Does Having A Fire Blanket Help: Business Owners Say Yes

There is no doubt that fires can occur any time and at any location. No matter the type of structure-an office building, a school, a warehouse, a factory, a small shop-these are filled with flammable materials that could easily burn with the smallest spark. As the business owner, for example, you are responsible for providing fire safety equipment to ensure the safety of the clients, employees, and equipment within the premises. As such, it is important you have effective products that could help stop fires before they become larger and out of control. Apart from the mandated fire extinguishers, one other way of having first-line defence against fires is through a fire blanket.

Basically, fire blankets are small-, medium-, or large-sized sheets of fire-retardant material that have been treated with chemicals to smother out small fires. Fire blankets work by completely covering the source of fire and eliminating oxygen that could serve as the file to make the fire larger. Without oxygen, the fire will simply die down. This type of tool has got to be one of the most inexpensive, yet highly useful firefighting tool that any home or business establishment should have. In the UK, all fire blankets must pass the BS EN 1869:1997 standard and must feature the distinct BSi Kitemark and BAFE (British Approvals for Fire Equipment) marks for them to be considered fit for use.

According to UK regulations, fire blankets must be mounted on the wall at a conspicuous location that can easily be seen and accessed in case of emergency. Owing to the fact that it can easily be pulled out and used with minimal need for comprehending complex instructions, fire blankets are ideal firefighting tools for almost any location including laboratories, schools, offices, homes, kitchens, and workshops, among many others. They are used to immediately put out a small fire, preventing a larger fire breakout and the damages that it could bring.

What are some of the types being sold in the market today?
The most basic type being sold is the home kitchen fire blanket, which has a size of 1m x 1m, perfect for small fires in one of the most fire-prone places in a home or a restaurant. Other types are also classified according to size such as 1.8m x 1.2m, 1.8m x 1.75m, and the standard 1m x 1m. Products from the Homesaver fire blanket range cost anywhere from £9-25. Of these, the economy fire blanket is the cheapest because it is packed in a flexible polythene pack.
Remember, although fire blankets are extremely user-friendly, basic training must be provided to staff and employees in terms of proper handling and usage.