Fit a kitchen fire blanket to a timber stud wall

Fix a fire blanket bracket to a kitchen stud wall, near the cooker, so it's ready to grab fast.

FB-01Pick the right spotChoose a spot near the cooker but not directly above the hob, so you can reach it without leaning over flames. Somewhere near the kitchen door works well, so you can grab it on your way past. Fix it at about 1400-1600mm from the floor so most adults can reach it easily.

1 each · Fire blanket (BS EN 1869 certified, with mounting bracket)

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1 each · Tape measure

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1 each · Pencil

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FB-02Confirm you've got a timber stud, not a metal oneRun a detector or magnet across the wall to find the screw heads holding the plasterboard on - if they're spaced roughly every 400mm or 600mm in a vertical line, that's your stud. Drill a tiny 3mm pilot hole in the centre of that line: fine pale dust means timber, and shiny metal swarf means a metal stud. Flats, new builds, and anything refitted since the 1990s often use metal studs, so don't assume.

1 each · Stud/cable detector

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1 each · Drill with 3mm bit

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FB-03Check for cables and pipes before you drillCables and pipes can run almost anywhere behind a wall, and a detector can miss ones that are deep, in metal conduit, or behind metal-backed plasterboard - a metal stud frame can also confuse cheap detectors. Before you drill, find your stopcock (usually under the kitchen sink) and check it turns, so you can shut the water off fast if you hit a pipe. If you have any doubt at all, turn off the relevant circuit at the consumer unit before drilling.

FB-04Mark and drill the fixing holeHold the bracket against the wall at your chosen height and use a spirit level to keep it straight. Mark the screw hole positions with a pencil, making sure they line up with the centre of the timber stud you found. Drill a 2.5mm pilot hole about 5mm deep into the centre of the stud for each screw - this stops the wood splitting.

1 each · Spirit level

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1 each · Drill with 2.5mm pilot bit

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FB-05Screw the bracket to the studDrive a 4x40mm wood screw into the centre of the timber stud through each pilot hole, using a screwdriver or drill on a low torque setting. Don't overtighten - stop once the bracket is snug against the wall. If your pilot hole test in FB-02 showed metal swarf instead of timber dust, stop here: use a self-drilling metal-stud fixing instead, never a plain wood screw, which will strip straight through 0.5mm steel.

2 each · Wood screws, 4x40mm

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2 each · Self-drilling metal-stud fixings (only if wall is metal stud)

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FB-06Fit the blanket and test the releaseSlide the fire blanket's fabric case onto the bracket until it clicks or sits firmly in place. Give the bracket a firm downward tug to check it's solid on the wall. Pull the release tab or cord gently to check the blanket comes free easily - you need it to come out fast in an emergency, not jam.

RULES

KNOW THE RULES

There's no legal requirement to fit a fire blanket in a private home, but always buy one certified to BS EN 1869, the recognised UK safety standard for fire blankets.

FB-07Tidy upVacuum up any drilling dust from the worktop and floor, especially near food preparation areas. Wipe down the wall and worktop with a damp cloth. Keep the blanket's instructions somewhere safe so anyone in the house knows how to use it.

1 each · Vacuum cleaner

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1 each · Cleaning cloth

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