(NC)-While you're busy getting your family, home and hearth ready for the holiday season, CSA International, a global certification and testing organization, reminds you to practice indoor safety by following these simple tips to help ensure a delightful and carefree holiday season:
• Gas fireplaces
- No glass, no gas: Do not use your gas fireplace if the glass panel is removed, cracked or broken. Glass panels and frame assemblies should be replaced only by a qualified service person.
- Look for the certification Flame: When purchasing or installing a gas fireplace, check for the mark of an accredited certification organization such as the Flame mark from CSA International. This indicates the fireplace meets applicable national standards.
- No way to play: Keep pets and children away from hot surfaces.
• Carbon-monoxide alarms
- Rest assured: Install at least one carbon-monoxide (CO) alarm near bedrooms. Use more than one CO alarm if sleeping areas are located on different levels of your home.
- Instrumental instructions: Follow the manufacturer's instructions for installing and maintaining your CO alarms.
- Find the Flame: When purchasing a CO alarm, check for the mark of an accredited certification organization such as the certification Flame and CSA 6.19-01 reference mark from CSA International.
• Smoke alarms
- More alarms alert to four-alarms: Test your smoke alarms monthly. One smoke alarm is not enough. Install smoke alarms on every level of your home and outside all sleeping areas. Only working smoke alarms can give you the precious seconds you may need to escape a fire.
• Basement and garage
- Store safely and separately: Do not store combustible materials such as gasoline, propane, paper, chemicals, paint, rags and cleaning products near your gas furnace. Gasoline or propane cylinders must be stored outside the home.
- Far away flame: Never use gasoline or other flammable liquids anywhere near your gas furnace or water heater.
- On your mark: Look for the familiar CSA International certification Flame mark on your gas-fired furnace or water heater to ensure it has been tested and certified to the applicable standard. Have a qualified heating contractor perform a yearly maintenance check of your furnace and venting system.
- News Canada