Which Fire Classes Can You Use a Fire Blanket On?

Which types of fire can a fire blanket extinguish? The answer depends on the burning material, the size and development of the fire, and whether the blanket has demonstrated suitable performance.

Under the European fire classification system, fires are divided into Classes A, B, C, D and F. Electrical equipment introduces additional hazards, but electricity is not a separate European fire class.

Conventional fire blankets are primarily intended for small, contained fires that can be completely covered. Properly tested blankets are particularly relevant to certain Class F cooking-oil and fat fires.

This guide explains each European fire class, where a conventional fire blanket may be appropriate, where it should not be used and why independent testing according to EN 1869:2019 matters.

European Fire Classes Explained

European fire classification is based on the type of material or substance involved in a fire. The classification system helps users select suitable firefighting equipment, but it does not automatically establish that a particular fire blanket is appropriate.

Fire class	Typical burning material	Conventional fire blanket suitability
Class A	Wood, paper, textiles and other solid materials	May be useful for certain small, fully coverable fires
Class B	Flammable liquids such as petrol, solvents and certain fuels	Only limited, specifically tested situations; not spreading liquid fires
Class C	Flammable gases	Not suitable as a general firefighting method
Class D	Combustible metals	Not suitable; specialist extinguishing methods required
Class F	Cooking oils and fats in cooking appliances	Suitable for certain small, contained fires when supported by appropriate testing

Important: A fire class describes the burning material, not the overall difficulty or danger of extinguishing the fire. A small contained fire and a fully developed fire involving the same material can require completely different responses.

Class A Fires: Wood, Paper and Textiles

Class A fires involve solid combustible materials, usually organic substances that form glowing embers during combustion.

Examples include paper, cardboard, wood, some textiles and ordinary furnishings.

A conventional fire blanket may help extinguish a very small Class A fire when the burning object can be completely covered and the oxygen supply sufficiently restricted.

Examples may include a small wastebasket fire or a limited fire involving an accessible object.

However, Class A materials may continue smouldering beneath a blanket. If the fire has penetrated furniture, spread into a wall or developed beyond a small contained area, a fire blanket should not be relied upon.

Key limitation: Covering visible flames does not necessarily eliminate hidden heat or smouldering material.

Class B Fires: Flammable Liquids

Class B fires involve flammable liquids or substances that become liquid during burning.

Examples include petrol, certain solvents, paints and liquid fuels.

Some fire blanket test programmes include controlled liquid-fuel fire testing, such as a heptane fire test.

DVM's independent TÜV SÜD test programmes included heptane fire testing as part of their evaluation under EN 1869:2019.

However, successful performance in a controlled test does not mean that a conventional fire blanket can safely extinguish every Class B fire.

Spreading fuel, large liquid pools, leaking containers and rapidly developing vapours can make blanket deployment dangerous or ineffective.

Practical conclusion: Do not treat a conventional fire blanket as a general-purpose solution for petrol, solvent or other spreading flammable-liquid fires.

Class C Fires: Flammable Gases

Class C fires involve flammable gases such as propane, butane and natural gas.

A conventional fire blanket is not an appropriate general method for dealing with a gas fire.

Even if visible flames are temporarily suppressed, escaping gas may continue accumulating and create an explosion hazard.

Where a gas leak or gas-fed fire is suspected, do not approach the source or attempt to cover it with a fire blanket.

Evacuate the area, avoid operating electrical switches where a gas atmosphere may be present and contact the emergency services or appropriate gas emergency provider.

Class D Fires: Combustible Metals

Class D fires involve combustible metals such as magnesium, sodium, potassium and certain metal powders.

These fires can reach extremely high temperatures and may react dangerously with unsuitable extinguishing agents.

Conventional fiberglass fire blankets are not designed or demonstrated as a general solution for combustible-metal fires.

Such risks require specialist fire protection measures and extinguishing agents selected for the specific metal involved.

