Fire blankets carried by fire departments

Fire blankets carried by fire departments 

Ensuring the safe evacuation of vulnerable people from supported housing can be a major challenge, but SSA Integrate has implemented some innovative approaches to ensure residents with disabilities can safely escape without the need to rely on ‘stay put’ procedures and fire service assistance. Fire blankets are made of specially treated synthetic and fire-resistant or fire-retardant materials, including woven fibreglass and wool, which can withstand high temperatures of around 500 to even 900 degrees Celsius.

In firefighting, rapid and effective response is paramount. As fire departments continually strive to optimise their equipment and techniques, the inclusion of fire blankets, particularly for car fires, is a compelling consideration. Fire blankets, though often overlooked, offer unique advantages that can significantly enhance fire safety and response efficacy. NFPA 701 sets the standard for fire tests of flame propagation of textiles and films. This standard includes testing procedures for determining the flame resistance of fire blankets.

The Hazards Movement supports people working to ensure equality in safety, public and occupational health for everyone in society, including but also beyond the workplace. Everyone is entitled to feel and be safe and secure from hazards, contaminants and unsafe practices in their life, one of the basic needs identified in Maslow’s hierarchy. The fire safety management system predicated on a fire risk assessment, the findings of which dictate the fire safety management systems implemented, tested, reviewed and rehearsed to ensure everyone’s safety.

The unique nature of car fires

Car fires present distinct challenges compared to structural fires. Vehicles contain a mix of flammable materials, complex electrical systems, and, increasingly, highenergy battery packs in electric and hybrid cars. Traditional methods, primarily using water or foam, can be effective but come with limitations, such as potential electrical hazards and the difficulty in suppressing fires involving modern vehicle components. Fire blankets provide a straightforward, versatile solution to these challenges.

Practical implementation

For fire departments, integrating fire blankets into standard equipment involves training personnel in their effective deployment. Firefighters should be proficient in using blankets to cover burning vehicles swiftly, ensuring complete coverage to maximise oxygen deprivation. Additionally, fire departments can develop protocols for the coordinated use of fire blankets with other firefighting methods, creating a multi-layered approach to vehicle fire suppression.

Fire Blanket Sizes

While the market is filled with a range of fire blanket sizes. The standard sizes of fire blankets variants popular in New Zealand are available in –

·        1.0 m X 1.0 m – Ideal for homes and small kitchens

·        1.2 m X 1.2 m – Ideal for homes and large home kitchens

·        1.2 m X 1.8 m – Ideal for commercial kitchens, clothing fires, and small workplaces with potential fire hazards.

·        1.8 m X 1.8 m – Ideal for commercial kitchens, commercial facilities, and clothing fires. 

Advantages of fire blankets

1. Immediate Containment:

Fire blankets can quickly smother flames, depriving the fire of oxygen and stopping

its spread. This immediate containment is crucial in car fires, where rapid escalation can lead to explosions or the involvement of nearby vehicles and structures

2. Safety:

Using water or foam on electrical components or fuel systems can pose risks. Fire blankets mitigate these hazards by providing a nonconductive barrier, reducing the chance of electrical shocks or chemical reactions.

3. Environmental Impact:

Fire blankets reduce the need for chemical extinguishing agents, which can have adverse environmental effects. This aligns with growing environmental stewardship in fire departments and communities.

4. Reusability and Cost-Effectiveness:

High-quality fire blankets are durable and can be reused after proper decontamination, offering a cost-effective solution over time. This contrasts with the recurrent costs associated with foam and chemical extinguishing agents.

Fire Blanket Maintenance

The fire blankets should be kept in a handy yet safe location where they are not contaminated with fats, cooking oil, or other flammable materials. Fire blankets contaminated with these materials pose the risk of fire hazards and may not effectively stop the fire. 

The extinguishment quality of the fire blanket degrades after use as it is contaminated with unfriendly and flammable materials. This is why the fire blankets should be disposed of after one use and replaced immediately.

Does a Fire Blanket Substitute a Fire Extinguisher?

No, it doesn’t. It is recommended to keep fire extinguishers and fire blankets handy during fire emergencies. Fire blankets are meant to be used alongside fire extinguishers, and one doesn’t overlap the importance of the other.

In fires of higher classes, fire extinguishers are a must. Remember, the fire blankets are only useful to stop small contained fires. It cannot potentially safeguard against larger fires.

Conclusion

As fire departments evolve to meet modern challenges, embracing fire blankets for car fires represents a strategic enhancement of firefighting capabilities. The immediate containment, safety benefits, environmental considerations, and cost-effectiveness of fire blankets make them an invaluable addition to fire response tools.

