How to Make a Fireproof Room

Fireproofing your bedroom can give you the time you need to escape a fire. Read this article to learn how to fireproof your room.
Written by Cheryl Knight
Reviewed by Carrie Adkins
Your bedroom is one area in your home that presents unique challenges when trying to fireproof your home.
A nighttime fire can catch you off guard when you sleep, so it's important to not only set up devices to detect fire, but to design your room so that you have adequate time to wake up and escape the fire.
Designing your bedroom to be more fireproof can give you peace of mind, especially while sleeping at night. Here's how to effectively fireproof your room, presented by
Jerry
.
Let Jerry find your price in only 45 seconds
No spam · No long forms · No fees
Find insurance savings

Install smoke detectors in and around your bedroom

Smoke detectors can quickly notify you of the presence of fire. Designed to sound an alarm in the presence of smoke from a fire, a properly working smoke detector can mean the difference between succumbing to smoke and fire and getting out of your home alive.
Here's a step-by-step guide to installing and maintaining smoke detectors in your home.
Step 1: Determine how many smoke detectors you need. Before buying any smoke detectors for your house, keep in mind where you need to place them.
  • In the bedroom: You only need one smoke detector inside the actual room. This should provide enough coverage if a fire breaks out somewhere in the vicinity of the bedroom.
  • Outside the bedroom: You should also install a smoke detector directly outside the door of the room. This is to give you advanced warning, providing you with time to act before the fire gets to your door. If you have a long hallway outside of your house's bedrooms, install a smoke detector at either end and outside each bedroom door along the hallway.
Step 2: Test your smoke detectors. Do this once a month.
To test the smoke detector, push the test button located on the bottom of the device. The alarm should sound a few times before resetting.
Step 3: Change the batteries. You should change the batteries in your smoke detector at least twice a year.
An easy way to remember to change your batteries in your smoke detector is to do so whenever you set your clocks forward and backward in the spring and fall.
Step 4: Clean your smoke detectors. When you test your smoke detectors each month, take the time to also clean them.
Use a clean rag, brush, or vacuum to clean the front of the detector of dirt and debris. Avoid using spray cleaners on the detectors as they can cause damage.
Step 5: Replace the smoke detector. You should replace your smoke detectors at least once a decade.
Most smoke detectors only have a lifespan of 10 years. Keep in mind that this time can be lessened if the smoke detector is not kept clean of dust and other contaminants.
MORE: Home insurance and fire damage, explained

Purchase fire-safety equipment

Just like a smoke detector lets you know when smoke and fire are present,
fire-safety equipment
can help you deal with the fire itself, or at least help you escape alive and in one piece.
  • Fire extinguisher
    : You can stock a variety of fire extinguishers in your home, each one geared toward a different type of fire. And while most of the time you do not want to stick around to fight a fire, you can use a fire extinguisher to put out a small fire in your home, or least keep it at bay until you can escape.
  • Fire ladder: Sometimes the door of your room is not an option for escape. This usually means you need to exit via the windows in the room. A fire ladder gives you a quick and easy way to climb down to ground level, as opposed to jumping and potentially injuring yourself.
  • Fire blanket: A fire blanket can come in handy if flames are upon you or you must travel through fire-filled areas to escape your home. The fiberglass nature of the blanket resists flames, allowing you to travel through flames in your home.
  • Fire-resistant mattress: Most often, once fire gets to a mattress, it can go up in flames quickly, potentially causing severe injury or death to anyone laying on it. A fire-resistant mattress could give you the time you need to become aware of a fire and escape before it is too late.

Check the electric wiring

Old and faulty wiring is often the culprit behind many house fires. You need to check the electric wiring in any house you plan on buying. It's also a good idea to check the wiring in your own home, if you suspect it may be faulty.
If you suspect problems with your wiring, especially in the bedroom, you need to check to see if it is still good or needs replacing. Start by using a voltmeter to check each outlet in the bedroom and throughout the house, looking for tell-tale signs of faulty wiring. Common problems often associated with faulty wiring include:
  • Warm or hot spots in the walls: Warm or hot spots in your walls indicate a big problem that you need to fix as soon as possible. This fix should include not only the wiring, but also the wall, switch, and outlet faceplate.
  • Flickering lights: Flickering lights can also indicate a problem with your wiring. If the lights flicker when you flip the switch, you have a problem. It could be as simple as a loose connection, or something more.
  • Blown fuses: When fuses start to blow or trip in your fuse box, that is a strong indicator that some area in your home, usually a room, is overloaded with electric current or has suffered a short circuit of some sort. In order to prevent such overloaded or short-circuited wiring from getting too hot and causing a fire, the fuse trips instead, cutting the current.
If you have this happening in your house, it is important that you fix the problem yourself or pay an electrician to fix the problem for you as soon as possible.
Making your bedroom more fireproof requires some effort on your part, but is well worth it. This includes installing detection devices to let you know when fire and smoke are present, installing fire-safety equipment in your bedroom to help improve your chances of survival, and checking the wiring in your bedroom and elsewhere in your house to make sure that it doesn't present a fire hazard.
MORE: Does homeowners insurance cover smoke damage?
RECOMMENDED
Haven’t shopped for insurance in the last six months? There might be hundreds $$$ in savings waiting for you.
avatar
Judith switched to Progressive
icon savingsSaved $725 annually
avatar
Alexander switched to Travelers
icon savingsSaved $834 annually
avatar
Annie switched to Nationwide
icon savingsSaved $668 annually
Are you overpaying for car insurance?
Compare quotes and find out in 45 seconds.
Try Jerry

Easiest way to compare and buy car insurance

√
No long forms
√
No spam or unwanted phone calls
√
Quotes from top insurance companies
Find insurance savings