Renovating? It's time to make your home safer

The saying “My home is my fortress” is not just a well-known proverb but also a fundamental human need to feel protected, secure, and at ease. The current conflict has altered the sense of security for many Israelis. To restore the lost feeling of safety, it is wise to inspect the home and eliminate risk factors. The current renovation season presents an excellent opportunity for this.

How can you make your home safer? Here are three ways:

Safety in Times of War

In apartments built before 1992, there is usually no protected room (Mamad), unless the residents have added a Mamad tower to the building over the years, explains Ran Naor, CEO of Ortech Protection Systems. "Today, it is possible to add an approved protected room within 7-14 days in an existing room of the apartment. This enhancement allows for an emergency protected room in the apartment, so you don’t have to rush to a distant shelter or exit to the stairwell during alarms."

"You can protect a bedroom or any other room in the house, including installing a protected door and window according to Mamad standards," he adds. "Afterward, the contractor will finish the room with drywall, and the room continues to be used as it was before the protection. This option allows for quick protection of a room without needing to go through permit and approval processes," Naor concludes.

In older single-family homes without protection, you can place Mamad units or reinforced concrete shelters in the yard and attach them to the side of the house. Some of these units come with finishes and become additional rooms for the household, ensuring availability in case of an emergency.

Protection Against Break-ins

It is advisable to implement a high-quality security package that covers the entire house, including windows, entry points, the yard, and everything around it. In an apartment, you can install window bars and a door with an exceptionally strong lock, as well as place the security company’s sign at the apartment entrance (this usually deters opportunistic burglars, who prefer to target homes without an alarm system).

For a private house, a security system should be tailored to include the house’s exterior, including cameras for the street and external entrances. Once the alarm is activated, sensitive sensors will alert you to any intrusion attempts in the surrounding area. Lights will turn on, an alarm will sound, and security personnel will be dispatched. Modern security systems are much more sophisticated than before, and if a burglar thinks they can handle the entry cameras and disable the alarm, they are mistaken. The security system anticipates every step of a potential burglar to disrupt and thwart their plans. It is crucial to ensure that during the security setup, additional alert points are established in darker, more concealed areas like the back of the house and side paths, as these are common entry points for burglars.

Safety for Children

According to the Safe Home Standard (T.S. 6250) established by the Beterem organization for child safety, it is necessary to install bars on all windows and a railing on balconies with a height of 130 cm. If there are stairs in the house, you must install a railing without steps that can be climbed and a gate that automatically closes at the top and bottom of the stairs. At least two smoke detectors should be installed (in the kitchen and in the children’s rooms), and a fire extinguisher should be kept in the house. The water heater in the bathroom must be limited to a temperature of up to 50 degrees Celsius, and a safety switch should be installed in the apartment’s electrical system. Additional outlets should be installed by a licensed electrician instead of using extension cords.