May
4

Affordable and Effective Kitchen Fire Safety Measures

admin on May 4th, 2012

All residents want to do everything they can to ensure their homes remain safe places to live in. Indeed, the home is the one place where families must be able to feel as though they can retreat away from the dangers of the outside world.

However, there are in fact areas within a home that have the potential to be hazardous to those who live there.

With a wide range of domestic appliances and heating sources all in one area, it is now wonder why the kitchen is often seen as being one of the most ‘at risk’ rooms in the home with regard to fire. Thankfully, it is easy and inexpensive to adequately equip a kitchen with effective fire safety measures.

Heat alarms
Unlike smoke sensor alarms, heat alarms do not go off every time a kitchen fills up with steam or smoke. Indeed, heat alarms only go off when the temperature within the room rises above 50 – 60°Celsius; therefore, residents can rest assured that they will only be alerted when there really is an actual fire. Annex rooms and corridors that lead off of kitchens should ideally be fitted with optical smoke alarms rather than ionisation alarms, as they are far less prone to sounding unnecessarily.

Fire blankets
A fire blanket is an essential addition to any kitchen as it is the perfect fire fighting solution for small fires that occur on cooker hobs. A fire blanket is incredibly effective as it immediately starves a fire of the oxygen it needs to survive – no fuel, no fire. All a resident needs to do to fight a hob fire is cover it entirely with a fire blanket, turn off the power (if it is safe to do so), and leave the blanket on until everything has cooled down. Residents must make sure that they do not remove the fire blanket until the pan and surrounding area has fully cooled down as any hot fat which may be present could well re-ignite.

Extinguishers
Unsurprisingly, there are several different extinguisher options available for domestic kitchens. Perhaps the best options for most normal, household kitchens are ABF foam extinguishers as they are able to fight fires even when fats are present. Dry water mist extinguishers can also make for an excellent choice as they can not only perform on fat fires, they can also be used on almost all other fire risks found within a home. Carbon Dioxide extinguishers too can be of great benefit, especially in kitchens which contain expensive electrical items and appliances. This is because Carbon Dioxide extinguishers contain an inert gas which doesn’t leave any residue (although they can sometimes damage electronic apparatus which is ultra sensitive in nature).

Explore our pages further to find out more about fire safety in the home and browse through our selection of affordable, effective fire safety measures.

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May
2

Why Fire Doors Are So Important

admin on May 2nd, 2012

A fire door is one of the most important fire safety products on your premises. It will prevent fire or smoke from spreading across the building and keep the fire contained to a particular compartment or room, giving the fire service longer to rescue anyone who is trapped and put out the fire, and preventing more of your building and property from being lost to the fire than cannot be avoided.

Fire doors can only be effective if they are installed with a fire door closer. As the name suggests, the closer ensures that the door closes automatically once it has been opened and needs to be able to handle different weights of door. We have a range of different door closers available, including all the leading brands such as GEZE and Briton. We also have concealed door closers, which are ideal if you feel an overhead closer would be unsightly or out of keeping with the building. These are also good for reducing vandalism, as most of the fixture is hidden out of sight.

Although fire doors should always be closed, sometimes this can be inconvenient or difficult to manage for customers with buggies or wheelchairs. Wedging a door open, usually with a fire extinguisher, is extremely unsafe and illegal, so instead consider installing Dorgard fire door retainers, which will hold the door open legally and then release it in case of a fire. This ensures maximum access and safety at the same time.

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May
2

Fire door maintenance

admin on May 2nd, 2012

All fire safety equipment needs to be checked at regular intervals to ensure that it still meets fire safety requirements and will provide an adequate solution should there be a fire. Checking your fire doors is an important part of your regular inspection, as these are vital to ensuring that fire and smoke cannot spread throughout the building, saving time and consequently saving lives.

When it comes to fire doors, there are several things that you will need to check. Ensure that the door closer works effectively and allows the door to close on its own once the fire door is released. The door should close easily and fully with no gaps showing. If you employ the use of a door retainer, also ensure that this is in full working order – a fire drill is a good way of testing this.

Fire door seals will also need to be visually inspected to make sure that they are still in good condition. If any of your fire door equipment needs renewing or replacing, we have a wide selection of high quality products available on our website, plus our staff will be on hand to give you friendly advice should you need it. We even supply made-to-measure fire doors and frames.

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May
2

Safe Evacuation for Everyone

admin on May 2nd, 2012

If a fire breaks out in your building, it can cause panic for the people inside. Your staff may be fully trained and rehearsed in what to do through staff training and fire practice drills, but even they may not react the same way if it were a real fire. You must also take into account the likelihood of visitors to your premises, such as customers or maintenance staff. It is your responsibility to ensure that there are escape routes which are clearly marked with fire exit signs, and also that any less able people also have an evacuation plan in place that your staff is fully aware of.

