A fire blanket is a sheet of non-flammable material (such as fiberglass) that can be placed over a fire in order to starve it of air so that it goes out. Fire blankets have several advantages over fire extinguishers. This article discusses some of those advantages. Use this information to help you choose whether you should buy a fire blanket or a fire extinguisher.

Ease of Use

Fire blankets are very easy to use. All that you need to do is to get it from its storage position then place it over the fire. This is very different from fire extinguishers that require the user to hold it in a certain way and discharge it at a certain location within the fire (the bottom) in order to put it out. The complexity of using fire extinguishers makes it a no-brainer if you were to choose between a fire extinguisher and a fire blanket.

Versatility

Fire blankets can be used to put out fires and they can be used to escape from a raging fire. This is because you can wrap the fire blanket around yourself and walk out of a burning house but you cannot use a fire extinguisher to help you get out of a burning building. This is because the extinguisher will quickly be discharged before you can get out and it cannot protect you from the heat coming from the fire.

Ease of Maintenance

A fire blanket can be washed after it has been used and kept until the next fire outbreak. However, a fire extinguisher involves spending money to refill it once it has been discharged. Expiry periods also limit the lifespan of a fire extinguisher so it may become unusable due to the passage of time.

No Adverse Effect on Nearby Items

Some fire extinguishers leave a powdery substance that may react with nearby items like electronics and spoil their surfaces. At the very least, you will need to clean the nearby items after you put out a fire with a fire extinguisher. The beauty of using a fire blanket is that no nearby item risks being dirtied or corroded due to being in contact with the blanket.

As you can see, fire blankets have several benefits that fire extinguishers do not have. You should therefore contact a fire equipment company like Action Fire Extinguishers Pty Ltd so that you get a practical demonstration of how to use the blanket before you buy one to use in your home or business.