| There is no doubt that fire safety and fire | | | | most inexpensive, yet highly useful firefighting tool |
| protection should be foremost in the minds of | | | | that any home or business establishment should |
| both business and home owners. The cost of | | | | have. In the UK, all fire blankets must pass the BS |
| losing properties could be difficult to recover; | | | | EN 1869:1997 standard and must feature the |
| worse, losing lives to fire-related incidents is a | | | | distinct BSi Kitemark and BAFE (British Approvals |
| tragedy. With the wide range of fire safety | | | | for Fire Equipment) marks for them to be |
| products being sold in the market today, fire | | | | considered fit for use. |
| safety and fire protection is actually very easy to | | | | When and where can they be used? |
| implement. All it takes is for one to follow the | | | | According to UK regulations, fire blankets must be |
| procedures in accordance to the regulations | | | | mounted on the wall at a conspicuous location |
| specified in The Order, especially for public | | | | that can easily be seen and accessed in case of |
| structures and buildings. | | | | emergency. Owing to the fact that it can easily |
| There is no doubt that fires can occur any time | | | | be pulled out and used with minimal need for |
| and at any location. No matter the type of | | | | comprehending complex instructions, fire blankets |
| structure-an office building, a school, a warehouse, | | | | are ideal firefighting tools for almost any location |
| a factory, a small shop-these are filled with | | | | including laboratories, schools, offices, homes, |
| flammable materials that could easily burn with the | | | | kitchens, and workshops, among many others. |
| smallest spark. As the business owner, for | | | | They are used to immediately put out a small fire, |
| example, you are responsible for providing fire | | | | preventing a larger fire breakout and the |
| safety equipment to ensure the safety of the | | | | damages that it could bring. |
| clients, employees, and equipment within the | | | | What are some of the types being sold in the |
| premises. As such, it is important you have | | | | market today? |
| effective products that could help stop fires | | | | The most basic type being sold is the home |
| before they become larger and out of control. | | | | kitchen fire blanket, which has a size of 1m x 1m, |
| Apart from the mandated fire extinguishers, one | | | | perfect for small fires in one of the most |
| other way of having first-line defence against fires | | | | fire-prone places in a home or a restaurant. Other |
| is through a fire blanket. | | | | types are also classified according to size such as |
| What are fire blankets? | | | | 1.8m x 1.2m, 1.8m x 1.75m, and the standard 1m |
| Basically, fire blankets are small-, medium-, or | | | | x 1m. Products from the Homesaver fire blanket |
| large-sized sheets of fire-retardant material that | | | | range cost anywhere from £9-25. Of |
| have been treated with chemicals to smother out | | | | these, the economy fire blanket is the cheapest |
| small fires. Fire blankets work by completely | | | | because it is packed in a flexible polythene pack. |
| covering the source of fire and eliminating oxygen | | | | Remember, although fire blankets are extremely |
| that could serve as the file to make the fire | | | | user-friendly, basic training must be provided to |
| larger. Without oxygen, the fire will simply die | | | | staff and employees in terms of proper handling |
| down. This type of tool has got to be one of the | | | | and usage. |