What is the importance of fire safety signage? A guide on fire hazard safety signage
What is the importance of fire safety signage?
A guide on fire hazard safety signage
Fires are an ever-present danger for property-owning businesses of all sizes. There are several causes of fire outbreaks in the workplace, any one of them could happen on your premises at any moment. As such, it is essential that you stay prepared in as many ways as possible. One of the best and easiest ways to do this is to invest in fire signage.
What is fire signage and why is it crucial?
There are a few signage options your business can invest in for its premises, we’ll get to those in a moment. In a nutshell, fire safety signage can be pasted on walls or placed in different areas that serve the purpose of informing employers and visitors about several things.
This information can range from fire safety tips, evacuation point demarcations, evacuation directions, and flammable area warnings or entry prevention. When used together, fire signage can save the lives of your employees in the case of a fire outbreak.
Types of fire signage and their uses in the workplace
Posters allow you to inform people about fire safety tips that should be adhered to at your place of work. These kinds of signs need to be easy to read and interpret, they should also have tips that are easy to remember and implement. There are a few kinds of posters you can opt for, contact us today to learn more!
Your premises will need bright signage that people can see through dense smoke so that they find the right routes and exits. South African Bureau of Standards (SABS) certified signs need to be simple, elaborate and easy to interpret for anyone.
While fire guards aren’t considered as signage, they’re still crucial for fire safety. Fire guards prevent unauthorised personnel from accessing areas where they can cause fire hazards, such as engine or server rooms. They also serve the purpose of preventing incidents in the case of an evacuation; fire guards can block access to hazardous areas, provide detailed escape routes and display which areas should be avoided.
International Maritime Organisation sanctioned signs also come in handy in the case of a fire outbreak when you’re working or travelling on a body of water. These kinds of signage show people important things during a fire, such as the location of safety items (life boats, ladders etc.) as well as safety points.
All in all, fire signage are important features for any business to have in its premises. Do you need a couple of new posters or perhaps some SABS certified signs? No problem! Contact us today for a free quote.
Different types of fire hoses and their functions
Fire hoses have been around for centuries and have played an important role in helping people fight off fires, save lives and reduce the damage that uncontrolled blazes cause. Since their advent in the 17th century, they have only improved over time.
Today, there are several types of fire hoses available to firefighters as well as businesses that need reliable fire safety measures in their buildings. This blog will look at 3 different types of fire hoses and their uses. But first we need to answer this question:
Why are fire hoses so important?
As with other kinds of fire safety equipment, fire hoses are an important tool to have in your building, as well as essential tools for firefighters when combatting infernos. For businesses, fire hose reels are convenient and effective pieces of equipment. We spoke about them in depth in a previous blog post, check it out here.
Fire hoses are the vessels that deliver water and other fire retardants into active flames. They’re made using strong fabrics and materials to ensure that fire retardants are properly and voluminously delivered to uncontrolled fires. Different fire hoses have different functions, take a look!
3 Typesof fire hoses
Suction hose
Flexible suction hoses are designed to be used in situations where drafting is needed. Drafting is the process in which static water, such as in pools and lakes, is sucked from their environment and onto a fire.
They can also be used on a fire engine that has its own portable water supply and is built to withstand vacuums as wells pressure abrasion and heat. This is important as it allows the hoses to suck and spray large amounts of at a time from both pressurised and unpressurised sources.
Attack hose
Attack hoses are the main hoses used on fire engines. They are high pressured hoses that carry water and other fire retardants such as foam and CO2 to extinguish fires. These hoses are highly versatile and can be used on fire engines, fire hydrants (as individual units) as well as in buildings in mountable fire hose reels. They’re designed to deliver water at pressures as high as 2,760 kPa and can last for about 3-5 years.
Supply (and relay) hose
These are flexible large-diameter hoses that are designed to deliver water from distant fire hydrants to a fire engine’s pump . They can also be used to relay water from one fire pump to another over a long distance. These handy hoses are designed to operate across longer distances unlike the shorter but more resistant attack hoses, such as in areas that are bereft of fire hoses or static water supplies.
Are you in need of a quality and reliable fire hose that won’t cost you an arm and a leg? Good! Get in touch today to find out how we can make this happen.
How to use fire hose reels to extinguish a fire
Fire is an ever-present danger for businesses and property owners. While you may never face a fiery situation at work, it’s still important to be aware of the precautions one needs to take in case of fire, as well as how to use the fire safety tools and equipment available to combat dangerous infernos.
