Fire blankets are a common fire safety tool that we sell here at Fire Safety Equipment. 

They come in a range of sizes, but when they’re made accessible in a workplace, they can be extremely useful, providing swift action to stop small fires from spreading. This month at Fire Safety Equipment, we’re going to talk you through how fire blankets actually work, when to use them and how they compare to extinguishers.

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How a fire blanket works

Fire blankets are used as a suppression tool, helping to cut off the oxygen a fire needs to continue burning and to grow. They can do this thanks to the fire-resistant materials they are made of, such as fibreglass.

Where there is a small fire, such as in a kitchen, you should turn off the appliance if it is safe to do so. You will initially need to pull the tabs of the fire blanket from the storage unit. 

You can then unfold the blanket for use and hold the corners on the side of the blanket not facing the fire. Once you have it safely in your hands, you should then gently place it over the source of the fire – never throw it – positioning the blanket between yourself and the fire to protect your hands and body.

In what situations should you use a fire blanket?

Fire blankets are useful for a variety of small fires, but are particularly handy in kitchens to help tackle Class F fires, where the risk of disturbing cooking oils and fats is too great to use an extinguisher.

You can use a fire blanket on most small fires, but they’re particularly effective on pans or bins where they can completely cut off the supply of oxygen quickly.

What environments would benefit from a fire blanket?

We’ve already touched on several environments where a fire blanket would be beneficial, but here’s a more comprehensive list:

• Kitchens
• Canteens
• Homes
• Laboratories
• Workshops
• Schools
• Hotels

Wherever there is the risk of a small fire starting, and where a fire blanket could quickly put out the flames to avoid extensive damage or injury, is a good place to have them.

How fire blankets compare to fire extinguishers

We’ve done a much deeper dive into the topic of when to use a fire blanket or a fire extinguisher (read more here), but essentially, they’re both crucial pieces of equipment if you need to put out a fire.

A fire blanket is probably preferable to most extinguishers – apart from wet chemical units – in a cooking fire. They’re also ideal for a small fire and require no real training to use. Simple to access and implement, they may be preferable if you have people who don’t feel confident using extinguishers. However, they should not be used in place of specific extinguisher types where there are adjacent hazards such as live electrical components.

Fire blankets can also be used to smother clothing fires, unlike extinguishers. This helps to prevent burns to a person if their clothing has caught alight. 

As a trusted supplier of fire safety equipment and workplace safety items, you can count on us to provide quality fire blankets for your business or your home — read our glowing reviews here. When you order online here at Fire Safety Equipment, you get free, fast delivery in mainland UK, so you can upgrade safety without delay.