6 Characteristics of Fire Blankets

For every business owner, whether big or small, it is very important to be prepared for the unforeseen incidents that can harm their business. The incidents could be anything from a market crash to a natural calamity. While it can be difficult to have a contingency plan in place for some of these situations, it is easier to prepare for some of the others.

One of the things that can destroy businesses is fire. But the good news is that there are abundant products and services available in the market to safeguard your machines, office space and employees against the hazards of fire. One simple addition to the long list of products is fire blankets.

Technically speaking, these are blankets made of materials that are resistant to high temperatures and fire, and help in putting out fire by covering and suffocating them. Below, we list some of the reasons why every business owner should invest in fire blankets, as a precautionary step towards handling fires.

1. Fast and easy

Unlike some other more complicated options to keep a fire under control, the use of a fire blanket is something that anyone who has seen a blanket in their lives would be able to figure out. If you see a fire somewhere, all you really need to do is get the fire blanket and try to cover as much of the fire as possible. Because of the way it is made, the fire blanket will cut out the flow of oxygen to the fire, eventually suffocating the fire.

2. Low maintenance

A lot of fire safety equipment require timely testing and maintenance to ensure that they are in working condition. This is to make sure that the equipment do not fail at the time of an emergency. Fire blankets on the other hand need hardly any maintenance. You only need to make sure that you are storing them in a visible location that is warm and dry, and just inspect the blanket after every use and after a long period of time when it has not been used.

3. Versatile

Many fire equipment are specialized in the sense that they can be used only in case of a certain category of fire. But because the way the fire blanket functions is so fundamental and simple, it can be used in case of any category of fire incident.

4. Multiple uses

The primary use of a fire blanket is definitely to put out fires, but that is not its only use. In case the fire gets out of control, fire blankets can also be used to make an escape route for trapped people. All one needs to do it lay the blanket on the fire and walk over it. Even in extreme cases when someone is engulfed in fire, a fire blanket can be used to put out the fire and ensure that the person is safe. In fact, in scenarios like a professional kitchen where oil fires are pretty common, using a fire blanket is one of the safest and most effective ways of controlling a fire.

5. Cost

When it comes to safety, costs should not be a big consideration. But even if it is, you will be glad to know that a fire blanket will probably be the most affordable piece of equipment you will own that can be used in case of a fire.

6. Made for everyone

Using something as simple as a fire extinguisher requires training. Using a water hydrant to put out a fire requires a lot of strength. But a fire blanket can be used by even the weakest member of the team without any issues.

When it comes to putting together equipment to tackle fires, a fire blanket should always be one of the first purchases you make.