Do not use a conventional fire blanket as a substitute for specialist Class D firefighting equipment.

Class F Fires: Cooking Oils and Fats

Class F fires involve cooking oils and fats in cooking appliances, including frying pans and deep-fat fryers.

These fires are particularly dangerous because overheated oil can ignite at high temperatures, spread when disturbed and reignite if insufficiently cooled.

Never pour water onto burning cooking oil or fat. The rapid production of steam can violently eject burning oil and spread flames.

A suitable fire blanket can extinguish certain small, contained Class F fires by covering the burning area and restricting oxygen.

However, the blanket must withstand the fire conditions and provide effective coverage.

A statement that a blanket is heat-resistant does not prove successful Class F extinguishing performance.

Why Independent Class F Testing Matters

In December 2013, the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA) published an investigation into fire blankets available to Dutch consumers.

Of 11 fire blankets tested for cooking-oil fire performance, four caught fire themselves and one additional blanket failed to extinguish the fire.

Some of the products that failed displayed references to EN 1869.

The investigation was a limited historical market sample using the earlier EN 1869:1997 edition. It does not establish the failure rate of products currently sold.

Nevertheless, it illustrates why independently documented fire performance matters.

Read the original NVWA investigation (PDF, Dutch language).

DVM's Independently Tested Class F Performance

DVM International has commissioned independent testing by TÜV SÜD of both its 1 × 1 m and 1.2 × 1.8 m conventional fire blanket series according to EN 1869:2019.

Both sizes successfully completed cooking-oil fire tests relevant to Class F performance under the specified laboratory conditions.

• 1 × 1 m: TÜV SÜD Test Report TC.26.04.002098. View the official report, videos and verification information.
• 1.2 × 1.8 m: TÜV SÜD Test Report TC.26.10.006260. View the official report, videos and verification information.

These results demonstrate the performance of the identified specimens under controlled test conditions. They do not establish suitability for every cooking-oil fire.

Large commercial fryers, spreading fires and situations involving intense heat or dangerous smoke may require specialist equipment and trained personnel.

For more information, see our guide to Fire Blankets for Kitchens and Cooking Fires.

Are Electrical Fires a Separate Fire Class?

No. Under the European classification system, electricity is not a separate fire class.

An electrical appliance fire is classified according to the material burning. For example, burning plastic components may involve Class A materials, while other substances can introduce different hazards.

However, electrical equipment may remain energised and create an electric-shock risk.

EN 1869:2019 includes requirements intended to limit the risk of electric shock in the event of unintended use on live electrical equipment.

DVM specifies an electrical resistance of at least 1 MΩ for its conventional fire blankets.

This electrical resistance specification does not mean that a fire blanket makes it safe to touch live equipment or approach exposed electrical conductors.

For a small electrical appliance fire, isolate the power supply if this can be done safely. Do not touch damaged equipment or wiring.

If the fire cannot be safely approached, the power cannot be isolated or smoke is increasing, evacuate and contact the emergency services.

What About Lithium-Ion Battery Fires?

Lithium-ion battery fires introduce hazards that are not adequately described by the ordinary European fire-class categories alone.

Depending on the battery and failure conditions, these incidents may involve thermal runaway, flammable gas release, intense heat, toxic smoke and possible reignition.

A conventional fire blanket should not be presented as a proven method for stopping thermal runaway inside a lithium-ion battery.

Small battery-powered devices, e-bikes and electric vehicles can present substantially different risks, but none should be assumed safe to approach merely because a conventional fire blanket is available.

Where a battery is overheating, venting gas, smoking or burning, move away, avoid inhaling fumes and contact the emergency services.

Specialist Fire Limitation Blankets for vehicles are a different product category, with different intended applications and technical requirements.

Can Fire Blankets Be Used for Clothing Fires?

Burning clothing usually involves combustible textile materials that fall within Class A.

