CEO, Firewize
06 Mar, 2021
We have had a fire blanket in our kitchen, laundry and amongst out camping equipment for as long as I can remember. Often underrated as first attack fire fighting equipment, our fire blanket is one item that I really trust, and probably the first item I would reach for if there was a small fire was in our home.
A fire blanket is a passive item of equipment needing almost no maintenance and is amongst the most reliable items of fire safety equipment you could have in your home!
Fire blankets come in a range of sizes including;
The size of a fire blanket should be selected according to the risk expected. Where flammable liquids may be present and there is a risk to garments catching fire, a 1.8 x 1.8m fire blanket should be chosen.
A fire blanket works by smothering a fire, helping to reduce the available oxygen while protecting the user from radiant heat.
A fire blanket is a lightweight, portable, and waterproof fire protection device. It is usually made of reinforced cotton or wool and was traditionally used to protect the body from injury by fire. Originally, it was primarily used for aviation purposes.
A fire blanket provides protection from both thermal and contact burns by smothering the flames with a layer of non-combustible material.
The main components of a fire blanket are the glass fabric, binding material, and coatings. The glass fabric is woven from glass fibers that make up an extremely strong fabric that can withstand high temperatures without burning or melting away.
The binding material is typically cotton or nylon thread which is sewn onto the edges to keep it in place when unfolded for use in emergencies and protect against any fraying that may occur over time.
Complete with a 3 year warranty*, our fire blankets are manufactured in according to the exacting requirements of Australian Standard AS/NZS 3504. We can supply any of three different size options for fire blankets to suit your requirements for home or business.
There are two common locations used for the permanent fixing or mounting of a fire blanket. These three locations correspond to their typical and intended use;
These locations are important as they relate directly to the types of fires that are best suited for the application and use of a fire blanket.
A fire blanket should be conspicuous in its location. It must be securely mounted to a wall or other structure close to the primary entry/exit point of the room of the area to be protected, and should also include a location sign so that it readily identifiable.
The mounting height of a fire blanket is not less than 2.0m from floor level to the underside of the fire blanket storage container.
A fire blanket like other types of fire and essential safety measures required routine (six-monthly) servicing. The requirements for this are set out in Section 11 of Australian Standard AS 1851 — Routine servicing of fire protection systems and equipment.
The routine service requirements for a fire blanket shall be conducted every six months and include the following routine service activities;
An inspection tag or label shall be affixed to each fire blanket and a record of each inspection in the inspection shall be recorded in accordance with AS 1851.
It is generally accepted that in a home environment the inspection of a fire blanket (including a fire extinguisher or smoke alarm) should be conducted on or around the the change of daylight savings each year as follows;
By conducting these maintenance checks you can be assured that your fire blanket will be ready for use in the unlikely event of a fire in your home, workplace kitchen, caravan or workshop.
A fire blanket mounted securely on the wall will have two pull tabs (white or black) at the bottom of its storage package. To use a fire blanket use the following steps;
| 1 | PULL | Pull the two loose tabs protruding from the bottom of the fire blanket storage container (bag) and pull the fire blanket from its bag. |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | HOLD | Hold the tabs, spread your arms and raise the fire blanket to just below your eye level so that it forms a protective shield in front of you. |
| 3 | DRAPE | Approach the fire with the fire blanket in front of you, gently placing the fire blanket completely over the source of the fire. |
| 4 | CONTROL | If safe to do so, turn off the source of gas or electricity to prevent additional energy going into the fire. |
| 5 | WAIT | Leave the fire blanket draped over the source of the fire for at least 30 minutes. |
If necessary contact the fire brigade dial 000 (Australia) or the relevant telephone number in your country.
In addition to helping control or extinguisher a fire in the kitchen or workshop, a fire blanket may also be used to help extinguish a garment fire involving a person.
Before we get in to the how to, its worth noting that a fire blanket works by smothering a fire, so it's vital; that the fire blanket be left in place for an extended period of time while the fire is smothered and the heat of the fire is reduced.
In the case of a flaming garment fire, and if safe to do so, a fire blanket may be used as follows;
| 1 | PULL | Pull the two loose tabs protruding from the bottom of the fire blanket storage container (bag) and pull the fire blanket from its bag. |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | HOLD | Hold the tabs, spread your arms and raise the fire blanket to just below your eye level so that it forms a protective shield in front of you. |
| 3 | DRAPE | Approach the person on fire with the fire blanket in front of you, wrapping the fire blanket completely around the person at the location where the fire is most active. (depending on the size of the fire blanket, it may not completely cover the whole person). |
| 4 | CONTROL | If safe to do so, remove the fuel source such as a flammable liquid. |
| 5 | WAIT | Leave the fire blanket wrapped around the person for as long as possible or until it is clear the fire has stopped. (Note: removing the fire blanket could lead to the fire being reignited due to the availability of oxygen.) |
When possible and as early as practicable contact the fire brigade and ambulance dial 000 (Australia) or the relevant telephone number in your country.
If you're looking for a fire blanket for your home, workplace kitchen, caravan or workshop, firewize offers a complete range of fire blankets and fire extinguishers to suit your needs. Click on one of the links below to take you directly to our online shop where you can select the right fire blanket for your needs;
In addition to purchasing a fire blanket, you may also consider one of our combination fire extinguisher fire blanket and fire extinguisher combination kits comprising;
