Fire blankets are life-saving and essential fire safety devices. The flame resistant material effectively smothers fires, which makes fire blankets versatile and useful in many fire emergency situations. Fire blankets can be used to extinguish Class A, B and F fires, smother clothing fires, and act as a shield when people are escaping a blaze. If you want to know more about these important safety items, then keep reading!
How a Fire Blanket Works
How does a fire blanket work? Fire blankets are made out of fire and heat resistant material. When you cover a fire with a fire blanket, the blanket will cut off the oxygen supply. Without oxygen, the fire will suffocate and eventually go out. To work effectively, the blanket needs to cover the entire fire or it will continue to burn.
Most fire blankets are stored in a wall-mounted unit or container. Fire blanket containers have quick release tabs that you can pull to get the fire blanket out immediately.
How to Use a Fire Blanket
How do you use a fire blanket? Fire blankets are designed to be easy to use, so the steps are not complicated. Many people find fire blankets easier to use than fire extinguishers!
- Remain calm and find the closest fire blanket container
- Release the fire blanket from the container by pulling down the black tabs
- Unfold the fire blanket and hold it out in front of you
- Roll or curl the edges of the fabric over your hands to prevent burns
- Do not throw the fire blanket or you might miss your target
- Carefully place the fire blanket on top of the fire. The blanket needs to cover the entire fire to smother it effectively
- Leave the fire blanket where it is and call emergency services (000)
- Do not remove the fire blanket for at least 15 minutes or until you can’t feel any heat coming from the blanket
Remember: fire blankets are designed for heat resistance. If you can still feel heat radiating from the blanket, then fire may still be burning underneath it.
What Fires are Fire Blankets Used For?
Fire blankets can be used on a few different classes of fire. There are 3 main fire classes that a fire blanket can effectively smother.
- Class A fires: involving regular combustibles like paper, wood and fabric
- Class B fires: which involve flammable liquids like petrol
- Class F fires: fueled by cooking oils and fats
Class A fires: include clothing fires. Fire blankets can put out clothing fires quickly. If someone’s clothing catches fire, you can use a fire blanket to extinguish the flames. Just wrap the person up in the fire blanket and the flames should be smothered quickly. Remember: to avoid being burned, keep the blanket between you and the person on fire.
Class B fires: Fire blankets are an effective tool against Class B fires. Lay the fire blanket on top of the burning fuel or combustible liquid to smother it and prevent the fire from spreading. Take care not to splash the burning liquid when you place the fire blanket down.
Class F fires: A typical fire blanket can be used on Class F fires, such as cooking fires and fat fires. The major risk of Class F fires is that they can reach extreme temperatures due to the burning cooking oils or fats. The fire retardant material of an emergency blanket will be more effective than using a fire extinguisher.
Fire Blankets as Shields
Fire blankets make excellent impromptu fire shields. During an emergency evacuation, if you can’t exit a building or get to safety without running through flames, then you can utilise fire blankets. Simply wrap the insulated blanket around yourself to shield your body from the flames. Wrapping a small child or pet in a protective fire blanket could help save their life and avoid serious injuries from a blaze. Larger fire blankets will give you more protection, but even a small size fire blanket can be used to shield your head as you make your escape.
Do Fire Blankets Expire?
Most fire blankets will expire in around 7-10 years. The durable material of fire blankets gives them a relatively long shelf-life, but they require routine maintenance and safety inspections. Fire blankets need to be tested every 6 months to ensure they are in good working order.
Fire Blanket Testing
Fire Blanket Testing is essential if you want to maintain property or workplace safety. The Local Guys follow AS1851:2012 - Routine service of fire protection systems and equipment Australian Safety Standards for Fire Blanket Testing. Our experienced Test and Tag technicians will ensure that your fire blankets and other fire safety items are in excellent condition, easy to access, and clearly visible.
4 Steps for Fire Blanket Testing:
- Visual inspection
- Fire blanket testing
- Container inspection
- Service reporting
Visual inspection: The Test and Tag technician will conduct a visual inspection of the fire blanket signs and their placement. Fire blankets should be stored close to potential fire risks so that they are ready and available for use. Our technicians will check for any access issues that could prevent people from reaching the fire blanket quickly. Your technician will also check that the fire blanket location signs aren’t covered or difficult to see.
