Fire Blankets

[Mushy]

Hi all

A survey has been carried out on all fire fighting equipment at a hospital. Several ward kitchens have been quoted as having blankets below the minimum 1.2m x 1.2m. looking on tinternet some are advertised at 1.1 x 1.1...picky I know but what is the minimum size?

cheers

[AnthonyB]

Back in the days before standards for blankets existed & the only testing done (if any) was of the material to BS475 you could have any size.

Usually the smallest was 3' x 3' (90cm x 90cm), although the odd 80 x 90cm would slip through (First Alerts was of this size). Sizes were usually 3'x3', 3'x4', 4'x4', 4'x6', 6'x6' (& their metric equivalents)

BS 6575 brought in tests and specifications, which were transferred over to the current BS EN 1869. The minimum size of any side is 90cm, the maximum 180cm.

In general the 90cm and 110cm sizes have virtually disappeared from sale and the most common sizes are 1m x 1m, 1.2m x 1.2m and 1.2m x 1.8m.

The size bit is being picky for picky's sake, particularly as I bet most of those kitchens don't need any blanket. They are designed for and tested only on small Class F fires in pans up to 345mm dia./3 litres capacity, with a supplementary usage on fires in clothing.

If your kitchen doesn't use cooking oil pans or naked flame hobs you do not need a fire blanket period. You may require CO2 for electrically energised equipment such as microwaves. "kitchens" & fire blankets is one of those urban myths dating back to prescription & FOC Rules, where you would have had to put in every area defined as a kitchen (& admittedly in those days most would have had hobs and pans) two 2 gallon chemical foam extinguishers and an asbestos blanket regardless of size or use.

The reason you still see them is because the myth is perpetuated by assessors who don't know any better & extinguisher companies who wish to flog kit.

[kurnal]

The reason you still see them is because the myth is perpetuated by assessors who don't know any better & extinguisher companies who wish to flog kit.

I admit to being a fan of fire blankets. Granted they have a disadvantage of the operator having to get close to a fire to put it out but they are a brilliant way of stopping a small fire becoming a big fire.

Metal waste bins on fire - fire blanket puts it out no bother no mess.
Toaster jams- fire blanket smothers and suppresses the fire making it safe to reach over and switch off the power.
Microwave oven on fire , tv set, cushions, bedding,  armchair- smother the fire with a blanket to slow down the fire growth and give you time to either bring a back up into place or longer for people to make their escape.
Grill pan on fire - ditto.
Clothes on fire- smother the flames then remove, cut back affected clothing and cool continuously with copious cold water keep going till the ambulance arrives.

When walking in the country it saves throwing your best coat onto puddles for the good lady to step over.

Oh and they are ok on small chip pan fires too.

[Midland Retty]

Yep there are lots of applications where a fire blanket is useful. Clearly you do come across places where they have been over specified or simply not needed, but a fire blanket can do more than just put out your common all garden chip pan fire.

And whilst Kurnal is quite correct in saying they can be used for all of the things he listed we dont train people on how to use blankets for anything other than chip pan fires, or occassionally when someone's clothing is on fire.

[Mushy]

Thanks all for taking the time to reply

[AnthonyB]

Yep there are lots of applications where a fire blanket is useful. Clearly you do come across places where they have been over specified or simply not needed, but a fire blanket can do more than just put out your common all garden chip pan fire.

And whilst Kurnal is quite correct in saying they can be used for all of the things he listed we dont train people on how to use blankets for anything other than chip pan fires, or occassionally when someone's clothing is on fire.

Therein lies the problem - I'd agree with Kurnal's list except for the fact most people won't have a clue. With a microwave, often against a wall on a kitchen unit to stop it falling straight off you'd have to stuff it down the back and most people won't contemplate that unless they've been trained, demonstrated and had a go.

On fire training most people are very reluctant to do the live fire blanket practice, even after I've showed them how easy it is. Once they've actually done it (correctly) & realised that it is easy and safe their opinion changes, but the problem is decent live fire training is not common with many staff only getting theory training

[Tom Sutton]

Fire blankets conforming to British Standard BS EN 1869:1997 are suitable for use in the home BS 7944:1999 is suitable for industrial use. Which type of fire blankets are we discussing here or is there a difference?

[AnthonyB]

Fire blankets conforming to British Standard BS EN 1869:1997 are suitable for use in the home BS 7944:1999 is suitable for industrial use. Which type of fire blankets are we discussing here or is there a difference?

Indeed they are and are very suited to this application. BS 7944 replaced the part of BS6575 that related to heavy duty fire blankets as BSEN 1869 was strictly light duty only.

I have never seen on sale or in situ a heavy duty fire blanket (more akin in construction to a welding drape) - when people refer to fire blankets they are usually referring to light duty blankets to BSEN 1869 or the former BS6575, BS475 material tests, or the even older wool, leather or asbestos variants.

[Tom Sutton]

Thanks AB

[Tom W]

The reason you still see them is because the myth is perpetuated by assessors who don't know any better & extinguisher companies who wish to flog kit.

I admit to being a fan of fire blankets. Granted they have a disadvantage of the operator having to get close to a fire to put it out but they are a brilliant way of stopping a small fire becoming a big fire.

Metal waste bins on fire - fire blanket puts it out no bother no mess.
Toaster jams- fire blanket smothers and suppresses the fire making it safe to reach over and switch off the power.
Microwave oven on fire , tv set, cushions, bedding,  armchair- smother the fire with a blanket to slow down the fire growth and give you time to either bring a back up into place or longer for people to make their escape.
Grill pan on fire - ditto.
Clothes on fire- smother the flames then remove, cut back affected clothing and cool continuously with copious cold water keep going till the ambulance arrives.

When walking in the country it saves throwing your best coat onto puddles for the good lady to step over.

Oh and they are ok on small chip pan fires too.

I know what you're getting for Christmas then 

[Mushy]

so if the minimum size is .9 then the supplier for the hospital is telling porkies when he says some have to be changed cos they are 'not conforming' as they are not 1.2x1.2...not a lot in it admittedly but still...

[AnthonyB]

Talking utter tosh - although the 0.9m size is rarely sold these days plenty of 1m x 1m blankets are supplied - just look at this one popular manufacturers range- http://www.jactone.com/category/fire_blankets/533/view.ashx

[Mushy]

The hospital supplier has sent an email saying that anything under 1.2m is for domestic premises!...mmm ward/department kitchenette...1 x microwave...1 x toaster....no need for a fb at all methinks...but anyhow tis pretty 'domestic' in my book

[AnthonyB]

Nope, still wrong - there is no size distinction between user groups.

The size is purely based on the risk covered - 1 x 1 & 1.2 x 1.2 are usually for contained risks only, the 1.2 x 1.8 & 1.8 x 1.8m for where persons ablaze are a risk.

After all the maximum test threshold for any size blanket on contained fires in 345mm dia/3 litres fuel.

[Mushy]

Thanks Anthony