A Guide To Fire Blankets And Its Various Uses

By Author: Nationwide Fire Extinguishers
Total Articles: 6

Even though your home may be the safest place to inhabit, it is still not free from hazards and is prone to dangers like a fire which can happen due to any number of causes. A lack of safety and preventive measures may not only cost you financial loss and property damage but can also lead to loss of life of either you or your loved ones. To ensure that you remain at the top of the game, you must have various fire protective and fighting gears so that any fire breakout can be controlled and combated right at the beginning with minimum damage. One such very important gear to keep in a home is the fire blanket. Let’s understand it in more details.

What is a Fire Blanket and how do they work?

It is essentially a blanket made from layers of glass fibre fabric and a fire retardant film. It is an excellent aid to prevent fire when of a small nature or when it has just broken out or when a person’s clothing is on fire. These are so flame resistant that they can easily be placed over a fire to stifle it till it dies down.

It is a known fact that a blaze will survive of the four elements i.e. fuel, heat, oxygen, and a chemical reaction is present. If any one of the element is cut off, the fire dies down. The blanket cuts off the oxygen supply due to which the fire ultimately dies down. Since the blanket is of a specific size, it is useful to cut-off just small fires. It may not be effective for large fires. These are also highly effective in places where water extinguishers are not safe especially in residences.

To stifle the fire, the blankets must be placed over the fire completely so that it is stifled properly due to a complete cut-off of the oxygen supply. It is also ideal to wrap it around your body in case you are inside the building on fire. Providing you protection from the fire, it allows you make a safe exit from the building without getting burnt. It has two pull down tails. The blanket can be released by holding the tail, and then using it to shield the areas vulnerable to burning.

Various uses

We already know these blankets are terrific for dousing small fires as well as protect victims prone to getting burnt.
These are a must in every residence especially since most of the residential fires are often a grease fire or an electrical fire. In both these types of fires, most fire extinguishers which contain water in their foam may not be an ideal option. A grease fire when exposed to even traces of water may actually explode and spread like wildfire. An electric fire when in contact with water can cause a shock forceful enough to even cause a death of the person trying to douse it or amidst it. The blanket is the best way to take care of it in the most effective manner.

These are also a fantastic piece to cover any flammable material in any work or home environment. Many work environments have plenty of flammable material which creates a high chance of any accidental fire breakout. Covering them with the blanket would reduce such risks to a high degree.

We know that while fire extinguishers can be highly effective, they can damage many sensitive types of equipment like the computer hardware. The chemicals present in the extinguishers may not be friendly and can damage the device. The blankets are a great option here. Covering the units will not only protect them from fire but also keep them safe without any damage.

Thus even simple equipment like specialized blanket can be highly effective in tackling the fire of a small scale and saving people’s life. It is thus essential in any human inhabitant place.