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Archicentre
Home Safety Checklist
Page One
Air
The
quality of the air in our homes has rarely been the subject of
air pollution anxiety, yet pollutants like mould spores, formaldehyde
and carbon monoxide can build up to concentrations quite unacceptable
in other environments. They are usually breathed in more continuously
in the home than elsewhere too. One air change per hour is the
generally accepted air flow rate, to dilute pollutants and exhaust
them. Stuffiness, sneezing, red eyes and bad or musty smells are
some indications of a flow rate below this level. Fixed or fan-forced
vents, and open windows (locked partly-open to prevent burglary)
can achieve that airflow.
Allergens
and Asthma
Allergens
commonly trigger asthma attacks and also cause hayfever. Dust
mites, pollens, moulds and cats are common sources of allergens
in the home. Temperature variations, humidity and irritant particles
. First level also trigger asthma. Reducing your exposure to these
things reduces the risk of developing allergies and asthma. Your
doctor can arrange tests to discover which allergens you react
to, so you can minimise these first. First level preventative
steps involve more frequent vacuuming, dusting, washing and airing
of bedding and attention to the garden. See specific sections
below, and contact your local Asthma Foundation for more information.
Bathroom
See
text under Design
issues,
Electrical
Hazards,
Hot
Water
and Showers
and Baths.
Bedroom
Blinds
Children
have been strangled by blind's cords. Cords can be restrained
by clips available from most hardware stores. Toxic gases are
given off when venetian blinds are burned. Venetian's are also
notorious for collecting dust. Consider alternatives.
Building
Materials
Some
building materials like asbestos are dangerous. Asbestos is most
commonly found in asbestos cement sheet and is considered safe
unless severely deteriorated or broken up during removal. Some
chemicals like formaldehyde glues in timber are unhealthy
in concentrated form, so ventilation is important. An Archicentre
inspection will comment on ventilation.
Burns
and scalds
Always
keep kettles, jugs and hot drinks away from children. Cordless
jugs are safest or use a curly cord. Always turn pot handles away
from the edge of the stove. Fit safety guards around your hot
plates.
Carpets
Carpets
harbour dust and dust mites. If you choose to have carpets, vacuum
them regularly, preferably with ducted vacuuming which exhausts
dust outside. If your family is sensitive to dust mite allergens
seriously consider non-carpet alternatives.
Chemicals
Poisonous,
corrosive or flammable chemicals should be removed from easy access
or from where they could ignite the house. A lockable shed is
a good place to store them. Buy a child proof cabinet to hold
corrosive household cleaners and detergents and be sure to use
it.
Clothes
Drying
Tumble
driers are probably the worst generators of water vapour. They
need fan forced ducted ventilation to the outside of the house.
(See Condensation.)
Concrete
Slabs
If
ducted central heating is installed under concrete slabs, ducts
may corrode and admit water, forcing humid air in to the house.
(See Condensation.)
Water penetration through concrete slabs can be expensive to repair.
Ground drainage may help alleviate the dampness, however
serious cases will require an Archicentre investigation.
Condensation
Water
vapour generated by heating, bathing, clothes washing, cooking
and clothes drying needs to be vented outside to prevent saturation-level
humid air and condensation. Condensation will cause mould growth
and generate conditions conducive to termite, borer, cockroach,
silverfish, dust mite and other infestations all of which may
cause diseases or structural damage. Better ventilation can be
achieved by partly opening windows and increasing passive vents
in rooms, by cutting back shrubs encroaching on the house, ventilating
thoroughly under the house and draining the ground where very
wet. Serious condensation problems may necessitate an Archicentre
inspection to recommend remedies.
Cooking
Cooking
with gas releases water vapour, irritant and allergy sensitising
gases. Ensure range hoods force combustion gases and steam outside.
Consider electric.
Cupboards
You
need at least one child proof medicine cabinet to keep poisons
and drugs away from children. Try to avoid doors opening at head
and eye level, or within 600mm over stoves for combustion reasons.
Build cupboards up to the ceiling to avoid dust collection and
maximise storage space.
Damp
Rising
damp will cause similar moisture and vermin problems to condensation.
It can be costly to repair, so if you are about to purchase a
home, have Archicentre check for damp first.
Design
Issues
- Consider
minimising horizontal surfaces that accumulate dust, especially
high surfaces, hard to reach.
- Orient
living areas north for maximum solar heating.
- Design
to maximise flow-through ventilation with few still air pockets
which accumulate condensation.
- Orient
kitchens and living rooms to overlook indoor and outdoor playing
areas for supervision of children. The design of the kitchen
should minimise the size of the ``hazard triangle" between stove
, sink and refrigerator.
- Shower
taps should not be placed directly below shower roses.
- Select
non-slip bath and shower bases or add rubber grips. Clean these
surfaces regularly to reduce slipperiness. Select non-slip floor
surfaces.
- Light
switches should be accessible to children.
- Try
to eliminate blind spots when locating driveways and have a
child proof gate to prevent access to the driveway from the
backyard.
- Be
aware that gas heaters which exhaust combustion gases and moisture
into the house can lead to allergies, asthma and mould.
- All
heaters should have guards around them to prevent clothes igniting.
- Consider
passive radiant heating such as panel radiators floor coil heating.
Ducted systems circulate airborne allergens and dust particles.
- Use
grab rails instead of towel rails.
Doors
Add
closers to make doors slow-closing in windy locations to minimise
finger injuries to children. Finger-jam protectors are available.
Always keep keys in deadlocks when in the house so you can escape
from fire. Consider half-glass doors looking onto children's play
areas. Doors should not open onto those play areas or into driveways.
Drainage
Site
and sub-floor drainage may be needed to reduce dampness and condensation,
both of which can cause disease and asthma. Dampness also promotes
timber rot leading to structural problems. An Archicentre inspection
will comment on sub-floor problems.
Dust
Mites
Dust
mites are one of the prime agents of allergies and asthma, frequently
found in carpets and bedding where they live on skin scales. Dust
mites love a warm moist environment (see the Condensation
heading). You can kill them by drying them out or with heat (over
55ºC). So air your bedding often, tumble dry it or turn on
the electric blanket. Wash bedding frequently to remove dust mite
droppings which are an important allergen. If you make the washing
water 55ºC or hotter it will kill the mites as well. The
Asthma Foundation has more information.
Electrical
Hazards
- Archicentre's
statistics show that in some suburbs half of all houses inspected
for prospective buyers had electrical faults.
- Old
perished wiring must be replaced by a registered electrical
contractor.
- Keep
all electrical appliances away from water, especially hairdryers.
Keep movable electric heaters out of the bathroom. Don't install
power points near water.
- Install
safety switches: either at the main switchboard; or use plug-in
devices.
- Put
plug-in covers over power points if you have children.
- Unplug
appliances especially toasters when not in use.
Emergency
Numbers
Critical
phone numbers for ambulance, fire, doctors, electricians etc,
should be known and be accessible by all. The nation-wide Poisons
Information Centre number is 131126.
Floor
Surfaces
Soft
surfaces are recommended for children. However carpets harbour
dust mites. A soft rubber surface is one compromise, another is
removable washable rugs laid over wood, tile or vinyl surfaces
with rug grips to avoid slipping. Use non-slip surfaces in all
wet areas.
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