Tag: heat alarms

Chip Pan Fire Risks

Monday 22nd July 2024

Chip pans pose serious fire risks

Chip pans, or deep fat fryers, are the leading cause of injury from home fires in the UK. Nearly 20 people are killed or injured every day by chip pan fires. These cause damage to homes, and severe burns to users.

Why are chip pans dangerous?

Chip pans are dangerous because they use large amounts of heated oil to cook food. Fires can happen if the oil in the pan becomes too hot and catches fire. They can also start if the oil splashes or spills onto the hob. Either of these can happen very quickly, and are very difficult to prevent.

This is incredibly dangerous because cooking oil fats cannot be extinguished with water. Attempting to do so can cause the burning oil to splash and spread, and can even cause explosions. Watch this video to see what happens when water is added to a cooking oil fire.

The risk of chip pan fires becomes even higher when they are used in households with children and pets, by adults who have been drinking, or when they are left unattended.

Water Mist Extinguishers on Class F Fires

Do not try and put out a chip pan fire with a standard water extinguisher, as it can cause splashing. However, small Water Mist fire extinguishers for household or small kitchen use often have F class ratings. Because water mist extinguishers dispense de-ionised water in microscopic droplets through the special nozzle, they prevent splashing. This makes them suitable for use on hot cooking oil.

To extinguish a chip pan fire, apply the fine spray to the blaze in slow circular movements. This allows the curtain of water mist to fall gently onto the surface of the fire without causing the burning oil to splash and spread. The mist also cools the flames to extinguish the fire.

What to do if my chip pan catches fire?

Hot oil in chip pans can quickly catch fire

If your chip pan or deep fat fryer catches fire, do not attempt to put it out with water. Where you have a fire blanket or F Class fire extinguisher in the kitchen, and it the fire is still contained within the pan, you may attempt to extinguish the blaze.

If the fire has already begun to spread, or an attempt to safely extinguish it is unsuccessful, evacuate the building and call the emergency services immediately. Do not stop to collect your belongings – chip pan fires can spread very quickly and you may become trapped in the burning building.

How to use a fire blanket

  1. If you need to use a fire blanket, turn off the heat source if it is possible to do so.
  2. Pull the black dangling tapes downwards to release the fire blanket from its container.
  3. Wrap the corners of the blanket around your hands to protect them from the fire, then place the blanket over the object that is on fire.
  4. Leave the blanket in place until the fire is out and the object is cool.

Read more about how to use a fire blanket.

How to reduce the risk of chip pan fires?

The best way to reduce the risk of chip pan fires is not to use them at all – opting for oven cooked chips or using an air fryer is a much safer option. Particularly if you are under the influence of drugs or alcohol, the safest option is to order takeaway chips.

If a chip pan or deep fat fryer is being used, here are some ways to mitigate the risks:

  • Read the instructions carefully – ensure you do not over fill the pan
  • Have a working heat detector in your kitchen, and working smoke alarms throughout your home to alert you to fire quickly – these should be tested regularly
  • Fit a Class F fire extinguisher – water mist or wet chemical units can be used on chip pan fires
  • Install a fire blanket in the kitchen

Ensure that the chip pan has the full attention of a responsible adult when in use – this equipment should never be used by children, or adults who are under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

Improving fire safety in the home

Chip pans pose a significant fire risk, causing more than 20 fires a day in the UK alone. However, this is not the only way that home fires can start. To learn more about fire risks in your home, and how to reduce them, use our free Home Fire Safety Check tool. This quick survey provides personalised tips and advice tailored to your home and its occupants.

You can also read more information about cooking oil fires in our blog, or contact our friendly team on 0800 612 6537 for advice about the best fire-fighting equipment for your home.

Protecting Your Home With A Heat Alarm

Tuesday 14th May 2024

Kitchens produce great amounts of steam and smoke when cooking which may set off smoke alarms, therefore heat alarms are advised instead. The majority of fires in the home are started in the kitchen, making fires in houses without heat alarms go undetected for a much longer period. You miss out on the ability to detect rises in temperature and the sound of an alarm to alert you of a fire.

What does a heat alarm do?

A heat alarm is a type of fire alarm that detects a rapid rise in temperature, rather than the presence of smoke. Heat alarms contain a thermistor that is set to respond to temperatures above 58°C. When heat enters the sensor chamber in the alarm, it triggers the heat alarm to sound, alerting occupants of a fire. A heat alarm serves as a key component in fire safety systems. By alerting occupants to dangerous temperature increases, heat alarms help to reduce the risk of fire-related injuries and property damage, allowing for swift evacuation and intervention measures.

What is the difference between heat alarms and smoke alarms?

Heat alarms and smoke alarms work together to provide the best fire detection system in homes. While smoke alarms are designed to detect the presence of smoke, heat alarms are specifically engineered to respond to rises in temperature. The difference in detection makes heat alarms advantageous in environments prone to smoke exposure, such as kitchens and garages. Unlike smoke alarms, which may sound an alarm in response to smoke from cooking or other non-fire-related sources, heat alarms remain unaffected, reducing the likelihood of false alarms. Smoke alarms (optical alarms) are ideally suited to hallways, landings, living areas and bedrooms where false alarms are unlikely.

Where should I put a heat alarm?

Heat alarms should be installed in places where smoke alarms would be prone to false alarms, such as kitchens and garages. Smoke alarms would detect smoke from cooking in the kitchen and exhaust fumes in the garage, therefore it is wise to have a heat alarm in these areas instead.

Heat alarms will have positioning instructions within the supplied user manual, but ideally should be installed in the centre of the ceiling. It’s recommended to position the heat alarm at least 300mm away from walls and light fittings/decorative objects. This is because air does not circulate effectively in corners, and objects like light fittings can obstruct heat from entering the heat alarm’s sensor chamber.

Heat alarm placement

On a sloped ceiling, the position of a heat alarm should be measured vertically from the peak, and can be installed within 150mm of it. It’s still important to position the detector as central to the ceiling as possible.

Heat alarm placement on sloped ceilings

Are heat alarms a legal requirement?

In Scotland, all domestic premises are now required by law to have a heat alarm in the kitchen. For the rest of the UK, legal requirements regarding heat alarms vary depending on the type of property and its specific circumstances.

If your home had heat alarms fitted when you moved in or they’re required by building regulations to be fitted as part as an extension or renovation, then you must have heat alarms. Regardless of the law, fitting a heat alarm in the kitchen allows you to have the best level of protection for you and your family in the event of a fire.