Fire Blankets for Schools and Educational Facilities

Schools, colleges and educational facilities accommodate large numbers of children, students, teachers, employees and visitors. Fire-safety arrangements must therefore combine clear procedures, suitable equipment and rapid evacuation.

A fire blanket may provide instructed staff with a controlled first response to a small, contained and fully coverable fire. It should support the school’s alarm and evacuation procedures — never replace them.

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Common fire risks in educational facilities

Typical early-stage incidents may include:

• pan fires in staff kitchens, cafeterias or teaching kitchens;
• small cooking-oil and fat fires;
• small appliance fires after electrical isolation;
• clothing catching fire during cooking or practical lessons;
• small paper, textile or waste-bin fires; and
• limited incidents involving heat sources in workshops or laboratories.

A conventional fire blanket is only appropriate while the fire remains small, safely reachable and capable of being covered completely.

What Fire Classes Can a Fire Blanket Be Used On? →

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Why fire blankets may suit schools

A fire blanket contains no pressurised cylinder and does not discharge water, powder or foam. This can be useful in kitchens, classrooms and practical areas containing food, documents, electrical equipment or sensitive materials.

Relevant advantages include:

• compact and clearly visible wall-mounted storage;
• no discharged extinguishing residue;
• a straightforward operating principle for instructed adults;
• suitability for small cooking-oil fires when properly tested;
• potential use for clothing fires when the size is suitable; and
• the ability to complement extinguishers and evacuation procedures.

A straightforward operating principle does not mean that no instruction is required. Staff should understand when a fire is small enough to approach, how to keep an escape route available and when evacuation takes priority.

Pupils and students should not generally be expected to fight a fire. Their priority is to raise the alarm, follow staff instructions and leave by the nearest safe route.

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Evacuation and pupil safety come first

Attempting to use a fire blanket must not delay:

• raising the alarm;
• calling the emergency services;
• supervising pupils or students;
• assisting people who need additional support;
• closing fire-resisting doors where appropriate; or
• following the school’s evacuation procedure.

A fire blanket should only be used when the incident can be approached safely and intervention will not compromise evacuation, supervision or staff safety.

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Where should fire blankets be installed?

Placement should follow the school’s fire-risk assessment and emergency plan. Each blanket must be visible, unobstructed and accessible from the safer side of the identified risk.

Possible locations include:

• near the exit from a staff kitchen or cafeteria;
• in teaching kitchens and food-technology rooms;
• at a safe position near science laboratories;
• in workshops or technical classrooms;
• outside rooms containing identified appliance risks; and
• at designated staff emergency points.

Do not install a blanket directly above a hob, burner, heater, appliance or other likely ignition source. Do not hide it inside a cupboard or behind classroom equipment.

The mounting position should also reduce accidental interference without making the blanket difficult for authorised adults to reach.

Where Should You Keep a Fire Blanket? →

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How staff should use a fire blanket

Only consider deployment when the fire is small, stationary, safely reachable and fully coverable.

1. Raise the alarm and alert nearby staff and students.
2. Begin the required evacuation or supervision procedure.
3. Keep a clear escape route behind you.
4. Switch off heat or electricity only when this can be done safely.
5. Pull the release tabs firmly downward.
6. Hold the blanket so that it protects your hands and upper body.
7. Place it carefully over the complete burning area.
8. Do not move a burning pan, appliance or object.
9. Leave the fire covered until the material has cooled fully.

If the fire grows, smoke increases or evacuation is underway, stop the intervention and follow the emergency plan.

How to Safely Use a Fire Blanket →

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Teaching kitchens and cafeterias

A small cooking-oil or fat fire is one of the principal applications of a properly tested fire blanket.

For a pan fire:

• switch off the heat only when safe;
• do not pour water onto burning oil;
• do not carry the pan;
• place the blanket gently over the entire pan; and
• leave it covered until the pan and oil have cooled fully.

If flames have spread to an extractor hood, cabinet, wall or ceiling, a conventional fire blanket is no longer appropriate.

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Science laboratories and workshops

Laboratories and workshops may contain open flames, hot equipment, electrical devices, chemicals, gases or combustible materials. A conventional fire blanket is not suitable for every incident in these environments.

A fire blanket may only be considered when:

• the burning object is small and fully coverable;
• no reactive chemical or combustible-metal risk is involved;
• flammable liquid is not leaking or spreading;
• gas supplies have been isolated safely where relevant;
• the incident can be reached without entering smoke or intense heat; and
• the laboratory or workshop procedure permits blanket use.

Class D metal fires, gas fires and spreading solvent fires require specialist equipment and procedures. Follow the room-specific risk assessment and emergency instructions.

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Electrical appliances and equipment

Electricity is not a separate formal European fire class. Energised equipment does, however, create additional shock and arc hazards.

