When To Use a Fire Blanket or Fire Extinguisher

Many people know about fire extinguishers since we see them in almost every type of building. They’re a common piece of fire safety equipment that we all hope we never have to use. But, if you’ve ever come across a fire blanket as well, you might be wondering which one you’re supposed to use in the event of a fire. 

Fire blankets are slightly less common than extinguishers, so unless you’ve been around a commercial kitchen of some sort, you may not be as familiar with one. They’re just as vital for fighting fire, however, so in this article we thought we’d help to establish different situations in which you might choose a fire blanket over an extinguisher, and vice versa, as well as what their pros and cons are as equipment for your building.

When fire blankets are useful

As a small and compact piece of equipment, fire blankets are usually attached to a wall nearby to a kitchen or in a fire exit route and can make the world of difference. A fire blanket, when unfurled, is a large sheet of fire-resistant material and can be used to smother flames in a kitchen, cutting off oxygen to the fire.

The reason it is so useful for a kitchen setting is because it’s the ideal way to stop an oil or grease fire that has erupted in a pan. If you can react swiftly and calmly, you could prevent a small fire from turning into a big one. That’s one of the major differences between a fire blanket and a fire extinguisher; you can only put out a small fire with a blanket, as opposed to covering a larger area.

Pros and cons of fire blankets

• Pro: Smothers a fire to help save lives
• Pro: Stops a fire early in fryers and other appliances
• Cons: Can only be used on smaller fires
• Cons: You have to get closer to a fire to use it

When fire extinguishers are useful

Fires don’t just happen in kitchens. Unfortunately, they can start almost anywhere as long as there is fuel, ignition and oxygen. That’s why fire extinguishers are usually part of your legal requirement to provide adequate safety equipment in line with any risks present. Because fire extinguishers can be charged with different suppressants, they can be matched to a specific risk. For example, a server room with lots of high-value electrical infrastructure is most at risk of electrical fires, which is why a CO2 fire extinguisher is recommended. 

A building can have multiple different extinguishers sited throughout, including a wet chemical extinguisher for a kitchen to put out grease fires, so they’re useful for every building. Even if water or powder units are needed, the idea of a little mess to extinguish a fire and prevent fatalities is a price worth paying.

Other pros and cons of fire extinguishers

• Pro: Can cover a wide range of fire types
• Pro: Allows the user to tackle fire from a safer distance
• Pro: Has a much wider coverage area overall
• Con: Their weight can make them hard for some people to use
• Con: A certain level of knowledge is needed to safely handle them

Here at Fire Safety Equipment, we’re leading suppliers of a whole range of fire extinguishers as well as fire blankets, so you can get all the essential equipment you need from one, trusted online retailer. Whether you operate a commercial kitchen, a warehouse, data centre, hotel or any business, make sure you have the right extinguisher to meet the risks in your building and protect lives.

Place your order now for nationwide delivery of your fire safety equipment, or contact us if you have any questions about our products.