GB2322549A

GB2322549A - Controllable fire blanket

Info

Publication number: GB2322549A
Application number: GB9704293A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Grant Sadler
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1997-03-01
Filing date: 1997-03-01
Publication date: 1998-09-02
Anticipated expiration: 2017-03-01
Also published as: GB9704293D0; GB2322549B

Abstract

A fire blanket comprises a panel of woven, fireproofed cloth with two rigid support rods attached thereto to enable stretching of the cloth and ensure a perfect seal to extinguish a fire. The panel may also be provided with a hanging flap to provide protection for the hands. The cloth may be made of glass, ceramic, asbestos, carbon or Kevlar. The rods may be readily detached from the cloth enabling it to be converted back to a conventional blanket.

Description

Controllable Fire Blanket.

The invention relates to a woven glass cloth, coated with silicone rubber on both sides, with rigid bars along two sides enabling control of the blanket from behind the fire area and perfect sealing of the burning container. (Fig.1 ) The product is designed primarily for use in extinguishing localised fires, particularly in domestic and commercial kitchens, where fire control is difficult.

Fire Blankets for domestic usage were for many years, manufactured in lightweight Glass cloth. Having excellent drape and flexibility, the product was very suitable for domestic uses, particularly in chip pan fire applications (the most common and dangerous situation) where a high drape fabric is essential.

When the BS6575 1985 regulations were brought in for fire blanket fabrics, the Glass fabric had to be coated on both sides with Silicone. Rubber. This improved the fire controlling qualities but, because of the stiffening action caused by the addition of the Silicone Rubber coating, the drape qualities were seriously reduced. Drape in fire blankets is an essential feature, particularly in situations in the kitchen.

At present protection is provided by conventional fire blankets usually about 1M2, in glass cloth coated with Silicone Rubber to BS6575:1985. The blanket size combined with the coated glass cloth, greatly reduces the drape causing poor sealing qualities. The sealing of air to a fire being vital to its extinguishing properties.

Also with conventional fire blankets, problems are encountered whilst approaching a fire. This is particularly difficult with kitchen (chip pan) fires, where the blaze would be a metre or so above ground level. This situation forces the person fighting the fire, to reach up and across the fire subjecting themselves to possible exposure to the flames.

The Glass fabric used for the blankets would normally conform to BS6575 but, cloth weights between 200git2 and 1000 gtM2 coated or uncoated, could also be used.

Ceramic, Asbestos, Carbon and Kevlar cloth could also be suitable, as well as synthetic materials providing suitable fire protection coatings had been applied.

The size of the blanket specifically for kitchen applications, would not be less than 250mm x 250mm but, an ideal dimension, giving adequate coverage for a locaiised pan fire, would be 500mm x 500mm.

The addition of the rigid bars allows the blanket width to be stressed, ensuring a close seal around the pan surface. Stress bars could be in any metal or non flammable material but, weight is important particularly when used with larger 1Mtr. x 1Mtr. blankets. Aluminium tube is ideally suited, being both light and strong. For blankets 500mm x 500mm tube lengths would normally be 500mm long x 5mm dia. and preferably fixed to the blanket. For the larger 1Mtr. x 1Mtr. blankets, the bars could be fixed on the edge. However, in test we found that approximately 75mm in from the side edges, allows better control of the blanket, using a rod 800mm long. On larger blankets the rods would be friction fixed, allowing speedy removal, in order to convert back to a conventional blanket.

Stress bars have a duel purpose, these would be affixed to the outer sides of the blanket, allowing controlled approach to the blaze and also allows the blanket to be stretched flat, ensuring a perfect oxygen seal.

In pracitcal tests on variations of the blanket makeup, we have found that particularly on smaller versions of the blanket (500mm x 500mm), the inclusion of a hang flap nearest the handle, of approximately 75mm, provides improved hand protection and allows shorter support rods to be used, giving better control.

Claims

1. A fire protection blanket comprising a Glass, Kevlar, Asbestos or similar fire resistant fabric.

2. A fire blanket as claimed in claim (1) for use in localised fire situations.

3. A fire blanket as in claim (1) or claim (2) as an alternative to conventional blanket panels.

4. A fire blanket as in claims 1-3 with a cloth weight of between 200g/M2 and 1000g/M2, coated or uncoated fabric.

5. A fire blanket as in claims 14 having a face area of not less than 250mm x 250mm and not more than 1000mm x 1000mm.

6. A fire blanket as in claims 1-5 not less than 250mm x 250mm with or without hang flap.

7. A fire blanket as in claims 16 having two rigid support rods (metal or non flammable). Tube section or rod fixed or removable, position close to the side edges of the blanket.

8. A fire blanket as in claims 1-7 having rigid control support rods of sufficient length to support the blanket panel when stressed, plus sufficient length for handle.

9. A fire blanket as in claims 14 having rigid control supports not less than 300mm long and not more than 1000mm long.

10.A fire blanket as in claims 1-9 having rigid control supports, sufficient in rigidity to allow stress to blanket panel without serious bending.

11. A fire blanket as in claims 1-10 having rigid control supports not less than 3mm dia. and not more than 25mm dia.