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All restaurant owners know that having fire prevention measures in the premises is essential.  You can’t always guarantee that a fire won’t start, particularly in the kitchen, which is why it is so important to have the right fire extinguisher installed and ready to hand.

Hartson Fire in Swansea provides fire extinguishers and associated accessories to a number of restaurants across the UK and has come up with these guidelines for owners to help them to protect their business.

Fire Extinguisher Guideline for Restaurants

Fires are classified differently depending on what is being burned, and different fire extinguishers are designed to combat specific types of fires for example:

• Class A fires are fuelled by solid materials like wood, cloth, paper, and plastic. Restaurants with wood-burning stoves are at risk from these types of fires.
• Class B fires involve flammable liquids like gasoline, tar, petroleum grease, and lacquers.
• Class C fires are caused by electrical circuits
• Class D fires are fuelled by combustible metals like magnesium or potassium.
• Class F fires involve cooking fats and oils. The high temperature of these types of fats and oil when on fire far exceeds that of other flammable liquids which means that normal fire extinguishers should not be used.

There are 5 main fire extinguisher types – Water, Foam, Dry Powder, CO2 and Wet Chemical

Knowing which fires present a risk to your restaurant, and having the right extinguisher, is very important to protect your premises and keep your staff and customers safe.

Essential Class F Fire Extinguisher for Restaurants

A Class F fire involves cooking oils or fats, and it is one of the most common types of fires in restaurants and kitchens.  We chemical extinguishers are designed for use on these Class F fires. They can also be used on Class A fires although it is more usual to have a foam or water extinguisher for this type of fire risk.

Employee Training in Use of Fire Extinguisher

It’s not enough to simply have a Class F fire extinguisher in place in your restaurant. Staff members and especially those who work in the kitchen, should be training in the use of fire extinguishers (and that includes part time employees too).

Local fire departments will often hold training sessions, and sending your employees, especially your kitchen staff, to these events could save your restaurant in the event of a fire and could possibly lower your insurance rates.

Fire Extinguishers Life Span

Restaurant owners need to be aware that fire extinguishers have a shelf life and will need to be serviced within a specific time frame.  The British Standard for fire extinguishers recommends that every extinguisher receives a basic service annually, carried out by a service engineer. In fact, this is the case for all fire safety equipment.

Importantly, if the extinguisher has been used, it should be serviced to ensure that it still has enough pressure and chemicals. If the nozzle or hose look worn, or if the handle is wobbly, you may have a problem. If the locking pin is missing or unsealed, or if the inspection sticker or tag is missing or incorrect, don’t wait for an inspector to find out, get it replaced or serviced immediately.

Hartson Fire

The team at Hartson fire can not only advise on the type and number of fire extinguishers a restaurant will need but can also help with servicing and replacing any faulty equipment.  We also provide a full range of fire extinguisher accessories to ensure that extinguishers are stored correctly.

To find our more, call us today on the number below or visit our website https://hartsonfire.co.uk/