When planning their evacuation, consider how many people might be affected and whether they are likely to be concentrated in one area of the building or different areas. Different disabilities will require different evacuation plans. For example, a blind or partially sighted person may need someone to help guide them to the nearest fire exit and out of the building, while someone with a hearing impairment would need some kind of alert to know that the fire alarm has sounded. This could be special fire protection equipment such as a visual (flashing) fire alarm.

Anyone who is physically disabled may require additional evacuation equipment, such as an evacuation chair. As a lift immediately becomes a fire hazard once a fire has started in the building, these are usually out of bounds. An evacuation chair thus allows physically disabled people to be easily transferred down flights of stairs.

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May
1

Safe and Versatile Fire Blankets

admin on May 1st, 2012

A fire blanket is a sheet of fire-retardant material which is used to smother the flames of a fire. Our fire blankets are one of the most often sold products here at Safelincs due to their versatile capabilities, as they can be used to put out small domestic fires or to wrap arond a person on fire.

We offer high-quality fire blankets which adhere to BS EN 1869:1997. Our economy fire blankets are stored in a soft pouch for a quick release while our standard fire blankets are kept in a durable plastic container. Fire blankets are ideal for putting out kitchen fires, such as burning cooking oil, and can also be used on waste bin fires and clothing fires. Therefore, they are ideal for domestic applicatins or kitchens of companies.

Fire requires oxygen to allow it to burn; a fire blanket cuts off the oxygen supply which results in the fire being extinguished.

We create the blankets from quality non-flammable woven glass fibre, so they do not contain any flammable materials. The blankets come with a five-year guarantee so you can trust that they won’t let you down.

If you are looking for the very best fire blankets on the market, then you should make Safelincs your first choice. We can also supply you with high-quality fire extinguishers, smoke alarms, fire safety signs, fire doors and more.

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Apr
6

Dorgard

admin on April 6th, 2012

Fire doors are crucial in stopping the spread of fire and smoke. However, they can only protect us if they are closed fully and are therefore fitted with fire door closers. As people need to continuously walk through doors, having to open and close fire doors all the time can be a pain. However, fire doors held open with a fire extinguisher will allow the fire to spread freely through a building. The solution are fire door retainers. These hold fire doors open until a fire alarm sounds. They then release the fire door allowing it to be closed by the door closer.

The most cost efficient solution when retrofitting fire door retainers is the Dorgard. It can be fitted to a fire door in less than ten minutes by any DIY person. It holds the door open in any position required and will release the fire door if it ‘hears’ the alarm. There is no cabling required and it will automatically go into safe mode should the battery run low. The Dorgard is manufactured in the UK and so far over 400000 units have been fitted in the UK alone.

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Apr
6

Carbon Monoxide Alarms

admin on April 6th, 2012

Carbon Monoxide (short CO) is created when flames burn with a lack of oxygen, eg in a boiler or open fire. This is the case with most fires. If the vent of the burning appliance is then blocked or not working to its optimum, carbon monoxide can leak into a building. The gas does not taste or smell and is highly toxic. Small amounts can cause flu-like symptoms, while larger amounts will render you unconscious and will kill if the exposure is continued over hours.

To protect your self, you need to ensure your gas rings on your kitchen cooker are set to their optimum and that your gas boiler is maintained regularly by a gas safety engineer. Make also sure that you sweep your chimneys every year and that no plants or bird nests block your flues and chimneys.

And consider purchasing a carbon monoxide alarm (also called carbon monoxide detector), which will alert you in case of a presence of CO.

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Mar
21

Top five causes of house fires, number 5

admin on March 21st, 2012

The last in our series looking at the top five causes of house fires will be looking at candles. The other blogs making up this series looked at the four other causes of house fires, cooking, heating, smoking and electricity.

5) Candles

Candles add atmosphere to any room and are also commonly used to celebrate various religious events throughout the year. As lovely to look at as they are candles are one of the top five causes of fire within the home.

How can you minimise the risk of a house fire through the use of candles?

Candles should always be placed in an appropriate holder that is sturdy and will not allow the candle to tip over. The holder should then be placed on an even surface. Tea lights that are placed onto a surface without a holder underneath could cause a fire as the underside of the candle can get very hot, causing the surface it is resting on to catch on fire.

Draughts can cause a candle to burn in an irregular way and can lead to the candle starting a fire in your home. Always ensure that the candle is placed out of draughts and that the wick is not too long. Make sure that curtains are not too close to the lit candle, they could easily cat alight and that there are no pares or cards near.

Never leave a room where a candle is burning, should it accidently tip over you may not be able to react quickly enough and a fire could have already spread within the room. It may be useful to ensure that you have a multipurpose home fire extinguisher to help you evacuate the building safely in the event of a fire.

If you have had a candle lit make sure that before you go to bed at night that the candle is out properly and that there is no risk of it continuing to burn or smoulder. Remember “put it out, right out”.

