Other Fire Safety

About Other Fire Safety

Fire safety equipment extends far beyond extinguishers and alarms to include a range of essential protective products designed to prevent fires from spreading and protect lives in emergency situations. This category encompasses specialised fire safety solutions including fire blankets, fire-resistant storage containers, and other crucial fire prevention and suppression equipment that every home, workplace, and vehicle should have readily accessible. These products are designed to tackle specific fire scenarios where traditional extinguishers may not be suitable or safe to use, providing an additional layer of protection in your fire safety strategy.

Fire blankets represent one of the most versatile and user-friendly fire safety products available. Manufactured from fire-resistant materials that can withstand extreme temperatures, fire blankets work by smothering flames and cutting off the oxygen supply to stop combustion. They're particularly valuable for tackling cooking fires involving oil or fat, where using water or even some fire extinguishers could cause the burning liquid to spread dangerously. The selection at Tooled-Up.com includes certified fire blankets from trusted manufacturers like Kidde, ensuring compliance with British and European safety standards including BS EN-1869 approval.

Beyond fire blankets, this category covers additional fire safety products that complement your overall fire protection setup. These items are essential for creating a comprehensive fire safety plan that addresses different risk scenarios, whether in domestic kitchens, commercial premises, workshops, or vehicles. Investing in appropriate fire safety equipment isn't just about regulatory compliance—it's about protecting lives, property, and providing peace of mind that you're prepared for fire emergencies.

Jargon Buster

• BS EN-1869: The British and European standard specifically for fire blankets, ensuring they meet rigorous performance requirements for flame resistance, heat insulation, and durability. Products carrying this certification have passed stringent testing protocols.
• BAFE Registration: The British Approvals for Fire Equipment scheme provides third-party certification that fire safety products meet quality and performance standards. BAFE-registered products offer additional assurance of reliability and effectiveness.
• Fire Classification: Fires are categorised into different classes (A, B, C, D, F, and electrical) based on the fuel source. Understanding fire classes helps you select appropriate suppression equipment for specific scenarios—fire blankets are particularly effective for Class F (cooking oil) fires.
• Smothering Action: The primary mechanism by which fire blankets work, involving covering the fire completely to exclude oxygen and prevent combustion from continuing. This method is safer than trying to extinguish certain types of fires with water or foam.
• Heat Resistance Rating: Indicates the maximum temperature a fire safety product can withstand before degrading. Quality fire blankets typically resist temperatures exceeding 500°C, providing effective protection against common domestic and commercial fires.
• Quick-Release Mechanism: The design feature on fire blanket containers that allows for rapid deployment in emergency situations. Pulling the tabs releases the blanket from its mounting, enabling immediate use without fumbling with complex fastenings.

Who Uses Other Fire Safety?

• Homeowners and Tenants: Essential fire blankets for kitchen safety, particularly in properties with gas or electric cookers where oil and fat fires present significant risks.
• Landlords and Property Managers: Required to provide appropriate fire safety equipment in rental properties, including fire blankets in kitchen areas as part of their duty of care.
• Catering Professionals: Commercial kitchen staff, restaurant owners, mobile caterers, and food service operators who work with deep fryers and high-temperature cooking equipment daily.
• Workplace Health & Safety Officers: Responsible for ensuring comprehensive fire safety provisions across office buildings, factories, warehouses, and other commercial premises.
• Automotive Enthusiasts: Car owners, mechanics, and motorsport participants who keep fire safety equipment in vehicles and workshops where fuel and electrical fires pose particular risks.
• Educational Facilities: Schools, colleges, and universities requiring fire safety equipment in teaching kitchens, science laboratories, and design technology workshops.
• Care Homes and Healthcare Settings: Facilities where vulnerable individuals require additional fire protection measures, including easy-to-use fire blankets for staff deployment.
• Construction and Trade Professionals: Builders, electricians, plumbers, and other tradespeople working on sites where hot works and electrical installations create fire risks.

How to Choose the Right Other Fire Safety

Certification and Standards: Always verify that fire safety products carry appropriate British and European certifications. Look for BS EN-1869 approval for fire blankets and BAFE registration where applicable. Certified products have undergone rigorous testing to ensure they perform effectively when you need them most. Avoid uncertified alternatives, regardless of price savings—your safety depends on proven performance.

Size and Coverage Area: Fire blankets come in various sizes, typically ranging from 1m x 1m for domestic use to larger industrial sizes. Consider the potential fire scenarios in your environment—a small blanket might suffice for a domestic hob, but commercial kitchens or workshops may require larger blankets for greater coverage. Ensure the blanket is large enough to completely cover the anticipated fire source with room to spare.

Location and Accessibility: Position fire safety equipment where it's most likely to be needed but away from the immediate fire risk. For kitchen fire blankets, mount them near but not directly above the cooker—you need to access them without reaching over flames. Consider mounting height to ensure all potential users can reach the equipment quickly. Clear, visible signage helps unfamiliar individuals locate fire safety equipment during emergencies.

Ease of Deployment: In emergency situations, every second counts. Choose fire blankets with intuitive quick-release mechanisms that can be operated under stress without prior training. Wall-mounted units with pull-tab release systems are ideal, as they allow one-handed operation and immediate deployment. Tooled-Up stocks fire blankets designed for rapid response, including models with clearly marked pull handles.

