Deck & Porch Safety Tips

As summer approaches, we are urging homeowners to take the time to check outdoor areas for potential safety hazards. Proper inspections now can help to keep you family and friends safe in the future.


Porches can be at risk of collapsing if they are not properly constructed or if they are old. Your community has building codes in place that homeowners must follow when building or repairing porches. 

A common safety hazard occurs when porches are nailed to buildings rather than being attached with the proper anchors or bolts. Nails are a poor method for attaching porches to buildings because they work their way loose over time.
 
Other safety hazards to look for include:

• Split or rotting wood
• Wobbly handrails or guardrails
• Loose, missing, or rusting anchors, nails and screws
• Poor end support of the porch deck, joists or girders
• Excessive movement of the porch when walked on and swaying or unstable porches.
  

Building or repairing to your communities codes, which requires a building permit and an inspection, will help ensure that the porch is safe.
 

Your local building code officials, along with the New River Valley Home Builders Association work hard every day to ensure that your homes are sound and secure. Taking some time now to make sure the outside of your home is safe will make a more enjoyable summer for everyone.

Outdoor Safety Tips

As summer approaches, homeowners need to take the time to check their outdoor areas for potential safety hazards. While most people know that pools are a safety hazard for kids, there are lot more things to watch out for in your back yard, like barbecues and grills, lawn equipment and toys. Find out whether local building codes require childproof fences and gates around pools and plan accordingly.

Check out this list of zero to low cost steps that can help to keep your loved ones safe outdoors this summer:

• Practice constant, adult supervision around any body of water, including pools and spas.
• If you’re considering a swimming pool purchase, contact your local Building Department first to determine exactly what permits are needed and what requirements you must follow.
• In-ground and above-ground pools, including inflatable pools holding more than 24 inches of water, must be surrounded by a fence or other barrier at least four feet high. Any gates in the fence must be self-closing and self-latching.
• Designate the grilling area a "No Play Zone" and keep kids and pets well away until grill equipment is completely cool.
• Check propane cylinder hoses for leaks before use. (Source: USFA)
• Do not move hot grills.
• Never add charcoal starter fluid when coals or kindling have already been ignited, and never use any flammable or combustible liquid other than charcoal starter fluid to get the fire going. (Source: USFA)
• Dispose of charcoal properly, keeping ash containers outside and away from combustible construction.
• Place the grill away from siding, deck railings and out from under eaves and overhanging branches.
• Your jurisdiction Fire Code prohibits the use of charcoal and gas grills and other open burning devices on combustible porches or within 10 feet of combustible construction. There are exceptions for one- and two-family homes and where buildings and porches are protected by an automatic sprinkler system.
• Don't leave toys, tools and equipment in the yard.
• Reserve a spot on a wall or fence near the pool for lifesaving devices.
• Keep steps, sidewalks and patios in good repair.
• A common safety hazard occurs when porches are nailed to buildings rather than being attached with the proper anchors or bolts. Nails are a poor method for attaching porches to buildings because they work their way loose over time.
• Check all swings, slides, playhouses and other structures for sharp objects, rusty metal pieces, breaks or weakened support pieces.
• Learn cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). 

Courtesy of the International Code Council

Pool Safety Tips

Summer is right around the corner, and that means time for some fun in the sun, pool-side. Did you know that pool accidents are the second leading cause of accidental death in children under the age of 5? Check out our list of zero to low cost pool safety measures to help keep your loved ones safe this summer.

Fire Safety 101

Each year, fires take lives and burn numerous structures resulting in mounting costs that have enormous impact on families, communities and businesses. Fires also have devastating impacts on the environment and wildlife. Below is a list of zero and low cost safety precaution measures you can take to protect your home and workplace:

Candles

• Ensure candles are in sturdy metal, glass, or ceramic holders and placed where they cannot be easily knocked down. Most importantly, keep candles out of the reach of children and pets. (Source: USFA)
• Never leave the house with candles burning and never leave burning candles unattended. (Source: USFA)

Electrical

• Routinely check your electrical appliances and wiring. (Source: USFA)
• If an appliance has a three-prong plug, use it only in a three-slot outlet. Never force it to fit into a two-slot outlet or extension cord. (Source: USFA)
• When buying electrical appliances look for products evaluated by a nationally recognized laboratory, such as Underwriters Laboratories (UL). (Source: USFA)

 Gas

• When lighting a gas fireplace or gas space heater, strike your match first, then turn on the gas. (Source: NFPA)
• Never use a gas range as a substitute for a furnace or space heater. (Source: NFPA)

 Install

• Purchase an ABC type extinguisher for extinguishing all types of fires. Fire extinguishers should be mounted in the kitchen, garage, and workshop and should only be used on small fires. If there is a large fire, get out immediately and call 911. (Source: NFPA)
• Smoke alarms should be installed in each sleeping room/bedroom, outside of sleeping rooms/bedrooms and on each level of your house. Make sure to test your smoke alarms each month and change the batteries at least once a year.