By equipping firefighters with fire blankets, departments can ensure a more effective, safer, and environmentally friendly approach to combating car fires, ultimately safeguarding lives and property with greater efficacy. Fire emergencies don’t occur with a warning, and it’s wise to stay prepared. It’s a worthy investment in a product you don’t ever hope to use, but if the situation ever demands it – you’ll be glad you made the right choice.

How to Put Out Electrical Fires

How to Put Out Electrical Fires 

A school must always understand the Importance of Fire Prevention and be a fire-safe place for our children. School fire safety measures, fire devices, fire drills, fire exits, fire escapes fire alarms are just components of good school fire safety measures. Fire safety reduces the risk of injury and building damage that fires can cause. Electrical fires can happen at any time and can be caused by a wide range of problems, including faulty wiring or overloaded appliances. If you see an electrical fire, you should call emergency services right away. If you think you can fight the fire safely, begin by disconnecting the electricity, if possible, and smothering the flames. Knowing how to put out an electrical fire effectively, including when to call in firefighters to do the job, could save not just your life, but also the life of your friends or family.

1.1 Call emergency services. If a fire is developing and you cannot get the electricity turned off or it is growing rapidly, call the fire department. Even after you call you may be able to get it out yourself, but it is better to be safe than sorry when it comes to a fire.

·        In general, firefighters will be better equipped to fight a fire that has live electricity in the mix than you will be.

·        Tell the person you talk to that you are dealing with an electrical fire, so that the firefighters know what they are getting into.

·        Even if a fire is small, calling the fire department will ensure that if the fire grows, you will have help on the way.

1.2 Make sure you can safely evacuate. Before attempting to put out an electrical fire yourself, it's important to know you can get out of the area safely. If you can see 2 paths to safety from where you would be located to fight the fire, then it's reasonable to stay and fight the fire. If you can only see 1 escape route, you should take it and let the fire department fight the fire. It is better to stay safe than risk getting trapped in a fire.

·        Having 2 escape routes allows you to fight the fire until it is out or until 1 of the escape routes is blocked by fire or debris. Once 1 of the 2 is blocked, it is time to evacuate.

·        Escape routes typically include doors and windows that you can easily pass through to the outside. A window that is many stories above the ground would not be a great escape route, while a first-floor window would.

1.3 Evacuate, if necessary. If at any time you begin to feel unsafe, an exit gets blocked, you get burned, you start to breathe in smoke, or your fire-fighting techniques are not working, abandon your efforts and get out of the building. Your safety is more important than belongings or buildings.

·        Close doors behind you as you leave. This will help keep the fire as contained as possible.

Method 2: Disconnecting the Electricity

2.1 Unplug appliances that are on fire. If you have an electrical fire that has started in an appliance that plugs in, such as a toaster, you should immediately unplug it. Make sure that you can get to the wall socket or extension cord safely and then disconnect it from the outlet.

·        Unplugging an appliance that is on fire will reduce the risk of the fire spreading beyond the appliance.

·        Many electrical fires start at overloaded appliances. For instance, if there is a short in your toaster, it can produce enough heat to start a fire. Another example is when too many Christmas lights are plugged into each other, it can create enough heat to start a fire.

2.2 Turn off the electricity. If you have an electrical fire that is in a wall or in an appliance that you can't get to to unplug, focus on getting the power turned off. If you can safely get to the electrical switch or the electrical panel, go there and kill the power. Disconnecting the power will eliminate the risk of electrocution, will eliminate the heat source that started the fire, and will allow you to fight the fire with a wider array of fire-fighting techniques.

·        If you cannot get to a location to shut off the power safely, don't attempt it. It is better to stay safe and fight the fire with the power on than to risk getting burned or electrocuted trying to turn the power off.

2.3 Be certain that the electrical disconnect is out of reach. Once a fire has started, electricity can continue to create heat that will encourage the fire to continue. Electricity will also make the fire harder to fight, because you have to be careful not to get shocked, in addition to avoiding getting burned. With this in mind, make sure there is no safe way to get to the electrical disconnect before giving up and fighting the fire while it is still electrified.

·        If you have an appliance fire where the appliance can't be unplugged, go turn off the power at the breaker box. Whatever you can do safely to remove the electricity from the situation, do it.

Method 3: Putting Out an Electrical Fire With the Power Still On

3.1 Never use water on an electrical fire. If you cannot turn off the electricity and the area that is on fire is still energized, the last thing you want to do it pour water on it. Water will conduct the electricity that caused the fire, creating an electrocution hazard in addition to the fire hazard.

·        If you are unsure whether a fire has been caused by live electricity or something else, err on the side of caution and don't use water.

3.2 Smother a small fire with baking soda. If you can't disconnect an appliance or cord that is smoldering, cover the whole area in baking soda. This will block the oxygen that the fire needs to keep burning while not creating an electrocution hazard like water would.

·        Do not use flammable items to smother an electrical fire, such as a blanket. With live electricity involved, flammable items you use could easily start burning.

