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A fireproof blanket to protect vital equipment, such as stored computer data,
has been developed by Darchem Engineering of Stockton-on-Tees (GB 2 335 482).
The flexible cladding, which can withstand temperatures of at least 1200 °C,
is a sandwich of three layers of ceramic fibre, each around 0.25 centimetres
thick, interspersed with layers of silicon-coated glass fibre and thin aluminium
foil. Plastic stitching and pins keeps the sandwich together. In a fire, the
plastic retainers melt, leaving the compressed fibres free to expand. The thin
blanket turns into a thick coat, providing highly effective insulation.