A youth centre usually needs more than just a fire extinguisher. That's why we'll look further than just fire extinguishers and give you a global overview of general fire protection in youth centres.
Fire is a real threat for youth centres and other buildings for youth. You often have several days where the building is unattended, there are electrical appliances, there's sometimes flammable decoration ... It's therefore important to pay attention to possible fire hazards and to take preventive measures against them.
Communication
- Draw up an emergency plan containing all the precautions, arrangements and steps of the evacuation plan.
- Hang up a list with the emergency numbers of the fire brigade, police, poison centre, ambulance ...
- Hang up evacuation guidelines and pictograms in the room.
Infrastructure
- Provide adequate fire-fighting equipment (fire blankets, fire extinguishers, etc.) and take care of it.
- Place flammable and hazardous products out of reach of members in a lockable metal case.
- Make sure that the escape routes and stairs are always clear and provide safety lighting close to the exits, evacuation routes and stairs.
Check it
- Test the fire safety of your youth centre annually on the basis of the fire safety checklist.
What is recommended?
- At least 1 powder extinguisher 6 kg: powder extinguishers can extinguish fire on the base of solids (class A), liquids (class B) and gases (class C) without any problems. Any gas heating, electrical appliance, but also other flammable liquids, can be extinguished quickly and efficiently. 6 kilograms is enough fire protection for an area of up to 150 m². The fire extinguisher must be placed in an easily accessible location. For larger areas, provide at least 1 fire extinguisher per 150m² per floor. If there's no risk of low temperatures in the room (below 5°C) then you can also opt for a 6l foam extinguisher. It causes less collateral damage, and powder is easier to clean up yourself. You can find more about basic protection with extinguishers in our article How many and which fire units/fire extinguishers do I need for professional use and apartments?
- 1 fire blanket 1.2m x 1.8m EN1869 approved: in kitchens, the presence of a fire blanket is a handy item. In the event of a fire, a fire blanket can be used immediately.
- 1 first aid kit: Immediate action is required in case of burns. If there are any minor injuries, this first aid kit can solve the first problems.
- 1 CO detector with digital screen: if gas heating is used, a CO detector is required. This was, you can check at any time if there's carbon monoxide present. This is an absolute must if you leave the room unattended for multiple days at a time.
- At least 1 smoke alarm: 1 smoke alarm per drop-in centre room/office space is recommended. This will inform you and your guests in time if there's a fire.
- Emergency lighting for the exit: when panic strikes, clarity is key. A clearly marked emergency exit can save lives.