Fires are devastating and dangerous events, whether caused by wildfires or by other indoor causes. Unfortunately, California is a state that has experienced the destruction that these events cause. The frequency of wildfires in the western U.S. has increased by 400% since 1970, with California being hit hard in recent years. Seasonal wildfires are a danger to residential properties for a part of the year, while indoor fires can happen at any time of year.
When a fire starts, fire protection products can protect your rental house or condo from damage, or give your tenants the necessary time to make a safe exit from the building. The following fire protection products need to be in your rental unit.
Fire Sprinklers
Death by fire in residences occurs when the building does not have the propr, fire prevention services installed. A sprinkler system can be activated in the event of a fire and potentially put the fire out before it spreads to the rent of the house. Rebuilding a rental property that is damaged by fire is a costly process and can be prevented with the use of emergency fire sprinklers. It is also necessary that regular fire sprinkler monitoring is conducted to prevent fire sprinkler leaks. This is especially important in a multi-family unit that has many people living in it.
Tip: If you are planning on building a rental property, California is one of two states that requires all one- and two-family dwellings to have automatic sprinkler systems installed in the event of a fire.
Fire Alarms
Smoke detectors and fire alarms in a rental property are required in the state of California. Fire alarms play a big role in keeping your tenants safe in your property, as they reduce the chance of a deadly incident if a fire occurs. As a landlord, you are required to have working fire alarms and carbon monoxide detectors throughout your dwelling to alert tenants of a fire.
For example, fire alarms should be installed in all of the property’s bedrooms (or other sleeping areas) and the kitchen. Fire alarm inspections should also be conducted to make sure they are functioning correctly and in UL and NFPA 72 compliance and should be regularly maintained with new batteries.
Fire Extinguishers
Fire extinguishers are an important part of fire protection products, especially in the rental property’s kitchen and laundry room, where fires can easily occur. An extinguisher can prevent a fire from spreading to the rest of the house if it is used at the onset of the fire. Fire extinguishers should be placed in the right areas around the house, ideally one for each floor of each unit. Fire extinguishers should also be maintained regularly to ensure they are working optimally.
Luckily, APFE Fire Protection Services can provide your rental property in San Diego and all other California counties with fire protection requirements as keeping your tenants and property safe from fire is an important part of a landlord’s job. Minimize the damage that fire does to your property with regular fire alarm maintenance and fire sprinkler maintenance, as well as maintenance and inspections of other fire protection products.
