Tag: fire extinguishers

Taking care with candles

As the evenings get colder and darker many people like to make their homes more cosy in the evenings by lighting a few candles.
But, in the UK, there are over 150 serious fires each year that are caused by candles.

To make sure that you are not a victim of a candle fire make sure you adhere to the following advice:

– Never leave burning candles unattended. Put burning candles out when you leave the room, and make sure they’re completely out at night.

– Always place your candles/tea lights in a suitable fire resistant candleholder.

– Always put the candleholder on a heat resistant surface like a ceramic plate (tea lights can melt plastic surfaces such as the top of a television or side of a bath).

– Place candles carefully. Make sure they are on a stable surface, out of reach of pets and children, and keep them away from flammable objects like curtains, furniture, bedding and books.

– Don’t move candles once they have been lit.

– Burn candles in a well ventilated room, out of draughts, vents or air currents. This will help prevent rapid or uneven burning, soot and dripping.

– Always leave at least four inches (10cm) between burning candles/tea lights and never place them under shelves or other enclosed spaces. Make sure there’s at least three feet (one metre) between a candle and any surface above it.

– It is recommended that a candle ‘snuffer’ or a metal spoon be used to put the candle/tea light out.

And make sure that you are protected by a smoke alarm and have a fire extinguisher in the house should items in the house catch fire.

Fire Extinguishers Explained

Fire safety training will give you and your employees information about fire protection equipment and when it should be used. One of the most important things to understand are the different fire extinguishers that are available, as using the wrong one could create just as many problems as the fire itself.

There are five different classes of fire risks: A, B, C, D, F. Each class describes a different kind of fire and the fire extinguisher will be clearly labelled with the risk classes they are able to fight. If you are buying fire extinguishers for your property, but are unsure which one you need to install in which areas, then our extinguisher guide should provide you with everything you need to know. Our friendly staff will also be more than happy to help.

Class A: solids such as paper and wood
Class B: liquid fires such as burning petrol (not fat)
Class C: gas fires
Class D: burning metal such as magnesium
Class F: fat fires and deep fat fryer fires

The classes stated on the extinguisher also have a number next to them. The higher the number, the better the fire fighting capability of the extinguisher in this class.

Water extinguishers (colour coded red) are the most widely used and are used on solids such as paper, wood or fabrics. They should not be used on electrical equipment unless they contain an additive. Offices and reception areas are usually equipped with foam extinguishers (cream colour coding) and CO2 extinguishers (colour coded black). CO2 extinguishers will not damage the electrical equipment.

If your building has a kitchen, this will need a wet chemical or an ABF fire extinguisher to deal with fat fires. Other areas with greater fire hazards, such as laboratories, may require powder (coded blue), metal or CO2 fire extinguishers as appropriate depending on the risks involved. Powder extinguishers can be used on solids, flammable liquids or gases.

New UltraFire fire extinguisher information website

We receive occasional calls from our customers with regards to additional product and manufacturer details for our UltraFire extinguishers. Our UltraFire extinguisher ranges consists of quality kitemarked fire extinguishers with 5 year warranty made in the UK (UltraFire Blackline fire extinguishers) and in China (UltraFire Redline).

This site contains information a customer might require about extinguishers in the UltraFire fire extinguisher range. The site’s new look makes it easier to read and locate information.

View the UltraFire site