Fire Prevention

[liquid swords]

No, not the kind of 'fire' you'd expect to talk about on cannabis.com, but the kind that burns and kills. Many of us grow with lights that could be dangerous if they were to fall onto a carpeted surface or a piece of wood. I would imagine many of us also have our lights on while we're at school or work, especially in the veg stage, so what kind of steps does everyone take to make sure they don't come home to a burned out home?

[yabatab]

Makes sure your lights are secured, you don't have anything around that
would fall over on to a light and don't grow on a carpeted surface.

Ventilation is not only good for your plants but it also keeps heat from
building up and causing a fire hazard.

[tekneeqs]

Makes sure your lights are secured, you don't have anything around that
would fall over on to a light and don't grow on a carpeted surface.

Ventilation is not only good for your plants but it also keeps heat from
building up and causing a fire hazard.




Actually, wouldn't the ventilation induce the fire to continue? I mean if it was a sealed up room I think the fire wouldn't subside.

[jamstigator]

Well, my home did burn down last year, so I am probably as paranoid as anyone about it. (Although it had nothing to do with growing or lights, just an old house, and it had ancient wiring.) The steps I have taken to minimize the chances of me once again standing outside half-naked in the cold watching my home burn down:

1) I have a fire alarm in every room, and I change the batteries regularly
2) I have fire extinguishers on every floor
3) I don't keep any outlets or plugs within 2 feet of the floor
4) I don't use anything near the lights that is particularly flammable
5) 95 percent of the time someone is home to keep an eye out
6) The house's entire electrical system is brand new, top to bottom

It really is an important issue, although I'm not going to harp on and on about it. All I know is, I am quite willing to take a fair amount of precautions in order to minimize the chances of ever repeating that house-burning-down experience. If you're wise, you'll do the same. If you're not wise, and you're unlucky, and your house burns down, then you'll be wiser the next time, I'm sure of that. ;)

[MegaOctane12]

Problem with a fire alarm in every room is you can't smoke without setting it off. Why is it dangerous to have plugs on the ground

[stinkyattic]

Why is it dangerous to have plugs on the ground

Because you can spill water with nutrients (good conductor) and cause a short. Dangerous.

My steps are:
-cables not pinched, and run up off the ground whenever possible
-everything grounded
-new sub-panel with new breakers
-working on adding GFCI outlets for the lights
-all extension cords rated for 10% over max amps they will be carrying
-all timers rated higher too
-extinguishers close at hand
-smoke detectors in every stairwell
-lights hung with chain, not string

[MegaOctane12]

Oh yeah, course, I had'nt thought of that.

[invision]

a good thing to do is attach your multi-wall socket right to your wall of the cab keeping it off the floor and use twist ties on any wires that are too long and make sure all hoods and reflectors have no way of crashing on your plants.

[bazzae123]

Well, my home did burn down last year, so I am probably as paranoid as anyone about it. (Although it had nothing to do with growing or lights, just an old house, and it had ancient wiring.) The steps I have taken to minimize the chances of me once again standing outside half-naked in the cold watching my home burn down:

1) I have a fire alarm in every room, and I change the batteries regularly
2) I have fire extinguishers on every floor
3) I don't keep any outlets or plugs within 2 feet of the floor
4) I don't use anything near the lights that is particularly flammable
5) 95 percent of the time someone is home to keep an eye out
6) The house's entire electrical system is brand new, top to bottom

It really is an important issue, although I'm not going to harp on and on about it. All I know is, I am quite willing to take a fair amount of precautions in order to minimize the chances of ever repeating that house-burning-down experience. If you're wise, you'll do the same. If you're not wise, and you're unlucky, and your house burns down, then you'll be wiser the next time, I'm sure of that. ;)

jamstigator,

I know exactly what you went through, I've had the same experience.

Bazza

[jamstigator]

It's amazing how long it takes to recover from a fire. Mine happened in February of 2005, and we're still not all put back together, although we're getting close now, and we were able to move back in after only (hah, 'only') eleven months. Sorry to hear you had a fire too, Bazza! Hope no one was hurt! (Nobody got hurt in mine; I'm former Special Forces and still an incredibly light sleeper, so I woke up quickly and was able to waken and herd the woman and cats out safely, although my favorite cat ran off and was missing for six weeks.)

[bazzae123]

It's amazing how long it takes to recover from a fire. Mine happened in February of 2005, and we're still not all put back together, although we're getting close now, and we were able to move back in after only (hah, 'only') eleven months. Sorry to hear you had a fire too, Bazza! Hope no one was hurt! (Nobody got hurt in mine; I'm former Special Forces and still an incredibly light sleeper, so I woke up quickly and was able to waken and herd the woman and cats out safely, although my favorite cat ran off and was missing for six weeks.)

I woke up just in time also. Its funny how you lie in bed thinking "what's that strange sound" like heavy rain falling on a tin roof, in fact it was the wood splitting under the heat. The wife and I managed to get OK and stood there waiting for the fire brigade. It took us 8 months to get the place sorted but we still have a few more things to replace. Funny, when you look back I not sure what was more stressful, the fire, or the builders from the insurance company:D

Bazza