AFFF Fire Extinguisher

AFFF Foam Fire Extinguishers

Uses of The AFFF Fire Extinguisher

The AFFF fire extinguisher (pronounced A triple F) is suitable for use on class A and B fires, which means combustible organic materials such as paper, card, wood and textiles, as well as fires involving flammable liquids such as petrol or oils. They are therefore quite a flexible extinguisher and can be used in any situation where you would normally use a water extinguisher, so are good for general all round use.

AFFF stands for Aqueous Film Forming Foam and weight for weight they are more effective than water extinguishers. A smaller and lighter AFFF fire extinguisher should have a higher fire extinguisher rating than a larger and heavier water extinguisher.

An AFFF foam fire extinguisher works by smothering the fuel and thereby reducing the oxygen supply so that it cannot continue burning. There is also a cooling effect as the water in the foam evaporates, which also helps to stop combustion and prevent the fire re-igniting. Another benefit is that the foam helps to seal in harmful gases preventing their potentially damaging spread into the area around the fire. They are usually fitted with dielectrical nozzles which make them safer to use around electricity, but they are not meant to be used directly on electrical fires.

Development Of The AFFF Fire Extinguisher

An AFFF Fire Extinguisher uses what is known as a low expansion foam, which means is expands its size by less than 20 times. This makes AFFF foam very mobile and easy to cover substantial areas quickly.

AFFF foam was first developed in the 1960s by the US Navy. The low viscosity of the foam allows it to spread quickly over the top of most burning liquids. A film of water forms underneath the foam, which has a cooling effect and also smothers the fuel preventing combustion and trapping noxious vapours.

A further development took place in the 1970s with the development of alcohol resistant foam or AR-AFFF. This is important because some substances could react with the water in normal AFFF foam which then destroyed the structure of the foam. These special new foams were resistant to alcohol and could therefore be effectively used on a wider range of fires.

How To Use An AFFF Foam Fire Extinguisher

Operating instructions are very much the same as other extinguishers when it comes to fires on wood, paper, etc. Pull out the pin and squeeze the lever, then aim the jet of foam towards the base of the flames, moving it back and forth across the fire.

If you are using an AFFF extinguisher on a liquid fire, do not aim directly at the fire or you may disperse and spread it further. Look for a vertical surface that you can aim the foam at so that it can then drop down onto the fire more gently. If the fire is contained in a container with walls, aim at the inside edge of the container and allow the foam to build up and spread across from there.

Considerations When Buying An AFFF Foam Extinguisher

There are certain nationally recognised standards when it comes to purchasing fire fighting equipment, and it is useful to be aware of some of the things you can look out for when you are thinking of buying an AFFF fire extinguisher or any other similar type of appliance.

The European Standard, BS EN 3 is a sign that the equipment meets the European standard and that it has passed particular tests of quality and safety. Another standard to look for is the British Standards Kitemark, which confirms that the appliance has met particular requirements set by the British Standard.

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13A/113B Fire Rating

Safe for use on wood, paper, textiles and flammable liquids
BS EN 3:1996 Approved & Kitemarked
5 Year Manufacturers Warranty