Differences between multi-use blankets vs. single-use blankets

by Texfire

Some manufacturers advertise their blankets as single-use blankets, while others promote them as reusable blankets.

But what makes them different? Can they really be used more than once?

Key considerations before buying a car extinguishment blanket
When buying a car extinguishment blanket, there are several factors to take into account beyond the type of fabric:

Weight: A lighter weight makes it easier to transport and handle.
Type of fabric: Flexible enough to fit well around the contours of the car.
Size: Large enough to create a “skirt” around the car, preventing oxygen from entering.
Gripping systems: Durable handles for safe handling.
Manufacturing: The type of thread and stitching, as these can be potential weak points.
Fabric composition: Thermal and mechanical resistance.

What’s not mentioned about car extinguishment blankets
When this type of product is marketed, discussions often revolve around the fabric type, its thermal resistance, the kind of car it’s meant to extinguish, or whether it’s reusable or not. What’s not explained is that in real-life situations, beyond fire, the blanket must also withstand contact and even impact from many other elements:

What’s not explained is that in real-life situations, beyond fire, the blanket must also withstand contact and even impact from many other elements:

Shattering glass.
Exploding tyres.
Melted metals and plastics adhering to the blanket.
Sand, branches, and stones that can stick to or tear it.
Acids or other corrosive liquids.

Therefore, a car extinguishment blanket must be able to withstand high temperatures and also be mechanically very resistant. In this regard, fibreglass fabric outperforms silica fabric, which is more susceptible to abrasion.

Are multi-use blankets better than single-use blankets?
Recently, Texfire tested in its internal laboratories the most used materials to perform this kind of flame retardant solutions: silica fabrics and fiberglass fabrics.

The first conclusion we found was that blankets tailored with Silica fabric resist high temperatures during more time than the ones tailored in fiberglass, and so then, silica fabric blankets could be better. In addition, according to some manufacturers, silica blankets can be used in several occasions.

According to the obtained results and with the aim of performing a real test in a burning car, Texfire created blankets with the two best performance fabrics shown in the laboratory.:

Silica fabric with coating (multi-use blankets)
Fiberglass fabric with coating (single-use blankets)

Once tested in a real environment with flaming vehicles, the result shown that both blankets were both effective and performed fire suffocation.

Silica blankets resist high temperatures during more time, but being the origin of their fibers a mineral one, they usually become wizened and break easily if not used carefully, a fact that doesn’t usually happen during an emergency.

In the other hand, besides that fiberglass is an economic material, fiberglass blankets with coating were as effective as the other type and shown a higher mechanical resistance, flexibility and also easier to handle due to their weight.

Is it suitable to use car fire blankets more than once?
When a car fire blanket is used, the chances to suffer some damage are high: Burns or holes, fuel rests, glasses, plastics, and metals that may have melted and stuck during combustion, contamination with propellants and corrosive acids, etc.

The Texfire fire blanket can be used several times as long as it has not been seriously damaged in any of its uses. The customer is responsible for checking that the blanket is in perfect condition and, if necessary, also for decontaminating it after each use, as well as for folding and storing it correctly.