22 ~ Wednesday, July 23, 1997 -- North Shore News north shore news ~ Safe at home & e ‘Inspections spot potential problems HOMEOWNERS, as well as potential home- *. buyers, must be aware of safety concerns around the house to _ prevent injury to thern- selves and their fami- ties, and to protect oth- ers from harm and resulting legai action. Many . homebuyers, for example, don’t know that a " wood .overhead garage door roe a , May. weigh up to 500 pounds when wet.and is perhaps the heaviest moving component in a home. “We check the safety “ réverse mechanism on. the - garage door of every home we inspect,” says Gary Brisebois, '' owner.:of AmeriSpec Home’: ‘Inspection Service, part of the - " Jargest’ home inspection fran- chise company America, ~ cally discovered. during the physical. home inspection “process .which lasts’ approxi-:.. amately two to three hours,” "says Brisebois.: The “Consumer Products Safety. Commission states that 48: children ‘have died ‘in .” Batage. door accidents since 1982 in ‘the. United - States - “"alone.. Electric door openers are‘ now manufactured’ with a *» reversing mechanism built into the unit and it is recommended "reverse, activate the: opener -' and catch the leading edge of ” that homeowners test this safe-' ~ ty feature monthly: ‘“To check . the safety the ‘door in‘ line with drive ‘rechannae as it reaches waist or'no lower than knée height. If the reverse mechanism takes "longer than two:seconds to activate or if _ unreasonable - resistance is needed to reverse oristop the door, we recom-- \ mend that the reversing device ~' be adjusted; or if non-existent, - be: installed as a safety fea- ture,” says Brisebois. . Garage doors are just one of many areas of the home that “could be a safety concern. The following is just part of a list compiled. by AmeriSpec of ’ additional safety items for : ‘homeowners to review: The questions that sur- round home safety are endless. Involving a home inspector . when you buy a house, using your common sense, and in North. Jearning about home safety through information available from public libraries ‘and gov- ernment agencies will make your home safer, M@ Fire rated wall A fire-rated wall and door between an attached parage and house are important safety features. Storage of gasoline and chemicals, the housing of automobiles, or sometimes the presence of hot water heaters or furnaces make garage arcas a higher risk for fires, Fire-resistant drywall is an _ acceptable wall finish and the door should preferably be metal clad insulated or ait least a solid core wood door without any glass. A pet door will also compromises the integrity ofa fire door. ‘@ Loose brickwork Loose brickwork, especial- ly from chimneys, could result in severe injury if bricks become dislodged and fall. ‘Bi Exposed wiring ‘Any exposed wiring or out- side writing that is low to the |,Bround may be dangerous if; ‘children. or animals come in > contact with the wiring, “Unsafe situations are typi- Also check to see of over- “head wires pass over a'swim- © ming pool or outdoor hot tub — these are accidents waiting to happen. @ Smoke detectors _ On the inside of the home, look for the presence of smoke detectors which should be “placed strategically within the © living areas to provide early _waming of fire. Smoke detec-- tors are. inexpensive, readily available, and offer peace of mind and must be included as" part of your total fire evacua- tion plan. oe “@ Water beater | Check.the hot water tank. - Make sure that the dangerous fumes, which result from fuel: combustion, are properly vent- ed to the outside.: @ Flammable liquids Items, especially flamma-,, ble’ liquids, should not be stored. near heating units. These units may: become, starved for oxygen and their: flames may “lick” out of their ~ bumer compartments and potentially ignite items nearby.” @ Main electric panel. service in water supply lines that may be located above the main ser- vice panel. Consider moving them or making appropriate -~ repairs. Is a first floor bath- .. room located directly over-' * head? Could an overflowing toilet or bathtub spill anto this panel or exposed wiring? Annual North Shore Private Garden Tour < July 27, 1997 from 10am to 4pm P Get Your Tickets Today Gm Seven lovely award winning gar- 4 dens will be on display with GY Horticulturists and — Master / Guides and to answer questions. s) Complimentary coffee will be % Offered in one garden. « Tickets cost $10 and are at North Shore Nurseries, Avant Gardener, Garden Works (Burnaby) and Dig This (Vancouver). Ticket Sales will be limited to 500. Gardens Contest Society and spon- sored by North Shore businesses and North Shore Municipalities. « 4° For more information call 925-4229 Check for” corroded joints... * HOME & GARDEN ca 7 oH 7 NEWS photo Cindy Goodman : Looking for controversy? /READ NOU SOUL LIA ‘north shore - Wednesday . NeCWS EEE | Its Our Summer Sale, - (For your yard.) You can save up to 50% onselected floor models, birdfeeders, houses, apparel, _ parden gifts and more during our Wild Birds Unlimited* Summer Sale - Now thru August 31, 1997, ‘Ne Bring People And Nanare Together® ‘Viste Ws at wee pebas Com, 1190 Marine Dr. 988-2121 Byeoskeo «© FEEDERS. Breouarns Oeitcs.« Nature Giers {Clearance $ = Thursday ice} Sunday ~ 12. Al shrubs ond ee Beautiful _ hegonias | beckon JIM MacNaughton, of _ West Vancouver, shows: - off some of his tuberou begonia beauties. .: MacNaughton is a mem- ber of the B.C. Fuchsia 2 and Begonia Society. which is holding its. annual show and.< ‘petition on Saturda Sunday at VanDusen Botanical Gardens. A plant sale is slated. - Adult admission is $2.. 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