Fire Blanket for Offices and Commercial Buildings

A busy office can look calm all day, but a small fire can start quickly around electrical equipment, kitchen areas or other heat sources. The first concern is often not the size of the flame—it is whether it can spread before someone responds.

Think about a typical commercial building. An employee notices a small fire near equipment. People may start moving away, someone may look for an extinguisher, and others may call for help. Those first moments can become confusing if the available fire protection is difficult to find.

A fire blanket gives trained staff another option for dealing with a small fire that can be safely covered. By covering the flames, the blanket helps cut off their oxygen supply and can help prevent the fire from spreading.

Identify small-fire areas: Look at kitchens, electrical equipment areas and other places where a small fire could start.

• Keep access clear: Fire protection equipment should not be hidden behind furniture, boxes or stored materials.

• Make the location known: Staff should know where the fire blanket is kept before an emergency happens.

• Match the response to the situation: A fire blanket is intended for a small fire that can be safely covered. If the fire is spreading or cannot be approached safely, follow the building's emergency procedure and evacuate.

When a small fire starts, the first few seconds matter. A Signature Fire Blanket is designed to cover the flames, helping cut off the oxygen that supports the fire.

The aim is simple: cover the fire completely without putting yourself in unnecessary danger. The person responding should remain calm, keep a safe position and use the blanket only when the fire is small enough to cover safely.

For trained staff, the basic response is:

• Step 1: Pull the release tapes to take the Signature Fire Blanket out of its bag.

• Step 2: Open the blanket fully before approaching the small fire.

• Step 3: Place it carefully over the flames so the fire is covered.

• Step 4: If it is safe to do so, switch off the relevant power or heat source.

• Step 5: Leave the blanket in place until the area has cooled and follow the building's fire procedure.

The blanket should not be treated as a reason to stay and fight a growing fire. If flames are spreading, smoke is becoming heavy or the situation cannot be approached safely, leave the area and follow the emergency evacuation procedure.

A fire blanket is useful only when people can reach it quickly. In a commercial building, the best location is one that staff can recognise easily and access without moving through a crowded or obstructed area.

Think about the places where a small fire could occur. Office kitchens, work areas and other locations with potential heat or fire risks should be considered when deciding where fire protection equipment belongs.

For each location, check:

• Visibility: Staff should be able to identify the fire blanket without searching through cupboards or storage areas.

• Easy access: Keep the area around the blanket free from boxes, furniture and other obstructions.

• Suitable placement: Position it close enough to a potential small-fire area to be useful, but not where someone would have to move towards an active fire just to reach it.

• Staff awareness: Tell employees where the blanket is located and include its location in workplace safety training.

• Regular checks: Make sure the blanket and its protective bag remain in usable condition and are still in their designated location.

A fire blanket should not be something employees discover for the first time during an emergency. Staff should know where it is, what it is intended for and how to access it before a small fire occurs.

Keep the training practical. Show employees the actual location of the Signature Fire Blanket and explain the basic response for a small fire that can be safely covered. Make sure they also understand when not to approach a fire and when to leave the area.

During routine workplace checks, look at:

• Location: Confirm the fire blanket is still where staff expect to find it.

• Access: Make sure boxes, furniture or other materials have not blocked the area.

• Packaging: Check that the protective bag and release tapes are present and accessible.

• Staff awareness: Ask selected staff members to identify the blanket's location without being prompted.

• Emergency procedure: Make sure employees know that a growing or unsafe fire requires evacuation and the building's emergency response procedure.