How Does a Fire Blanket Work
Feb
Fire blankets are an increasingly popular item in homes as well as businesses, but how a fire blanket works may not be known to many of us.
The fire blanket is a type of blanket with high fire resistance, in case of fire it is used to extinguish small fires or wrap around people quickly. The reason it does so is that the fireproof blanket is made up of 2 layers of woven fiberglass fabric and an inner flame-retardant film. Their main working principle is to cut off the oxygen supply to the fire, causing the fire to be quickly extinguished.
Unlike specialized fire fighting equipment such as fire extinguishers installed in buildings, commercial centers, apartments, and businesses, .. too inconvenient when incidents occur. These devices are sometimes not regularly checked when a failure occurs and are reused. Therefore, we should actively prevent fires in our house with a fire blanket.
This is a simple fire safety device designed to handle small fires commonly found in kitchens. Fire blankets are easier to use and less messy. Below we will describe in detail what a fire blanket is, how it works and how to use it in detail.
Contents
1. Fire Blankets
As we all know, common fires need three main elements to keep the flame burning: heat, oxygen, and fuel. And according to the principle when one of the elements is removed, the flame weakens and eventually ceases to exist.
The fire blanket uses fireproof material inside it to put out the fire and block out one of the fire-keeping elements. Fire blankets are used to quickly and effectively extinguish small household fires. The kitchen area where there are potentially explosive devices in the family is prioritized to be equipped with fire blankets.
Fire blankets can be made from different materials depending on the manufacturer and intended use. Commonly used household fire blankets are made from fiberglass, which is a lightweight fireproof material.
2. Different Types of Fire Blanket
There are many different types of fire blankets on the market, but the main ones are the following:
- Economical – standard 1m x 1m fire blanket in flexible polythene package. This type is quite small in size so you can buy it if you are alone or in areas with small spaces like a personal bedroom.
- Kitchen – specially designed for the kitchen, they come in a thin white plastic box with common sizes of 1m x 1m & 1.2m x 1.2m. This size is suitable for families, small kitchens, caravans, and boats.
- Large in sizes: 1.8m x 1.2m & 1.8m x 1.75m – this is the largest size and best suited for commercial kitchens, workshops, and anywhere you store flammable liquid.
Depending on the purpose of use and your living space, you can choose the design and size that suits your needs.
3. How Does A Fire Blanket Work
Fire blankets simply say that because it is made of fireproof materials, they can prevent fires in the event of an incident. The fire blanket deprives the fire of oxygen and extinguishes it before it gets out of control.
This firefighting device can be safely deployed in an emergency without any special training.
Although in practice when we buy any device it is advisable to familiarize ourselves with the instructions on the box first. If you do not have time to read the instructions for use in an emergency, you can also operate it easily.
A simple grip and pull of the handle will allow the blanket to fall out of the container and we then cover our hands and body with the blanket to help protect ourselves from burns and possible serious accidents. happen.
They can be used by placing them over a fire and suffocating it to put out the fire or you can wrap it around a burning person to put out the flames on their body and prevent burns or reduce the severity of the fire burn.
A fire blanket placed correctly on top of the fire will more easily extinguish the fire. When the fire blanket covers the surface area where there is a fire, it blocks the oxygen supply to the fire. Cutting off this part of the fire triangle will prevent the fire from spreading and growing.
Fire blankets are only used to extinguish small fires in families and areas with an area that is not too large. If the fire is large, it is best to leave the vicinity as quickly as possible and call the fire department.
4. How To Use A Fire Blanket
Fire blankets are stored in small plastic packages that are easy to store anywhere. The plastic package containing the fire blanket will have instructions on how to properly use the fire blanket and be written directly on the packaging.
It is important to read the manufacturer’s instructions before using the blanket because different manufacturers or brands may have different procedures for removing fire blankets from the packaging. Here are the specific steps when using a fire blanket:
- Step 1: The first and foremost thing is to turn off the gas or electricity supply.
- Step 2: Take the blanket out of the box and secure it with the fabric cord.
- Step 3: While holding the straps, wrap the top edge of the blanket around your hands making sure that it is protected when placing the blanket over the fire to prevent burns to your hands. It is also advisable to roll up the sleeves neatly so that it does not get caught in the flame while burning.
- Step 4: Carefully cover the entire fire with a blanket and make sure that you cover the entire area so you can cut off airflow and maximize the time it takes for the fire to spread and the effectiveness of extinguishing the fire.
- Step 5: Put the blanket there for a while and cool it completely with the aim of ensuring that the completely extinguished flame is completely extinguished, without a chance to flare up again.
Once the fire is out, don’t touch anything under the blanket for at least an hour. Because the hot gas that accumulates underneath can cause you to burn.
Note that if the fire is larger than the area of the blanket, do not try to extinguish it, but go out and call the fire department immediately. Because the fire is so big that you can’t control it, this is the safest way that you should apply so as not to endanger yourself.
5. Does a Fire Blanket Replace a Fire Extinguisher?
We cannot use a fire blanket as a substitute for a fire extinguisher.
As 9Blanket mentioned at the beginning, fire blankets should only be applied in small areas such as families or private rooms, and in large areas such as buildings or apartments, having a fire extinguisher is essential. Fire blankets only have a limited number of sizes, so it is impossible to apply them to handle large fires.
We should use fire blankets to be more proactive in dealing with fires arising from the kitchen, living room, or bedroom area. Fire blankets are very convenient to do.
Fire extinguishers are still required and recommended. While a fire blanket is a better way to tackle small fires, it doesn’t eliminate the possibility of a larger or other fire.
The best way to prevent fires and protect yourself is to combine the use of a fire blanket and a fire extinguisher. This will give us flexibility and quick access to deal with fires effectively.
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