WHAT IS A FIRE GUARD?

A fireguard is a heat resistant metal or wood surround that is SCREW FITTED into the wall to prevent young children and pets from coming into contact with a hot, wood stove, open fire or even a gas fire. A fire guard provides the safest and most secure solution for keeping infants safe around fire, preventing them from coming into contact with flames and hot log burners. Fire guards are heat resistant, strong, sturdy, steel structures that should be screw fitted in place to ensure the ultimate safety should a young child come into contact with the guard. We advise that a fire guard, wood or metal is installed approximately 70cm away from the fire.

 

The most versatile, solid and sturdy fire guard is the ‘Safetots Flex, multi panel fire guard’. The multi panel fire guard can be adapted to suit most open fires, hearths and log burners with panels available to order in four sizes: 20cm, 33cm, 46cm and 72cm enabling you to create a fireguard to suit your own bespoke space. Opening gate panels are standard and measure 72cm, they can be positioned to the side or front of any multi panel fire guard configuration. Each fire guard panel connects together as desired to create a length and depth to suit your space.

 

Our range of Steel, mesh fireguards are particularly popular with parents of young children, the strong and secure metal structure with an encased top not only stops children from making contact with fire but prevents children from throwing items into the fire.

 

WHAT IS A FIRE SCREEN?

A fire screen surrounds an open fire and protects hot, flying embers from burning carpets or wood floors. Fire screens are not screw fitted into place and do not provide the same level of safety as a fire guard. A fire sceen may discourage a child from making contact with an open fire but as there is no secure locking system in place there is still a danger present. A fire screen in some homes is simply used as a decorative item.

 

DO I NEED A FIREGUARD?

Installing a fire guard as apose to stand free fire screen is completely personal choice, however, do bare in mind that it only takes a second for a child to fall into or touch a fire and the consequences can be irreversible and unbearable. A fireguard is the ultimate, screw fitted, solid and secure safety item for keeping children safe in the home during the long winter months when an open fire or wood burning stove is frequently in use.

 

FIREGUARD TIPS

 

ALWAYS SCREW FIT YOUR FIRE GUARD SECURELY TO THE WALL

When choosing the best fire guard for your home and space, always ensure the fireguard can be securely fixed to the surrounding wall. A fire guard that is fitted correctly, following the instructions and safely screw fitted in place will prevent it from collapsing into the fire should a young child fall into the fire guard or apply pressure in any way to the fire guard.

 

CHOOSE A FIRE GUARD THAT IS COMPATIBLE WITH YOUR FIREPLACE OR HEARTH

There is no ‘best fire guard’, it’s simply personal choice as to which fire guard works best with your fire and fire surround and which fireguard works best in your home.

 

The Safetots multi panel fire guard and the Babydan flex hearth gates are very popular with parents. Flex hearth gates and multi panel surrounds are contemporary, powder coated steel fireguards that are designed to be functional yet look clean and minimal in today’s modern home. Safetots multi panel fire surrounds and Babydan flex hearth gates are the most versatile of fireguards. Babydan flex hearth gates and Safetots multipanel fire surrounds provide further versatility in that they can be angled to suit most unique spaces around or on a hearth.

 

Steel mesh fireguards such as the Safetots original fire guard and Safetots designer fire guard are more traditional and more suited to bigger fireplaces and hearths. Mesh, steel fireguards ensure the maximum stability and security and provide the ultimate in fire safety with the additional top casing. Fireguard extensions are available for both the original and designer fire guards allowing you to extend the fireguard further if needed.

 

MEASURE YOUR SPACE CAREFULLY

Make sure you have enough space to allow your fire guard to be positioned a minimum of 70cm away from your fire. Measure your depth and your length. If you are ordering a multi panel surround bare in mind that the wall mounting brackets will add a further 5cm to your depth.

 

To work out which is the most suitable fire guard for your space, firstly measure the space intended for use before you order. Fire guard extensions are available for all Safetots fire guards and fire guard extension panels are available in various sizes. If you are unsure about whether or not you need a fire guard extension, Safetots can advise and recommend fireguard panels that will work for your space. Multi panel fireguard extensions and flex hearth gate extensions are simple to connect together and can be fitted either side of any existing fireguard panel to achieve the size required.

 

FIRE GUARDS ARE NOT JUST FOR REAL FIRES

Many people think that a fire guard is only necessary for an open fire, however they are recommended and advised for all fires, especially in homes where a young child may come into contact with a fire. Installing a fire guard around a log burner is just as important as a log burner can gain considerable heat inside and out and can be particularly hot to the touch. Fire guards are the best solution to keeping children safe around open fires, wood burners and gas fires.

 

CHECK YOUR FIRE GUARD IS STABLE

Once your fireguard is securely fitted, it is a good idea to check the stability of the guard by applying pressure to ensure there is little or no movement.

 

CONSIDER STORAGE

If storage is an issue in your home and you want to dismantle and store your fireguard during the summer months, consider a fireguard with panels that fold for ease of storage. As the Safetots multipanel fireguard and the Babydan flex hearth gate have interconnecting, individual panels that can be easily dismantled when not in use they are ideal space saving fireguards that can be packed away when not needed.

 

CHOOSE THE RIGHT TYPE

If you have a particularly large fireplace or fire hearth you may want to consider a steel mesh fire screen. Safetots steel mesh fireguards are designed to suit the larger hearth. If you have an awkward space or unusual shape hearth then a flexi fireguard or a multipanel fire guard would be most suitable. With the ability to create the size for the space needed, these versatile fireguards are ideal.