3.3 Use only a class C or ABC fire extinguisher. The type of fire extinguisher you can use on a live electrical fire is very specific. An electrical fire is known as a Class C fire, and so requires a Class C fire extinguisher. A fire extinguisher marked ABC is also acceptable, as it's capable of stopping fires caused by wood/trash, liquids, and electrical equipment.

·        Many fire extinguishers made for home use are ABC extinguishers.

·        Other types of extinguishers could create an electrocution hazard if used on an electrical fire because they contain liquids or chemicals that conduct electricity.

3.4 Use the fire extinguisher properly. In the moment of an emergency, it can be hard to remember how to operate a fire extinguisher. To make that easier, remember the term PASS and what each letter stands for:

·        P - PULL the silver safety pin on the handle of the extinguisher.

·        A - AIM the hose and nozzle of the extinguisher at the fire.

·        S - SQUEEZE the handle of the fire extinguisher slowly.

·        S - SWEEP from left to right, making sure to get every part of the fire.

3.5 Disconnect the electricity when possible. Once the fire is under control enough to safely get to the electrical panel or the outlet, disconnect the power. This will help ensure that the fire is not reignited by electricity and that the risk of electrocution is eliminated.

Method 4: Putting Out an Electrical Fire Once the Power is Off

4.1 Use a fire extinguisher if you have one available. If you have turned off the electricity and there is a fire extinguisher nearby, spray it on the fire. It doesn't matter what kind of extinguisher you use on a fire that has no live electricity around it.

4.2 Use a fire blanket or other thick blanket to smother the fire. If you don't have an extinguisher but you do have a fire blanket, use it to smother the fire. By covering a small fire you are eliminating much of the oxygen the fire needs to keep going. With quick action, a fire blanket or other thick blanket can be used to put a small fire out completely.

4.3 Douse the fire with water. You need to be absolutely sure that the electricity is turned off before putting water on a fire. If you are sure, spray or dump water on the fire and nearby areas that are likely to become ignited. The moisture will put out active flames and will reduce the risk of the fire growing.

·        Water on an electrified fire can create an electrocution hazard, in addition to the fire hazard.

·        If the fuel for the fire you are fighting is kerosene, oil, or another liquid fuel, be careful putting water on it. The water can pick up the fuel and move it to another area where it can then ignite and spread the fire.

 

 REF:
1.     http://trip.ustia.org/safety/tips/
2.     https://www.nfpa.org/News-and-Research/Publications-and-media/Blogs-Landing-Page/Fire-Sprinkler-Initiative/Blog-Posts/
3.     http://www.com.ohio.gov/documents/fire_getoutalive.pdf
4.     http://scoutingmagazine.org/
5.     https://www.ready.gov/wildfires

Process of Commissioning & Servicing for Fire Blankets

Process of Commissioning & Servicing for Fire Blankets

A fire blanket is a safety device designed to extinguish small incipient (starting) fires. It consists of a sheet of fire retardant material which is placed over a fire in order to smother it.

Small fire blankets, for use in kitchens and around the home, are usually made of either fibreglass or woven-nylon coated with silicone-based flame retardant and folded in to a quick-release container for ease of storage.

Visual Inspection by the Responsible Person

1. The responsible person should carry out visual inspections of all fire blankets regularly. These visual inspections should be carried out at least monthly. When circumstances require, inspections should be carried out more frequently.
2. When carrying out these visual inspections, it should be ensured that:
3. each fire blanket is correctly located in the designated place;
4. each fire blanket is unobstructed and visible
5. the operating instructions of each fire blanket are clean and legible and face outwards;
6. each fire blanket container is not obviously damaged and that the hand hold devices are visible and undamaged
7. the tamper indicators of each fire blanket, where fitted, are not broken or missing.
8. The responsible person should record the results of these visual inspections and arrange for corrective action, where necessary, by a service provider. In the event of doubt the responsible person should arrange for a service provider to examine the fire blanket.

Mounting

Fire Blankets should be mounted so as to position the hand hold devices approximately 1.5 m from the floor.

The positioning of kitchen furniture and/or equipment should not preclude access to the blanket.

