Best Fire Protection Blankets for Welding
Welding, cutting (Acetylene or Plasma) and grinding all pose a fire risk. Protecting yourself with the proper equipment is a good start to decreasing this risk, but what about your surroundings and environment? The reality for the home welder is that your work area often doubles as a storage space with items that may be flammable. In addition to a fire extinguisher, Fire Protection Blankets are an excellent fire safety device for the workshop or garage.
What is a Fire Blanket?
Fire blankets may have a causal resemblance to a standard woven blanket, but the similarities are purely visual. These fire safety devices are made from woven fiberglass and designed to withstand temperatures of up to 1000 degrees fahrenheit.
A fire blanket is simple to use and effective at putting out small fires. Its design and construction can effectively starve a fire of oxygen, causing it to go out. They are useful against the types of fires commonly found in kitchens or workshops as long as they have sufficient surface area to cover the entire fire.
Their non-flammable nature also makes them perfect for protecting items. Welding and grinding produces potentially fire starting sparks and the open flame of a cutting torch can be hazardous. These blankets can provide a barrier between flammable materials or liquids and your work. Larger versions can even be used as basic protection during an escape from open flames.
Blanket Considerations
The most important aspects of a fire protection blanket are its composition and size. The vast majority manufactured today will be made from fiberglass but some may offer additional layers for added protection. Temperature resistance and heat insulation are also important as the blanket (and you) will come into close proximity to the fire. Finally, you’ll want to consider the overall size of the blanket. Some are fairly small and designed more for extinguishing fires rather than protection.
Let’s take a look at the best fire protection blankets for your welding workshop on the market today.
JJ Care 8'x8' Welding Blanket
JJ Care’s FiberGlass Welding Blanket/Mat features 1″ brass grommets space roughly 12″ apart for easy hanging. Made of 850GSM fiberglass, this heavy duty blanket is resistant to 1000 degrees and will easily protect against welding splatters, sparks and fire.
Features
- Very large 8'x8' blanket.
- Heavy duty construction.
- Reinforced metal grommets.
ABN Heavy-Duty Fiberglass Fire Retardant Blanket 6' x 8'
Coming in at a similar size, ABN’s fiberglass fire retardant blanket is constructed from 19.8oz/yd fiberglass and features a tight weaving pattern for strength. It’s also rated for up to 1,000 degrees Fahrenheit and features brass 3/8″ grommets for hanging.
Features:
- Affordable 6'x8' large blanket
- 30x30 tight weaving pattern for durability.
- Reinforced brass grommets.
Waylander VE21 Welding Blanket 6'x6'
Waylander’s largest welding blanket is made of vermiculite impregnated fiberglass giving it impressive heat resistance while also making it skin friendly. A reinforced KEVLAR sewn hem surrounds the blanket along with 12 strong grommets for hanging or mounting.
Features:
- Vermiculite impregnated fiberglass.
- High heat resistance.
- Reinforced hem.
Conclusion
All of these fire protection blankets offer good heat resistance and protection at great prices. No blanket is completely impervious to sparks or slag but having some protection is better than none. Replacing a welding blanket every so often is way easier than damaging something in your shop or even starting a fire. For a small investment, a fire protection blanket will give you peace of mind when welding around things you care about and can’t risk damaging.