Durability and Guarantee Period: Quality fire blankets often come with substantial guarantees—five years or more—indicating the manufacturer's confidence in the product's longevity. Consider the storage environment: will the equipment be exposed to moisture, temperature extremes, or dust? Choose products with protective casings that maintain the blanket's integrity over time. Regular inspection is important, but quality products require minimal maintenance.

Multi-Purpose Capability: The most versatile fire blankets can be used not only for suppressing fires but also for wrapping around individuals whose clothing has caught fire. This dual functionality makes them invaluable in various emergency scenarios. Consider products that explicitly state their suitability for both property and personal protection.

Popular Accessories

• Fire Extinguishers: Complement fire blankets with appropriate extinguishers rated for different fire classes, creating comprehensive fire suppression capability for various scenarios.
• Smoke Alarms and Heat Detectors: Early warning systems that alert occupants to fire danger, providing crucial extra seconds to deploy fire blankets or evacuate safely.
• Fire Safety Signage: Clear identification markers showing the location of fire blankets and other fire safety equipment, essential for compliance and emergency response.
• Wall Mounting Brackets: Secure fixing points for fire blankets and extinguishers, ensuring equipment remains accessible and hasn't been moved or borrowed.
• Fire Safety Training Materials: Instructional guides and demonstration videos helping users understand proper deployment techniques for fire blankets and other equipment.
• First Aid Kits: Essential accompaniment to fire safety equipment for treating minor burns and injuries that may occur during fire incidents or suppression efforts.
• Carbon Monoxide Detectors: Important for comprehensive safety, particularly in properties with gas appliances where fire risks often correlate with CO dangers.

Safety Information

Proper Deployment Technique: When using a fire blanket, protect your hands by wrapping the corners around them before approaching the fire. Hold the blanket as a shield between you and the flames. Place the blanket gently over the fire—don't throw it, as this could spread flames or hot materials. Completely cover the fire source, ensuring no gaps remain around the edges. Leave the blanket in place for at least fifteen minutes to allow the fire to cool completely before checking.

Know Your Limitations: Fire blankets are suitable for small, contained fires only. If a fire is spreading rapidly, producing significant smoke, or you feel threatened by heat or flames, evacuate immediately and call 999. Never attempt to fight a fire that has spread beyond the immediate source or that blocks your escape route. Your personal safety always takes priority over property protection.

Regular Inspection: Check fire blankets and other fire safety equipment regularly—at least annually—for signs of damage, moisture exposure, or deterioration. Ensure mounting brackets remain secure and pull tabs haven't been tampered with. Replace any fire safety products that show damage or have exceeded their guarantee period, even if they appear serviceable.

Familiarisation and Practice: Ensure all household members or workplace occupants know where fire safety equipment is located and understand basic deployment procedures. Consider running practice scenarios (without actual fire) so people can confidently locate and deploy equipment under stress. This preparation significantly improves emergency response effectiveness.

After-Use Considerations: Fire blankets are generally designed for single use only. After deploying a fire blanket, even if it appears undamaged, replace it with a new certified unit. The material may have sustained heat damage that compromises its future effectiveness. Keep emergency services' contact details readily available and report all fire incidents, regardless of size, to appropriate authorities.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where should I position a fire blanket in my kitchen?

Mount your fire blanket on a wall near the cooker but not directly above it—typically 1-1.5 metres away is ideal. This placement ensures you can access the blanket without reaching over flames if a pan fire occurs. The mounting height should allow all adult household members to easily reach the pull tabs, typically between 1.2-1.5 metres from the floor. Avoid positioning near doors where evacuation routes might be blocked during deployment.

Can I reuse a fire blanket after deploying it once?

No, fire blankets should be replaced after any deployment, even if they appear undamaged. The intense heat from even a small fire can compromise the blanket's fire-resistant properties in ways that aren't visible to the naked eye. Using a previously deployed blanket in a subsequent emergency could result in failure when you need protection most. The relatively modest cost of replacement is insignificant compared to the risk of inadequate fire protection.

What's the difference between a fire blanket and using a damp tea towel on a fire?

Fire blankets are specifically manufactured from fire-resistant materials tested to withstand extreme temperatures exceeding 500°C, while domestic tea towels will burn readily. A damp towel may provide momentary smothering effect but can dry out quickly in intense heat or even ignite, potentially worsening the situation. Certified fire blankets at Tooled-Up.com meet BS EN-1869 standards, ensuring reliable performance during emergencies—something no household towel can guarantee.

Do fire blankets expire or need replacing if unused?

Quality fire blankets typically come with guarantees of five years or more, but they don't necessarily expire in the traditional sense. However, you should inspect your fire blanket annually for any signs of damage, moisture exposure, or deterioration of the protective casing. If stored correctly in a dry environment away from direct sunlight and chemical exposure, fire blankets can remain effective for many years. Replace any blanket showing damage or if the manufacturer's guarantee period has significantly elapsed.

Are fire blankets suitable for electrical fires?

Fire blankets can be used on small electrical fires, but you must first disconnect the power source if it's safe to do so. They work by smothering flames and cutting off oxygen supply, which is effective regardless of the fuel source. However, for larger electrical fires or situations involving 240v mains equipment where you cannot safely isolate the power, evacuation and calling emergency services is the appropriate response. Consider complementing your fire blanket with a CO2 or powder fire extinguisher specifically rated for electrical fires for comprehensive protection.