http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/story/2012/11/27/marketplace-flame-retardants.html?cmp=rss
That article has some really scary news: Manufacturers are using flame-retardant chemicals in the foam padding of a lot of furniture, office and home, that (a) does not work(!) and (b) poisons us as we use it and definitely if it burns.
As a member of our corporate health and safety committee for some years, I had the privilege of attending a seminar by the fire department with a film showing the speed at which an office will burn once it gets going (and your house) …
If I recall correctly, you have about 2 minutes before everyone is at risk of imminent death. This because all furniture is horrifically toxic when it burns.
So if you smell smoke in your house, you look for the point source to see what you can do. I hope you keep fire extinguishers up to date just in case. But … if you feel heat or see a lot of smoke, you have seconds or minutes to get everyone out. The place is probably toast and you don’t want to go with it.
I think it is criminal that the furniture we all have in our houses will kill us even if the flames do not. But such is the world we live in. No doubt someone makes a fortune on these chemicals, so who are we to deny the rich their enormous bounty