Additional Tips

• Cooking equipment is also the leading cause of unreported fires and associated injuries. Stay in the kitchen when you are frying, grilling, or broiling food. If you leave the kitchen for even a short period of time, turn off the stove. (Source: USFA)
• Plug microwave ovens and other cooking appliances directly into an outlet. Never use an extension cord for a cooking appliance, as it can overload the circuit and cause a fire. (USFA)
• Over half (55%) of home candle fires start because the candle is too close to some combustible material. If you do use candles, ensure they are in sturdy metal, glass, or ceramic holders and placed where they cannot be easily knocked down. (USFA)

Courtesy of the International Code Council

May is National Building Safety Month!

Three decades ago a group of building officials started raising safety code awareness after a series of tragedies caused needless deaths and injuries. Countless accidents still occur in homes across the country and around the world where codes are poorly understood and used improperly. This year, four core themes will be highlighted throughout the month of May to mark the 30th anniversary of the International Code Council's (ICC) National Building Safety Month.

Week One: Energy and Green Building. Spotlighting the latest advancements in sustainable design and greed building

Week Two: Disaster Safety and Mitigation. Raising awareness about how to prepare for a natural disaster and take action when one strikes

Week Three: Fire Safety and Awareness. Protecting our homes and workplaces with essential safety precaution measures

Week Four: Backyard Safety. Keeping kids safe at play

Update Your Home Safely with a Certified Remodeler

You’ve made the decision to finally remodel the outdated kitchen and living room of your home. But if you live in a house built before 1978, a new federal law regulating the removal of lead paint may affect your home remodeling project.  
 
In 1978, the use of lead paint was officially banned from residential construction. Before that, however, lead paint was used in more than 38 million homes, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). 

Beginning in April 2010, contractors performing renovation, repair and painting projects that disturb lead-based paint in homes, child care facilities, and schools built before 1978 must be certified and must follow specific work practices to prevent lead contamination.

What are the Dangers of Lead Paint?
During a renovation or remodel, dust from lead paint removal can fill the air and be breathed in or small children could ingest lead paint chips that fall from the wall. For young children, lead poisoning can cause learning disabilities, hearing loss and behavior problems. In adults, lead poisoning can lead to hypertension and high blood pressure. Pregnant women run the risk of passing the poison on to their unborn child.

It is important that you find a remodeler who is trained in lead-safe work practices rather than try to do the work yourself. To ensure the safety of the home’s occupants, the EPA’s new regulation requires that any major renovation to homes built before 1978 must be performed by a certified remodeler or renovator.
 
What are Lead-Safe Work Practices?
EPA has a free brochure on its website called “Renovate Right” that provides guidance to home owners and contractors about the safe removal of lead paint. Your contractor should follow specific work practices, including these three simple procedures: 

• Contain the work area so that dust and debris do not escape. Warning signs should be put up and heavy-duty plastic and tape should be used to seal off doors and heating and cooling system vents and to cover the floors and any furniture that cannot be moved.
• Minimize dust. There is no way to eliminate dust, but some paint removal methods create less dust than others. For example, using water to mist areas before sanding or scraping; scoring paint before separating components; and prying and pulling apart components instead of breaking them. Methods that generate large amounts of dust and should not be used include open flame burning or torching; sanding, grinding, planing, needle gunning, or blasting with power tools and equipment not equipped with a shroud and high efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter vacuum attachment; or using a heat gun at temperatures greater than 1100°F.
• Clean up thoroughly. When all the work is done, and before taking down any plastic that isolates the work area from the rest of the home, the area should be cleaned up using special cleaning methods. These include using a HEPA vacuum to clean up dust and debris on all surfaces, followed by wet mopping with plenty of water.

How Do I Find a Certified Remodeler?
To become lead-safe certified, a firm, and a contractor within that firm, must submit an application to the EPA and complete a federal or state-administered eight-hour class with two hours of hands-on training. To find a lead-safe certified contractor or firm near you, visit www.epa.gov/lead.
 
For more information on this and other building issues, contact the New River Valley Home Builders Association at 381-0180 or info@nrvhba.com.