent installation requirements.

Every water system has cross connections. Plumbing codes and State drinking water regulations require cross connections to be controlled by approved methods (physical air gap) or approved mechanical backflow prevention devices or assemblies.

The various types of mechanical backflow preventers include:

Reduced Pressure Backflow Assembly (RPBA)
Reduced Pressure Detector Assembly (RPDA)
Double Check Valve Assembly (DCVA)
Double Check Detector Assembly (DCDA)
Pressure Vacuum Breaker Assembly (PVBA)
Spill Resistant Vacuum Breaker Assembly (SVBA)
Atmospheric Vacuum Breaker (AVB)

For a backflow preventer to provide proper protection, it must be approved for backflow protection, designed for the degree of hazard and backflow it is controlling, installed correctly, Tested Annually by a State Certified Tester, and repaired as necessary.

The author of this content cannot be liable for any use or misuse of the contents. This is a guideline and is meant for information only.

IFP Cross Connection Backflow Testing

February 19, 2025

Fire Prevention Information

Home Electrical Fire Safety

Below are some tips on keeping your home safe from electric fires from the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA):

Have all electrical work done by a qualified electrician.
When buying or remodeling a home, have it inspected by a qualified private inspector or in accordance with local requirements.
Only use one heat-producing appliance (such as a coffee maker, toaster, space heater, etc.) plugged into a receptacle outlet at a time.
Major appliances (refrigerators, dryers, washers, stoves, etc.) should be plugged directly in a wall receptacle outlet. Extensions cords and plug strips should not be used.
Check electrical cords to make sure they are not running across doorways or under carpets. Extension cords are intended for temporary use.
Call a qualified electrician or your landlord if you have:
- Frequent problems with blowing fuses or tripping circuit breakers.
- A tingling feeling when you touch an electrical appliance.
- Discolored or warm wall outlets.
- A burning or rubbery smell coming from an appliance.
- Flickering or dimming lights.
- Sparks from an outlet.

The author of this content cannot be liable for any use or misuse of the contents. This is a guideline and is meant for information only.

IFP Electrical Fire Safety

February 5, 2025

Information

Types of Fire Extinguishers

There are several different types of Fire Extinguishers, below is information on the most common types from the NFPA (National Fire Protection Association):

In the hands of a trained person, portable fire extinguishers are great tools to protect people and property from fire during early stages. When using an extinguisher or selecting an extinguisher to install, it’s important to know the characteristics of different fire extinguishers.

Class of Fire	Description
Class A Fires	Fires in ordinary combustible materials, such as wood, cloth, paper, rubber, and many plastics.
Class B Fires	Fires in flammable liquids, combustible liquids, petroleum greases, tars, oils, oil-based paints, solvents, lacquers, alcohols, and flammable gases.
Class C Fires	Fires that involve energized electrical equipment.
Class D Fires	Fires in combustible metals, such as magnesium, titanium, zirconium, sodium, lithium, and potassium.
Class K Fires	Fires in cooking appliances that involve combustible cooking media (vegetable or animal oils and fats).

The author of this content cannot be liable for any use or misuse of the contents. This is a guideline and is meant for information only.

IFP - Types of Fire Extinguishers

January 16, 2025

Fire Prevention Safety Information

Winter Fire Safety

Keep safe this winter with the following tips from the NFPA (Nation Fire Protection Association):

Heating –

Heating is a leading cause of US home fires and home fire injuries and third leading cause of home fire deaths. December, January and February are the peak months for heating fires. Space heaters are the type of equipment most often involved in home heating equipment fires.

Carbon Monoxide –

Often called the invisible killer, carbon monoxide (CO) is an odorless, colorless gas created when fuels such as gasoline, wood, coal, propane, etc. do not burn completely. In the home, heating and cooking equipment that burn fuel are potential sources of CO. Carbon monoxide incidents are more common during the winter months, and in residential properties.

Generators –

Portable generators are useful during power outages; however, many homeowners are unaware that the improper use of portable generators can be risky. The most common dangers associated with portable generators are carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning, electrical shock or electrocution, and fire hazards.

The author of this content cannot be liable for any use or misuse of the contents. This is a guideline and is meant for information only.

Generator in snow.