Fire Blanket & Its Uses
Fire Blanket is an important safety device designed to extinguish incipient (starting) fires. It consists of a sheet of a fire retardant material that is placed over a fire in order to smother it.
Small fire blanket, such as for use in kitchens and around the home are usually made of glass fiber and sometimes kevlar, and are folded into a quick-release contraption for ease of storage. Larger fire blankets, for use in laboratory and industrial situations, are often made of wool — sometimes treated with a flame retardant chemical such as hexafluorozirconate and zirconium acetate.These blankets are usually mounted in vertical quick-release container so that they can be easily pulled out and wrapped round a person whose clothes are on fire.
Fire blanket, along with fire extinguishers, are fire safety items that can be useful in case of a fire. These nonflammable materials are stable in temperatures up to 1300°C for Nextel ceramic fibers,[2] 1200°C for glass fibers,[3] Kevlar (480˚C),[4] and wool (570˚C).[5] These are useful in smothering fires by not allowing any oxygen to the fire. Due to its simplicity, a fire blanket may be more helpful for someone who is inexperienced with fire extinguishers.
Operation
For a fire to burn, all three elements of the fire triangle must be present i.e, heat, fuel and oxygen. The fire blanket is used to cut off the oxygen supply to the fire, thereby putting it out. The fire blanket must be sealed closely to a solid surface around the fire. Fire blankets usually have two pull down tails visible from outside the packaging.
The user should place one hand on each tag and pull down simultaneously removing the blanket from the bag. The tails are located near the top of the fire blanket which allows the top lip of the fire blanket to fold back over the users’ hands, protecting them from heat and direct contact burns. Cover the fire with the fire blanket, and it will help cut the oxygen supply and extinguish the fire. You can also use this method when a part of the body catches fire. The fire blanket must be sealed closely to a solid surface around the fire.
Maintenance
The Fire Industry Association (FIA) publish a “Code of Practice for the Commissioning and Maintenance of Blankets Manufactured to BS EN 1869”.The FIA’s code of practice recommends that the responsible person ensures that such blankets are subject to annual maintenance by a competent service provider. It also recommends that consideration should be given to the replacement of blankets after seven years from the date of commissioning.
3 x Ways To Use A Blanket
- Fire blankets are a useful method of dealing with kitchen fires like deep fat fryers. The first thing you must do (if possible) is to turn off the heat source, then stretch the blanket out so that it is large enough to cover the whole flame. Place the blanket over the burning pan to smother the flames, leaving it in place for at least a half hour to make sure that the fire is out. If you were unable to switch off the heat source before you started then switch it off as soon as you can safely do so. Then leave the room, close the door and make a telephone call to the fire brigade.
- Blankets are also useful if a person’s clothes catch fire. Surround them in the blanket (making sure to keep your hands safely wrapped in the blanket) and encourage the person to roll on the floor until the flames have been extinguished.
3. Another major use for a fire blanket is to act as protection if you need to walk through a burning room. Wrap yourself, baby, child or someone else safely in the blanket as you pass through the fire affected area.
3 x Ways To Avoid Using A Blanket
- If the fire is bigger than the blanket then leave well alone. It will not be able to smother the flames. Switch off the heat source if possible then leave the room closing the door and call the fire brigade as soon as possible.
- Never try to throw the blanket over a burning pan – you’re sure to miss and won’t be able to retrieve the blanket for another try.
- Always be sure to shield yourself from the flames as you approach the fire, paying special attention to your hands as you carefully place the blanket over the fire.
Fire blanket Price in Pakistan
Fire blanket price varies with international approvals and country of origin. Generally Fire Blanket Price in Pakistan is PKR 2400.00 – 4500.00. Contact Us for more details
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