What it does
A blanket separates a small fire from oxygen
Fire blankets intended for domestic and similar cooking applications are covered by BS EN 1869. They are commonly found in kitchens and may also be used for clothing fires where the product instructions and training support that use.
The blanket must cover the burning area completely and remain in place. A developing fire, smoke-filled room, inaccessible appliance or fire spreading beyond the container is not a safe first-aid firefighting situation.
Selection and siting
The label, size and location all matter
Select a correctly marked product of a size appropriate to the intended hazard. The container should be conspicuous, securely mounted and reachable on the route away from the hazard—not directly above a cooker or where flames could prevent access.
Commercial kitchens with deep-fat fryers may also require wet-chemical extinguishers, appliance shut-offs or fixed suppression. A blanket alone does not resolve the wider cooking risk.
- Product and instructions are legible
- Container is securely mounted and immediately visible
- User can reach it without leaning over or passing the fire
- Blanket size suits the intended appliance or hazard
- Staff know evacuation comes before firefighting
Inspection and replacement
Check the container without repeatedly unfolding the blanket
Routine checks should confirm that the container is present, sealed as intended, undamaged and unobstructed. Follow the manufacturer’s inspection and replacement information; unnecessary unfolding can contaminate or damage the blanket and make correct repacking uncertain.
Replace a blanket after use and where the container, pull tabs or material is damaged, contaminated or otherwise unreliable. Record checks with the rest of the premises fire-safety equipment.
Avoid false assurance
A blanket cannot control every kitchen or battery fire
Do not assume a fire blanket is suitable for a large fryer, an appliance fire involving continuing energy, a spreading extraction fire or a lithium-ion battery incident. Those hazards need premises-specific prevention, detection, isolation and suppression decisions.
The fire risk assessment should connect cooking equipment, extraction, housekeeping, emergency shut-offs, extinguishers, staff instruction and escape.