 

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Mar
21

Foam Fire Extinguishers – an Introduction

admin on March 21st, 2012

Foam fire extinguishers are suitable for vehicle, domestic and commercial use.  The foam agent has the ability to tackle class A fires involving solid combustibles (wood, paper, textiles etc) and class B fires involving flammable liquids (petrol, paint etc).  When discharged, the foam forms a blanket effect which smothers and cools the burning materials.  This extinguishes the fire and prevents the materials from reigniting.  Class A and B rated foam fire extinguishers are also known as AFFF extinguishers.  AFFF (Aqueous Film Forming Foam) is a synthetic foam with a low surface tension.  This wets the surface of flammable liquids and spreads to form a seal.

It is not uncommon to see a foam fire extinguisher paired up with a CO2 extinguisher – especially within commercial/business applications.  This is because although the foam fire extinguisher is ideal for use on common office and warehouse fires, it does not extinguish fires involving live electrical equipment.

Many people are concerned that foam fire extinguishers will cause a mess when discharged.  Although the extinguishing agent will be visible after use, foam is referred to as a “clean mess” as it is contained within the area it has been discharged, rather than spreading particles such as powder.

In recent years the development of foam fire extinguishers has increased, and now manufacturers have been able to incorporate the class F fire rating; these are known as ABF foam fire extinguishers.  Class F refers to fires which involve cooking oils, deep fat fryers and chip pans, making the ABF foam fire extinguishers ideal for many catering environments.  Typically, the class F rating was only found in the larger wet chemical fire extinguishers, which were not always suitable for small kitchens, or temporary catering leisure activities.  The introduction of the ABF kitchen fire extinguishers has become the solution to the fire fighting needs of many.

AFFF foam fire extinguishers are also available in a designer stainless steel finish.  These extinguishers are often preferred for use in hotels, restaurants and reception areas of high-profile businesses, as they provide a stylish look in comparison to the standard red fire extinguishers.

Whichever option is chosen – standard red or stainless steel finish, under British Standard requirements fire extinguishers should be wall hung or placed on a stand.  All our fire extinguishers are supplied with a wall mounting bracket as standard, or we offer a wide selection of stands suitable for different user environments.  Fire extinguisher stands are ideal for applications where wall mounting is not an option.  This could be due to spacing issues or the type of wall available for the area.

Fire extinguisher ID signs are essential for clear notification of the types of fire that an extinguisher can be used on.  For example, the foam fire extinguisher is suitable for use on class A and class B type fires.  This is outlined on the fire extinguisher ID sign.  It also shows the types of fires that the extinguisher can not be used on.  By showing this information, untrained or inexperienced personnel gain a clear indication of the suitability of the fire extinguisher, and whether it can be used on the fire at hand.

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Mar
16

Top five causes of house fires, number 4

admin on March 16th, 2012

Already in this series of blogs we have looked at some of the reasons behind house fires. These were cooking, heating and smoking. Cause number four is electrical equipment.

4) Electrical Equipment

Electricity and electrical equipment are a common cause of house fires. Just because you cannot see electricity does not mean that it does not pose a threat to you and your family.

What should you know about reducing the risk of a fire through an electrical fault?

Overloading plug sockets can cause the socket to overheat, which can then start a fire in your home. Always make sure that there are not too many electrical items running from one socket. If you are using an adaptor it is better to use one that has a length of cord that plugs into the socket rather than an adaptor that plugs straight into your socket. Never plug more than one adaptor into a socket.

Plugs that are poorly wired can again cause a house fire. Check the state of your plugs on a regular basis and change any that are either loose or have wires exposed at the base.

If you do not look after electrical items in your home the risk of a fire starting will increase. Ensure that if a cable to an electrical item becomes frayed that you do not use the item, but either replace it or have the cable repaired. Be very careful where repairs are done by you, ill repaired electrical equipment is a contributing factor to house fires. Repairs should only be carried out by a qualified electrician.

Cooking with an electrical oven or hob does not mean that there is no risk of a fire occurring through cooking. Pans that are left on hobs can still overheat and oven gloves and tea towels hung on oven doors can burst into flames should they become very hot. Never leave cooking unattended and ensure that oven gloves and tea towels are not hung on or near the cooker or hob.

Toasters, which are not cleaned out and do not have crumbs removed from them on a regular basis can start a fire inside your home. Also if the timer for the toast is not set correctly the bread can char and set alight. If the toaster is positioned near curtains the fire can quickly spread. Ensure that you check the temperature setting and timer when putting food into the toaster. Never leave it unattended and do not position it near curtains and clean it out regularly.

Water near electricity should never come into contact. Getting plugs wet can cause sparking and the transmission of electricity, which can then lead to a house fire. Always make sure that you do not use electrical equipment that is wet or is in danger of falling into water whilst being used.

Just because you do not have any open flames in your home does not remove you from the risk of experiencing a home fire. You should still take all precautions to prevent a house fire and ensure that you have smoke alarms to alert you as well as a fire extinguisher and fire blanket to help you prevent the fire from spreading. A good tip is to also familiarise yourself and your family with what you should do in the event of a house fire.

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