A down-side of Open Concept designs
 

I've generally been a fan of the newer, open concept designs or renovations to houses.

Apparently the downside is that they burn a LOT faster and have more fatalities because there are no walls to slow the fire, smoke, etc.

If you're going to do that, it might be worth investigating residential forms of ceiling sprinklers. They don't look as obvious as commercial ones and might save your family.

Then again, there are less walls to run into on your way out if there is a fire.

ceiling sprinklers

They really don't cost that much.

Of course, long before that, smoke detectors are cheap insurance.

The newer designs don't burn fast because of open space. They burn faster because of structural materials being lighter weight and foam plastics in furnishings.
My 2 cents are ...... Smoke alarms save lives and sprinklers save property. Interconnect all alarms and if retro sprinklering use sidewall heads and therefore keep piping out of attic spaces where freezing may be an issue

room and content fires can happen in a concrete room. typically reaching well over 1000˚F at the ceiling making sprinklers and smoke/heat alarms mandatory. Also pick furniture that will resist fire like treated leathers and metals tile or rock flooring.

Personally I always found the drawback was hearing the damn dishwasher while watching TV ;-)

Are you really worried about a house fire?

Bosch solves your problems, or turn it up to 11.

Ironic you'd say that, it was a Bosch with lowest DB ratings (which was quieter than the old). Still annoyed me... I must pick up the dishwasher frequency or something ;-)

Clean fingernails = no dishwasher

:)

I start the washer before I leave for work.

+1
I can't even tell when my Bosche is running.
I could.start a small campfire and play half court basketball in my living room. I don't see how all the open space would be a problem unless you fill it with crap.

downside of high ceiling: big heating bill.
upside of high ceiling: lower cooling bill.

This.

Have several high quality smoke and CO detectors in the house. You can alway replace "stuff" with more stuff.

Don't buy the cheapest smoke detectors. Buy the quality ones. They are far more likely to save your life.

Stick with quality smoke detectors and have a plan for the family when and if and practice the plan. I would not buy a home with residential sprinklers the damage from the water is always worse than the fire, they get knocked off etc. they create such a mess.
Went on one last week, guy is having work done on his very nice home worker knocked a sprinkler off no one knew how or where to shut off the water until we got there.

+1...newer materials burn faster and hotter.