Fire Blanket Testing: Your fire blanket will be removed from its container and closely inspected. The technician will look for issues with the integrity of the fire blanket, such as holes, tears, or signs of decay. Older fire blankets can become brittle or wear down if stored incorrectly, so The Local Guys will assess the fire blanket’s quality closely.
Container inspection: The container or unit housing your fire blanket will be assessed for issues too. Any damage to the vertical quick release containers could prevent fire blankets from being accessed quickly during an emergency. The pull tabs (or tapes) used to release your fire blankets are also crucial, so any issues with them will be documented immediately.
Service reporting: After Fire Blanket Testing is complete, The Local Guys will generate a complete and detailed report of your service. This will include a full list of the items tested, the location of your fire blankets, and whether they passed or failed our tests. Any issues with your fire blankets, container units, or fire blanket signs will be noted by our technicians, along with recommendations for improvement. You’ll also receive a Certificate of Compliance as proof of our comprehensive Fire Blanket Testing.
Fire Blanket Symbols and Signs
Are you familiar with the fire blanket symbols? In Australia, you will see a few variations and versions of fire blanket symbols. Fire blanket signs are meant to be easy to spot during an emergency, which is why most are bright red with large text and clear symbols. Fires spread fast and you don’t want to waste crucial time searching for fire safety equipment.
Here are 3 common types of fire blanket symbols that you can expect to see:
Fire Extinguisher or Fire Blanket?
Having a fire extinguisher and fire blanket on-hand will help reduce the risk of serious injuries or property damage. But which should you go for first during an emergency? Is a fire extinguisher or a fire blanket the better choice?
Extinguishers and fire blankets are both suitable for dealing with small and medium-sized fires. Fire extinguishers are highly-effective against different types of fire classes, but not many are effective on Class F fires. Fire blankets can quickly suppress flames from Class F fires, but foam and wet chemical fire extinguishers only have limited uses against fires fuelled by cooking oils and fats. If you’re dealing with a Class F cooking fire, then a fire blanket is the better choice.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do fire blankets actually work?
Yes! Fire blankets are recognised as reliable fire safety tools and known to effectively douse smaller fires. Proper fire blanket use is essential or you cannot expect positive results. Cheap fire blankets may be less heat resistant or effective than commercial or industrial-grade emergency blankets, so ensure that you do your research before buying a fire blanket. A top-quality fire blanket is worth the extra effort.
What are the disadvantages of a fire blanket?
The main disadvantage of fire blankets is their size. While they are effective and simple to use, fire blankets can only cover a small fire in a single spot. Fire blankets also need to be big enough to completely cover the flames or the fire won’t go out. If your fire blanket is too small, it might not be able to put out the fire completely.
Can fire blankets be reused?
How many times can you use a fire blanket before replacing it? Fire blankets should not be reused unless they pass a fire blanket inspection. Fire blankets are made from durable material, but they can be damaged or degraded by intense heat from fires. If you reuse a damaged fire blanket, it will fail during the next emergency situation. The Local Guys can provide a fire blanket inspection to check the blanket for signs of wear or damage. If your fire blanket fails our testing, it will need to be disposed of and replaced with a new retardant blanket.
What are fire blankets made of?
Fire blankets are specialised products designed with fire and heat resistant materials. Most blankets have two main layers. The outer layer is usually made from woven fibreglass, which provides thermal resistance and protection against high temperatures. The inner layer of a fire blanket will be a fire retardant material. There are different types of fire blankets available, but all are created to be effective fire protection products.
Are fire blankets all the same size?
No, there are a range of blanket sizes available. Most fire blankets are around 1 metre by 1 metre in size, and they rarely exceed 2 metres in length. A large-sized fire blanket can be more awkward or difficult to use, so most fire blankets follow similar sizing systems.
Key Takeaways
Fire blankets are an important safety device that will protect people and property during a fire emergency. You can use a fire blanket to suppress Class F cooking fires and smother Class A and Class B fires. During an emergency, you can also use a fire blanket to stop someone’s clothes from burning or as a makeshift fire shield while you escape a dangerous situation.
Fire blankets expire after around 7 years, but they require safety inspections every 6 months. The Local Guys provide comprehensive Fire Blanket Testing services to ensure your blankets are easy to spot, quick to access, and still in great condition.
We’ve provided an easy step-by-step guide to show how to use fire blankets, and answered frequently asked questions about these important fire safety devices. Do you have any more queries for us? Get in touch with The Local Guys! We’ll be happy to answer questions or book you in for Fire Blanket Testing.