A fire blanket may only be considered for a small appliance fire when:

• the electrical supply has been isolated safely;
• the incident remains confined to the appliance;
• the complete burning object can be covered;
• no exposed live components are within reach; and
• no developed lithium-ion battery incident is involved.

Do not touch damaged plugs, cables, sockets or the burning appliance. Do not pick up or carry a hot, swollen or venting battery-powered device.

Fire Blankets for Electrical Appliance Fires →

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Clothing fires during practical lessons

When clothing catches fire, the person should be told to stop, drop and roll where possible.

An adult may use a sufficiently large fire blanket to help smother the flames when this can be done safely.

When applying the blanket:

• keep the face and airway uncovered;
• cover from the shoulders downward;
• do not wrap tightly around the neck;
• keep the person on the ground while smothering the flames;
• contact the emergency services; and
• begin appropriate burn first aid immediately afterwards.

Cool affected skin with cool running water for at least 20 minutes where possible. Do not remove clothing that has melted or adhered to the skin.

Fire Blankets for Clothing Fires →

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Choosing the correct size

1 × 1 m fire blanket

A 1 × 1 m blanket provides practical coverage for many small school risks, including:

• standard pans in staff or teaching kitchens;
• small cooking-oil and fat fires;
• compact appliances after power isolation; and
• small, fully coverable objects.

1.2 × 1.8 m fire blanket

Within the DVM range, the 1.2 × 1.8 m fire blanket is the preferred size where clothing-fire preparedness or greater coverage is required.

It may also be appropriate in larger teaching kitchens, workshops or technical rooms where wider equipment must be considered.

The selected blanket must remain manageable for the staff members expected to deploy it.

What Size Fire Blanket Do I Need? →

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Safety Bag or Premium Box?

Premium Box

A rigid Premium Box may be preferable for:

• permanent wall-mounted installation;
• staff kitchens and cafeterias;
• laboratories, workshops and technical rooms;
• strong visual recognition;
• consistent placement throughout the building; and
• locations where the packed blanket requires additional protection.

Safety Bag

A flexible Safety Bag may suit:

• smaller rooms with limited wall space;
• temporary educational activities;
• staff-managed mobile equipment; and
• locations where a compact format is preferred.

An operational blanket should not be hidden in a caretaker’s room, emergency kit or locked cupboard if that prevents immediate access at the identified risk location.

Both packaging formats should be protected from excessive heat, chemicals, moisture and physical damage.

How to Install a Fire Blanket →

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Staff instruction and school procedures

The responsible organisation should consider:

• fire-blanket instruction during staff induction;
• clear responsibility for raising the alarm and calling emergency services;
• procedures for supervising and evacuating pupils;
• personal emergency evacuation plans where required;
• room-specific procedures for laboratories and workshops;
• instructions in languages appropriate to the workforce;
• reporting procedures for damaged or missing equipment; and
• recording every deployment or fire incident.

Fire blankets should not be used for unsupervised practice if they are expected to remain available for an actual emergency. Use separate, clearly identified training equipment where practical instruction is required.

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When should staff not use a fire blanket?

Do not attempt blanket deployment when:

• the fire is spreading rapidly;
• smoke or heat affects visibility or escape routes;
• the building structure, ceiling or several objects are involved;
• the burning area cannot be covered completely;
• gas, chemicals, fuel, metals or battery cells create additional hazards;
• pupil supervision or evacuation would be delayed;
• evacuation is already underway; or
• personal safety is uncertain.

Follow the school’s alarm, evacuation, compartmentation and emergency-service procedures.

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Inspection and replacement

DVM recommends a documented visual inspection at least once every year. Educational facilities may require more frequent checks in laboratories, workshops, kitchens and other high-use areas.

Confirm that each blanket:

• remains at its designated location;
• is visible and unobstructed;
• has secure mounting and intact packaging;
• has undamaged and accessible pull tabs;
• has readable instructions and product identification;
• shows no grease, chemicals, moisture or other contamination;
• has not been deployed or removed without authorisation; and
• is included in the school’s inspection records.

Routine inspection should normally be performed without fully unfolding the blanket.

Replace a blanket after deployment on an actual fire. Do not wash, clean, repair or refold it for emergency reuse.

Fire Blanket Inspection & Maintenance →

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Summary

Fire blankets can provide instructed school staff with a controlled first response when:

• the fire is small, contained and fully coverable;
• pupil safety and evacuation are not delayed;
• the blanket is visible and safely accessible;
• the correct size has been selected; and
• staff understand the product’s use and limitations.

For many small kitchen and appliance risks, the DVM 1 × 1 m Fire Blanket Series provides compact, independently tested protection. Choose the 1.2 × 1.8 m version where greater coverage or clothing-fire preparedness is required.

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Choose a fire blanket for educational environments

View the workplace fire blanket guide →

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Further information

• Fire Blanket FAQs
• Fire Blankets for Kitchen Fires
• Fire Blankets for Clothing and Person Fires
• View DVM Fire Blankets