Fire protection and Extinguishers

Having fire protection devices and fire extinguishers on your property can save lives. They are crucial elements of any emergency preparation plan that should not be ignored. In addition to fire protection devices, your home or business should establish some procedures to follow in the event of a fire emergency. This article will discuss some of the fire protection assets and procedures which homes and workplaces should implement.

To really safeguard your property and its occupants, a range of fire protection devices should be considered, including:

Fire Extinguishers

The primary fire fighting tool that every home or business requires is a fire extinguisher. This device can prevent a small fire becoming a life threatening emergency event. There are a variety of fire extinguishers for different situations, including:

• Water fire extinguishers
  For use on wood, paper, textiles. Do NOT use on flammable liquids and live electrical equipment
• Dry powder fire extinguishers
  For use on wood, paper, textiles, flammable liquids, gaseous fires and live electrical equipment
• Foam fire extinguishers
  For use on wood, paper, textiles and flammable liquids. Do NOT use on live electrical equipment
• Carbon dioxide fire extinguishers
  For use on flammable liquids and live electrical equipment. Not to be used in confined spaces without breathing apparatus
• Wet chemical fire extinguishers
  For use on wood, paper, textiles and cooking oil fires

If you have specific types of combustible materials that you are concerned about, it is important to have the correct fire extinguisher on hand. For example, if you have a lot of electrical equipment at your home or office, it is important to have a dry powder fire extinguisher or carbon dioxide fire extinguisher that can be used on electrical equipment.

It is also very important that occupants of the building are trained in the use of a fire extinguisher.

Fire Alarms

Your workplace or home should have a number of high-quality fire alarms in place. In larger buildings there should be a building-wide fire alarm to evacuate the building and a localised alarm to help locate the source of the fire.

Firefighting Blankets

A very simple but essential tool in your fire fighting arsenal, the firefighting blanket can be used to quickly smother a fire. It is a very quick and easy way to stop a small fire from spreading. It is also very useful for protecting building occupants as they escape a burning building.

Fire Sprinklers

Sprinklers can be used in conjunction with an automatic or manual alarm system to provide a rapid response to a fire. They are particularly useful in large buildings and can prevent a small fire from becoming a life threatening emergency.

Fire Hose

Fire hoses are essential for fighting larger fires. They should be designed to provide a high pressure water source to combat fires. All workplaces should have a fire hose on premises and it is a good idea for home owners to have one available.

Fire Prevention Plans

It’s not enough just to have the right equipment in place, you should train occupants in the building about how to react if there is a fire. Some of the elements your fire prevention plan should handle include:

Fire Emergency Evacuation Plan

This is an evacuation plan for occupants of the building to follow in the event of a fire. Some people may have different responsibilities in the fire evacuation plan and you should assign tasks to different people. The plan should also tell people which way to leave the building and where to meet afterwards. If some occupants of the building are very young or have mobility impairments, pay special attention to them.

Have a Fire Prevention Plan

This plan should train people on how to avoid a fire occurring. It should inform people how to deal with combustible materials and electrical appliances to reduce fire risk.

Train Staff and Occupants on How to Fight a Fire

If you have fire fighting apparatus like fire extinguishers, you should teach occupants of the building how to use them appropriately. You should also instruct occupants how to fight a fire safely and know when it is time to simply leave the building.

Develop a Fire Emergency Response Team

If you are operating a business, select some individuals to take on certain roles in the event of a fire emergency. These individuals should be well trained and understand how to react if there is a fire. They will have tasks like ensuring all staff are aware of the fire, guiding people to safety, helping mobility impaired people escape, contacting emergency responders, using fire extinguishers and so on.

Develop Maintenance Plans For Fire Equipment

You should regularly test your fire fighting equipment to ensure it is working correctly. The best way to ensure your fire fighting equipment is well-maintained is by hiring a certified fire protection company to perform tests.

About Fire City

Fire City stock a wide range of fire safety equipment including fire extinguishers, fire blankets, safety signs and much more. We offer next day delivery and out friendly staff are happy to help you understand the types of equipment your home or business needs.

View our range on the Fire City website or contact us today.