Unfortunately, all dwellings are susceptible to blazes when they break out but some homes have elements in their design that mean fire spreads less quickly and, in some cases, will even go out of its own accord.

If you are renovating your home or adding an extension, it is the ideal time to think about using fire resistant materials which will make your home that much safer. Not only can many of them reduce your annual outlay on home insurance, but they could save your life!

Use Correctly Rated Plaster Boarding

In Australia, the relevant standard used for plasterboard is AS2588. Plasterboard suppliers will commonly stock normal boarding products as well as those which are fire retardant. Plasterboard is installed to reduce noise between rooms and to create a surface that can be plastered over, but it is combustible if flames reach it with sufficient intensity. Fire resistant plasterboard, by contrast, is made with a high water content which is subsequently steamed out. Just as good as normal plasterboard, it offers low flame-spreading qualities. It also creates less smoke if a fire breaks out, too.

Decorate and Protect With Fire Retardant Paint

Paint is a material which can make other building materials catch light if it comes into contact with a naked flame once it has dried out. By using fire retardant paint for your home's walls and timbers, you are able to lessen the chance that small fire will turn into a structurally-threatening one. Paints that conform to AS3959 are the best ones to choose. They are particularly useful for external paint jobs, especially if you live in an area that is susceptible to bushfires.

Install Fireproof Doors Internally

Although many of us focus on windows and external doorways, you should remember that many house fires occur because of problems inside the home rather than flames from outside. Internal doors are a great way of preventing a fire from spreading in a home so long as they are kept shut. Self-closing doors are a good way of making sure doorways are kept shut, but this not always desirable in every domestic setting. Latching mechanisms are the next best option but bear in mind that the door itself must create a good seal to work effectively. Therefore, fireproof doors should have a seal that expands to close it off when it is exposed to heat. This is often done by using an intumescent strip around the outside of the door's edges.