What Fire Extinguisher Do I Need For My Business?

You have worked all your life to achieve the success of your business, and now that you are on the top or almost there, you would want to protect everything you have worked for against possible threats such as a fire accident.
As you probably know, fire in the business is quite a common scenario particularly for those that handle combustible items and flammable chemicals. However, even if your business does not do that, it is still imperative that you protect it against the possibility of a fire outbreak by equipping it with a high-quality fire extinguisher. Now, before you go out to buy a couple of these fire fighting devices, you first have to know what types are ideal for your business. Here are some examples to give you an idea.

Businesses with Multiple Areas

If you have a large business that has different areas, it is necessary to examine and study the fire risks and hazards of each room for you to determine the ideal types of fire extinguishers to install. For example, if you have a car dealership business that has a manager's office, workshop, store, showroom and storage for flammable materials, you would have to put different kinds of fire extinguishers for these rooms. For example, for the office, you can install a dry powder extinguisher, whereas a foam extinguisher can be ideal both in the office and in the chemical storage room as this is ideal for paper fires and flammable liquid fires.

Businesses with Multiple Risks

For businesses that have multiple risks such as auto repair shops, you would want something that can cover most of the risks present such as a powder fire extinguisher that can put out Class A, B and E fires (solid fuels, flammable liquids, and gas). In addition to this, you would also want to install a CO2 extinguisher for electrical fires, which is also a risk in auto repair shops. Another type of multi-risk business is a construction site. Here, it is also advisable to have a powder fire extinguisher and a CO2 fire extinguisher for maximum protection against fire accidents.

Other Types of Businesses

Offices, hotels, schools, nursing homes, salons, retail stores, and shopping centres can be equipped with powder fire extinguishers as these are multi-purpose. However, the downside to this is that it creates a dust cloud that may make it difficult for people to find fire exits. Because of this, many business owners prefer a combination of water extinguisher (for general fires) and CO2 fire extinguisher (for electrical fires). A restaurant or fast food kitchen should be equipped with wet chemical extinguishers for cooking oils fire as well as CO2 extinguishers as most of these kitchens utilize electrical equipment. Furthermore, you should also fit your company vehicle with a suitable car fire extinguisher.
Fire extinguishers can surely give ample protection to your business. However, you also have to keep in mind that finding the ideal type is not the only thing you should do. In addition to this, you need to have monthly inspection and maintenance of the extinguishers and fire drills and emergency preparedness training for your staff to ensure maximum protection not only of your business but more importantly your employees as well.

From Fire Protection Online https://fireprotectiononline.co.nz/what-fire-extinguisher-do-i-need-for-my-business/

Best Fire Extinguisher For Kitchens

If you own a restaurant, café, fast food, or any other type of food business, you probably know that kitchen cooking is the primary cause of fire in these kinds of businesses.
This is why, it is crucial to ensure safety in your commercial kitchen to prevent the occurrence of a fire outbreak that can damage your business, threaten the lives of your employees and customers, and destroy everything you have worked for your entire life.
Fortunately, safety in the commercial kitchen is not that difficult to achieve if you have the right attitude and knowledge about this matter. To help you in promoting kitchen safety, here are some tips to keep in mind.

Equip your Kitchen with a High-Quality Wet Chemical Fire Extinguisher

A wet chemical fire extinguisher is the only extinguisher safe to use for fires caused by grease, cooking oil, and fat fryers. This device comes with a specialised long applicator that is used to lay a cooling layer of extinguishing agent on top of the burning oil. To control the fire, remove the safety pin, aim the nozzle at the base of the flames, squeeze the lever gently, and make a sweeping motion from side to side to put out the fire thoroughly. Always remember that it is never safe to use water, powder, foam or CO2 extinguishers on any fire involving fat or oil. Alternatively, you can also use a fire blanket over a pan with burning oil or fat and then wait for several hours before touching the pan or the blanket. Make sure you store the fire blankets and extinguishers in areas that are visible and accessible.

More Safe Cooking Tips

To enjoy safe cooking in the kitchen, always pay attention to what you are doing and never leave anything unattended. Take pans off the heat and turn the heat down if you need to leave the cooker for a while, such as if someone is at the door or if you need to answer the phone. Avoid wearing loose clothing as this can easily catch fire. Wear short sleeves when in the kitchen. Always double check if you have turned the cooker off before leaving.
Never put the stove near anything that can easily catch fire such as curtains, potholders, or kitchen towels. See to it that you keep the stove clean and free of built-up fats and other food debris that can start a fire. Never fill a chip pan or deep-fat fryer with more than one-third of oil. Make it a habit to check the ventilation of the kitchen regularly and ensure that the range hoods or fans are not blocked up.
It is true that kitchen cooking is the primary cause of fires in food businesses such as restaurant and fast food. The good news is you can prevent such scenario by practising safe cooking measures and by equipping your kitchen with safety devices such as wet chemical fire extinguisher and fire blankets. These fire safety devices are available online along with other tools such as fire alarms, smoke alarms, smoke seals, carbon monoxide detector, and so on.

WHAT TYPE OF EQUIPMENT IS REQUIRED FOR A KITCHEN FIRE?

We recommednd the follow fire equipment for class F fires

Fire Blanket

Fire blankets are recommended in the event of an oil fire in a pan or on the stove top.

It can be used to smother the fire or to wrap around a person whose clothing may have caught alight.
Check out our range of fire blankets

Wet Chemical Fire Extinguisher

If you are using a large amount of oil for cooking in your kitchen, such as a deep fryer, then a wet chemical fire extinguisher is needed.
You can find more information about wet chemical on our article here

From Fire Protection Online Blog https://fireprotectiononline.co.nz/best-fire-extinguisher-for-kitchens/