Process of Commissioning

The commissioning of a fire blanket should be carried out by a Person with the training and experience, with access to the relevant tools, equipment and information, manuals and knowledge of any special procedures recommended by the manufacturer of the fire blanket, to carry out the relevant maintenance procedures. Upon removal from its packaging and transit protection, and immediately prior to placing in its designated place, the fire blanket should undergo this sequence of commissioning service actions:

1	External examination of container	Examine the container for serious damage that could impair the safe operation of the fire blanket or the life of the blanket held inside.
2	Operating instructions	Check the operating instructions for correctness and legibility, ensuring that the text is in English.
3	Wall-mounting	1. Wall mount the fire blanket securely, ensuring that the hand hold devices are readily accessible, as designed.
		2. Most blankets require to be wall-mounted in the container to allow the blanket to be easily deployed when required.
4	Deployment	Check that the blanket is able to be easily released from the container as the manufacturer intended, by following the operating instructions.
5	Visual inspection	Check that the fire blanket has not been used; is not obviously damaged or has any hand hold devices missing or unsatisfactorily affixed to the blanket. Check the manufacturers label
6	Reassembly	Reassemble the fire blanket in accordance with the folding instructions of the blanket manufacturer. Replace with new any safety element designed to show whether the blanket has been deployed. Ensure the blanket is clean and dust free
7	Affix maintenance label	Affix the maintenance label to the blanket in an appropriate position on the container, and complete the details on the maintenance label.

Basic servicing

A)    The responsible person should ensure that basic service be carried out at 12 monthly intervals. The maintenance intervals given for basic service have for practical purposes a tolerance of ±1 month. Intervals should be taken from the date of installation or the last basic service. Intervals may be shortened, on the recommendation of the service provider where inspection reveals environmental and/or special hazards, or at the request of the responsible person.

B)    The basic service of a fire blanket should be carried out by a service provider. The fire blanket should undergo this sequence of commissioning service actions:

1	External examination of container	Examine the container for serious damage that could impair the safe operation of the fire blanket or the life of the blanket held inside.
2	Operating instructions	Check the operating instructions for correctness and legibility, ensuring that the text is in English.
3	Wall-mounting	1. Wall mount the fire blanket securely, ensuring that the hand hold devices are readily accessible, as designed.
		2. Most blankets require to be wall-mounted in the container to allow the blanket to be easily deployed when required.
4	Age	Check the age of the fire blanket.
5	Deployment	Check that the blanket is able to be easily released from the container as the manufacturer intended, by following the operating instructions.
6	Visual inspection	Check that the fire blanket has not been used; is not obviously damaged or has any hand hold devices missing or unsatisfactorily affixed to the blanket. Check the blanket is manufactured to BS EN 1869.
7	Reassembly	Reassemble the fire blanket in accordance with the folding instructions of the blanket manufacturer. Replace with new any safety element designed to show whether the blanket has been deployed.
8	Maintenance label	Complete the details on the maintenance label
9	Report	Write an inspection report advising the responsible person of the state of maintenance of the fire blanket

Labelling

General

Any labelling that is applied to the fire blanket container should not obscure any marking required by BS EN 1869.

Maintenance label

1. The maintenance record should be indelibly marked on a durable label that is fixed firmly to the fire blanket container without obscuring any of the manufacturer’s markings and instructions. Where there is no more space on the maintenance label and a new label is fixed, the date of commissioning should be marked on the new label.
2. The following information should be given on the maintenance label:
1. type of action (commissioning or basic service)
2. name and postal address of the maintenance supplier;
3. a mark clearly identifying the service provider;
4. the date (year and month) of the action in a) above;
5. the date (year and month) of commissioning

This information should be readable without any special equipment.

Any additional information for the benefit of service providers may be shown in a more compact form, such as bar codes.

Evaluation of fitness - Blankets which are to be condemned

Any fire blanket with a major defect or defects which make it unsafe for use should be immediately removed from its designated place, and marked “CONDEMNED” together with the reason for this assessment. The responsible person should be advised in the written report (Service Report) that a permanent replacement is needed as soon as possible. Evaluation of whether the damage or wear to a fire blanket make it unsafe for use depends on the judgement of the service provider.

Conditions indicating that a fire blanket is unsafe for use

Potentially the most serious hazard presented by a defective fire blanket is it’s inability to either (a) be deployed or (b) starve a fire of oxygen, allowing the fire to burn uncontrollably after deployment. These could be caused by any of the following conditions:

1. wear, contamination or damage to the fire blanket material.
2. wear or damage to the fire blanket hand hold devices;
3. serious damage to the container;
4. fire damage to the container or fire blanket;
5. age. Follow manufacturer’s instructions or if there are none then if more than 7 years from date of commissioning consider replacing the blanket.

Provision of a written report

The service provider should advise the responsible person in a written report or service report:

1. of any fire blankets that have been condemned or are missing;

2. of any permanent replacement fire blankets required to replace those reported in a);

3. of any additional fire blankets required to ensure that the level of cover at the premises is appropriate for the risks present;

4. that any replacement or additional fire blankets reported in b) or c) should be provided as soon as possible; and

5. of the responsible person’s obligation under fire legislation to provide an appropriate level of fire-fighting equipment at all times.

Permanent replacement of a Fire Blanket.

It is the duty of the responsible person to arrange for permanent replacement fire blankets to be put into place as soon as possible after inspection has shown that some fire blankets should be replaced. The service provider is responsible for bringing this duty to the responsible person’s attention in the written report.