While fire extinguishers are the simplest devices to use in fire emergencies, fire hose reels are common in many buildings. These devices are used to fight class A fires by providing a steady supply of water. There are two main types of fire hose reels:
Fixed wall-mounted fire hose reel
These kinds of hose reels are permanently fixed onto a wall and plugged into a building’s main water supply. They are installed in locations that are easily accessible and are used to extinguish or contain small fires. There needs to be enough wall space around these reels to ensure that there are no obstructions when they need to be used.
Swing arm fire hose reel
Unlike the standard mounted hose reel, the swing arm is mounted on a large hinge while the complete assembly is usually installed in a fire hose cabinet. The benefit of the swing arm reel is that when it is used, it can be swung outwards using the hinge. This provides more versatility for users, especially if sudden movements or jerks are required to extinguish or contain a fire.
Fire hose reel user manual
When using a fire hose reel, you first need to declare your intentions to anyone who may be in your vicinity. Once you’re clear, you need to follow these steps with the utmost caution:
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Ensure that there is a clear path for you to an exit.
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(For standard reels) break the anti-tamper seal if applicable.
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Turn the water on at the stop valve.
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Pull the hose as much as is required to reach the fire.
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Carefully make your way to the fire while maintaining a clear line of site to your predetermined exit.
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Allow the water to flow out the nozzle by switching it to an open position (turn it on).
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Aim the stream of water at the base of the fire you’re trying to extinguish. Don’t overdo it; once the fire is out, turnthe nozzle off. Excessive water usage might lead to unnecessary damage and additional costs to you or your business.
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Should the flame be unextinguishable with the fire hose, you will need to drop everything and make your way to the predetermined exit as quickly as possible. Don’t try to be a hero.
Putting the reel back
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Once the fire is out, turn the hose off at the nozzle.
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Rewind the hose in even layers (easier done while there’s still water in the hose).
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Turn the water off at the stop valve.
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Open the nozzle once more to release the pressure into a bucket.
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Close the nozzle.
For more guidance on how to use these devices, check out this video! If you’re confident you know enough to use a fire hose reel, browse our range of fire hose reels and get in touch to take that next step in increasing your business’s fire safety!
Benefits of using Dry chemical fire extinguishers
Many people wonder about the differences between fire extinguishers, and how each of their extinguishants are beneficial. One type of fire extinguisher, known as a dry chemical fire extinguisher removes the element of oxygen from fires by fighting it with the use of carbon dioxide. Dry chemical fire extinguishers are very common in commercial, residential and industrial environments due to their many benefits. Read about the benefits of dry chemical fire extinguishers below:
The benefits of using foam fire extinguishers
Foam fire extinguishers, more accurately referred to as AFFF extinguishers, are fire extinguishers that use an aqueous foam to extinguish fires. These fire extinguishers, although they are not as commonly used as dry chemical fire extinguishers, are a great form of fire fighting equipment with many benefits. Read about the benefits of foam fire extinguishers below:
How to clean up Fire Extinguisher Residue
Dry chemical fire extinguishers utilize firefighting agents such as monoammonium phosphate, sodium bicarbonate and potassium bicarbonate. These leave behind a corrosive powder, so it’s essential to clean up dry chemical fire extinguisher residue quickly, especially if it has been in contact with metal surfaces.
Types of fire hydrant valves and their uses
Fire hydrant valves are fittings that are used to control the flow of water through hoses connected by firefighters. There are various types of fire hydrant valves that can be bought, Maritime Fire offers five quality options for you to choose from. Read about the different types of fire hydrant valves found at Maritime Fire and their uses below:
Fire safety tips for your home
Fires are unpredictable and dangerous. They can strike at any time anywhere in the house. It’s important to equip yourself with safety precautions against fires. These precautions will help you prevent, escape or detect fires in your home.
How to safely use a fire extinguisher?
Fire extinguishers are meant to handle only small fires and those handling them should be properly trained to follow the correct protocol. There are many things to consider before using the fire extinguisher.
Recharging your Fire Extinguisher
More often, fire extinguishers are not always ready as most would like to assume; and this is because they haven’t been properly maintained. There are many cases of people attempting to fight an incident-stage fire with a portable extinguisher, only to realize too late that the extinguisher is not charged: even if it has never been used before.