EN 1869:2019 recognises the potential use of sufficiently large fire blankets for smothering burning clothing.

However, practical recommendations vary between national fire-safety and occupational-safety authorities. Some authorities discourage certain blanket techniques because of risks to the person and the rescuer.

If clothing catches fire, the immediate priority is to stop, drop and roll, raise the alarm and obtain emergency assistance.

Where a fire blanket is included in an approved local emergency procedure, it must be sufficiently large and used without obstructing the person's face or airway.

A fire blanket is not a substitute for immediate burn first aid or medical assessment.

What Does EN 1869:2019 Actually Demonstrate?

EN 1869:2019 is the European product standard for conventional, non-reusable fire blankets intended to be operated by one person.

It establishes requirements for fire blankets used to control small fires and includes provisions concerning construction, performance, marking and instructions.

However, a reference to the standard on packaging does not independently establish that the finished product has passed the relevant tests.

Buyers should examine the available test documentation and verify that it applies to the product model and size being offered.

Independent testing provides stronger evidence than an unsupported statement of compliance.

How to Choose a Fire Blanket for the Identified Fire Risk

Fire class is only one consideration when selecting emergency equipment.

Buyers and safety professionals should also consider:

• The size and likely development of the fire.
• Whether the burning area can be completely covered.
• The possibility of reignition or hidden heat.
• Electrical, chemical or pressurised-fuel hazards.
• Whether the fire can be approached safely.
• The dimensions and construction of the blanket.
• Independent testing relevant to the intended application.
• Local fire-safety guidance and workplace requirements.

For conventional fire blankets, a documented cooking-oil fire test is especially relevant where Class F risks have been identified.

DVM offers independently tested 1 × 1 m and 1.2 × 1.8 m fire blanket series, with supporting documentation for professional and consumer evaluation.

Documentation for Buyers, Users and Inspectors

DVM International provides practical and technical resources organised for three audiences:

• Buyers: Reference guides, procurement resources and product evaluation documents.
• Users: Operating instructions and safety information.
• Inspectors: Periodic inspection checklists and supporting documentation.

Explore DVM Fire Blanket Documentation.

Conclusion: Fire Class Alone Does Not Determine Suitability

Conventional fire blankets can be useful for certain small, contained fires, particularly suitable Class F cooking-oil fires and some fully coverable Class A fires.

They should not be regarded as universal firefighting equipment for gas fires, combustible metals, spreading liquid fires or developed lithium-ion battery incidents.

For Class F applications, independent cooking-oil fire testing provides valuable evidence of actual extinguishing performance.

DVM International has obtained independent TÜV SÜD test reports for both its 1 × 1 m and 1.2 × 1.8 m conventional fire blanket series, including successful cooking-oil fire tests according to EN 1869:2019.

Not just claimed. Independently tested. Verifiable results.

References and Further Reading

1. European Committee for Standardization (CEN). EN 2, Classification of Fires. European classification system for fires according to the nature of the fuel.
2. Netherlands Standardization Institute (NEN). NEN-EN 1869:2019 — Fire blankets. Scope and requirements for conventional fire blankets. View standard information.
3. Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA). Factsheet brandblusdekens, 6 December 2013. Dutch market investigation into fire blanket performance. Read original factsheet (PDF, Dutch).
4. TÜV SÜD. Test Report TC.26.04.002098. Independent EN 1869:2019 testing of DVM 1 × 1 m fire blankets. View report and verification.
5. TÜV SÜD. Test Report TC.26.10.006260. Independent EN 1869:2019 testing of DVM 1.2 × 1.8 m fire blankets. View report and verification.
6. Fire Industry Association (FIA). Code of Practice for the Selection, Installation, Commissioning and Maintenance of Fire Blankets Manufactured to BS EN 1869, March 2019. Read guidance (PDF).
7. DVM International B.V. Fire Blanket Documentation. Resources for Buyers, Users and Inspectors.