fire blanket

Safety equipment that’s specifically designed for welders is a must-have for any welding project. Whether it’s a welding blanket or a fire blanket, these pieces of equipment will go a long way in making sure that welders don’t get splatters of molten metal everywhere in a welding process. But what is the difference between a welding blanket and a fire blanket and what are each used for?

What’s the difference between a Welding Blanket and a Fire Blanket?

Welding Blanket

A welding blanket protects the welder and the surrounding areas during the welding process. It consists of a layer containing expanded vermiculite, a flexible protective material, and inorganic heat-resistant fibrous material. These layers maintain the structural integrity of the blanket. However, there are different classes of welding blankets because welding techniques are different.

Welding blankets can be made with various materials such as silicate, aluminum paper, polyurethane, graphite, clay, and other coverings that are preferred depending on technical features. Some welding blankets can be used for horizontal or vertical applications, or one-sided or both, to give protection for high or low-intensity welding jobs or for cutting techniques. Some blankets can also have a higher capacity such as a thermal or electric insulator.

A fire blanket is a safety device that is used to extinguish starting (incipient) fires. It is made of a sheet of fire retardant material that is placed over a fire to smother it. Most fire blankets in the kitchens and in the home are made of glass fiber and kevlar. These are folded into a quick-release contraption for easy storage. These nonflammable blankets can put a stop to fires up to 900 degrees. Fire blankets are great for emergency situations. This is because they’re designed with quick-release capabilities.

For welding jobs, fire blankets are usually made from high-temperature fiberglass woven fabric. The fabric can be uncoated or coated. They provide protection from slag generated by welding or metal-cutting applications. Standard sizes include 1m x 2m or 2m x 2m.

Welding Thermal Blankets vs Welding Fire Blankets

A welding thermal blanket is used by placing it in direct contact with welded material to decrease the temperature of the welded object gradually. This is done to achieve optimal welding quality. A special kind of mineral, like vermiculite, finishes the job with a higher thermal isolator degree.

A welding fire blanket, on the other hand, is used to repel sparks, slags, and melted metal from welding points. They also serve as a thermal barrier against hot fragments. They could be used vertically or horizontally depending on welding contexts.

Both welding blankets and fire blankets are designed to protect welders not only from splashes and sparks but also against fire and heat. Aside from that, equipment like this offers high security and protection because they meet regulations ISO 9185 for splashes from big chunks of melted metal and EN ISO 11611 for welding and other related techniques

Welding blankets for Grilling
Welding blankets for outdoor camping
Welding blankets for home emergencies

What are welding blankets used for? Just by the name itself, welding blankets are used for, of course, welding. But because of the materials used in manufacturing them which makes them heat resistant, welding blankets, whichever type you have – leather welding blankets, fiber welding blankets, or felt welding blankets – have been proven to be of use for different purposes by different people. Here we give you the other ways welding blankets can be used aside from welding.

The best welding blankets are known for their protective features. It’s fire retardant making it highly effective in protecting welders and their equipment and other materials against heat, sparks, and splatters. It’s also very useful while grinding, cutting, and any other activity that creates heat. Because of these, people have found out that it can be used for other purposes at home or even outdoors.

3 Other Ways to use Welding Blankets

Below you find 3 other ways welding blankets can be used apart from its main purpose for welders. Here we see how people can get really creative when it comes to using things around them which they can find useful in different situations.

Welding Blankets used for Grilling

Who doesn’t love flame-grilled burgers? Families everywhere would get together in their own backyard, most especially during the 4th of July, to celebrate over grilled burgers or barbecue.

If there’s one thing that you can’t have whenever you grill is to have undercooked or burnt meat.

To make sure that doesn’t happen, you need a significant amount of direct and radiant heat to make sure you grill those burgers well. But what if you wanted to grill even during the cold weather or even when it’s rainy or windy? This is where welding blankets become useful.

What you need to do is to take a welding blanket and wrap it around your cooking chamber or smoker. The blanket protects it from rain or wind and most importantly insulates the grill giving you the perfect amount of heat you need while stabilizing it longer burning less fuel or pellets. It’s efficient and it doesn’t cost that much. Make sure you have a welding blanket the next time you get the whole family for an outdoor grill soon.

Welding Blankets for Outdoor camping

Aside from using welding blankets for grilling, many also use it to make bonfires when camping to protect the lawn underneath. Welding blankets are not 100% fireproof (read more about this below) but they are fire-resistant up top a certain level of heat. Choosing a welding blanket that can withstand very high temperatures will do the job.

For outdoor camping, welding blankets can also be used in case of emergencies as a fire blanket to extinguish starting fires. Most welding blankets are made of fiberglass which makes it very heat resistant and could withstand high temperatures making it the perfect tool to put off the incipient fire.

Welding Blankets at home for safety

Next on the list is using welding blankets at home in the kitchen in case of emergencies to put off starting fires as well. It protects everyone at home, it protects goods, and it doesn’t need any maintenance at all. Just keep and store it in a place where it can be easily seen and reached by anyone at home in case of a fire. Restaurants are also encouraged to have welding blankets aside from fire extinguishers to have adequate displays to prevent and fight against fires.

Other things you need to know about Welding Blankets

Are welding blankets fireproof?

When you say fireproof, it means it is able to withstand fire or great heat. If we use this definition, then yes, welding blankets are fireproof but they also have certain limits when it comes to temperature resistance and that depends on the kind of material they’re made of.

Fiberglass welding blankets, for example, can stand working temperatures ranging from 300-2,300 degrees Fahrenheit while Felt welding blankets can only stand working temperatures of up to 1800 degrees Fahrenheit.

Are welding blankets waterproof?

Welding blankets are not 100% waterproof but they are water-resistant. Let’s not forget that welding blankets are still primarily to protect welders against heat, sparks, and splatter and not really about protection against water.

Knowing welding blankets are useful for other things apart from welding – grilling, outdoor camping, and even at home – it would be wise to get a welding blanket that would work for the specific use you need it for. Read our blog on How do I Choose the right Welding Blanket?

Welding Blanket vs Fire Blanket: What’s the Difference?