As an employer you must ensure that all fire safety equipment is properly maintained and ready to be used if required. Around 80% of fires are put out using a portable fire extinguisher and they are believed to save at least 24 lives in the UK each year, and prevent many more fire-related injuries.
Your employees must never try to tackle a fire that would put their safety at risk, however, a small fire that can be easily dealt with could prevent the fire from spreading and endangering more people’s lives.
There are 5 main types of fire extinguisher, including water, foam, powder, CO2, and wet chemical fire extinguishers. Each of these are designed to deal with different types of fire hazard although some can be used for more than one type of fire. You can determine which type of fire extinguisher you need by carrying out a risk assessment that will determine the most likely risks for your business premises and decide on the correct fire detection, fire alarms and other fire equipment needed.
Water fire extinguishers are used for Class A fires involving common hazards such as wood and paper. Foam fire extinguishers can also be used for Class A fires but are also suitable for use with Class B fires involving flammable liquids such as petrol. Powder fire extinguishers are suitable for many different types of fires, so are recommended for premises involving wood, paper, flammable liquids, gas or electrical fires. CO2 fire extinguishers should be used for electrical fires, but can also tackle flammable liquids. Finally, Wet chemical fire extinguishers are designed specifically for fires involving flammable cooking oils and fats, but are also effective for wood and paper.
The number of fire extinguishers that your business requires will depend on whether it is a low or high risk business and you also must take into account the size of your business premises. It is also recommended that you invest in a fire blanket just in case the fire extinguisher malfunctions or is used incorrectly.
It is of the utmost importance that your employees can get to the fire extinguishers quickly. Hang them on a wall with fire action signage, that can be seen clearly, so that your employees can take the correct action. Make sure that they are trained to use them correctly and know where all the fire extinguishers are within the building. They should also be checked regularly to ensure that they have not been tampered with or gone missing.
All of the fire extinguishers available to buy online at Work & Wear Direct meet all regulations and offer protection against small fires in the workplace. Every fire extinguisher is KiteMarked to BSEN3 safety standards.
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