Fire safety equipment is a legal requirement in most workplaces and commercial kitchens in Australia. There are many different types of fire safety equipment – including things like fire extinguishers and fire blankets – which should be used in different situations.

It is important to note that every business doesn’t have the same fire safety requirements. Larger businesses with a higher fire risk will have to take a lot more precautions than others, and will probably have to have better warning and fire protection systems installed. Some of the most common workplace fire safety gear includes:

Fire Extinguishers:

Fire extinguishers can be found in pretty much any commercial building, and on most commercial vehicles. They come in a range of shapes and sizes, and are designed to help people contain and extinguish small fires before they have the potential to turn into large fires. Note that there are different types of fire extinguishers containing different substances, including:

• Dry powder
• Carbon Dioxide
• Foam
• Wet Chemical
• Water

Each type of fire extinguisher is designed to combat a certain type or types of fires, so it is important to familiarise yourself with this before purchasing one for your business.

Sprinkler Systems:

Some commercial buildings are required to have sprinkler systems which are designed to reduce the impact of a fire almost immediately. In most cases, sprinklers are designed to cover a fire with water or another retarding substance, and they are usually only required in larger buildings.

Smoke Alarms:

Smoke alarms are absolutely essential when it comes to early fire detection. They can pick up even small amounts of smoke in the air, and are very effective at alerting you to fires before they become large or out of control. Smoke detectors are a legal requirement in most, if not all commercial buildings in Australia.

Fire Hoses:

Larger industrial buildings may be required to have their own fire hydrants and built-in fire hoses that allow them to contain even a large fire relatively quickly. This sort of fire safety equipment is usually required in high risk areas such as workshops or industrial plants.

Fire Blankets:

Fire blankets can be used to smother flammable liquid fires, which means that they are usually only installed in places where liquid fires are possible. Fire blankets are often found in places like kitchens or other cooking areas.

Make Sure All Of Your Fire Safety Equipment Is Clearly Signed:

Once you have installed the appropriate fire safety equipment in your building, you have to make sure that it is clearly signed and labelled. If people can’t find your fire safety equipment, they won’t be able to use in if they need to. Remember, while there are minimum workplace safety standards that you have to conform to under Australian law, there is no such thing as too much fire safety equipment, especially in high risk areas.