Aqueous film forming foam abbreviated as AFFF, is used for suppressing fire. Fires caused from flammable liquid can also be extinguished by using AFFF. It is widely used in the suppression mechanisms used in the shore facility and shipboard. They are also used in fire fighting vehicles along with fire fighting centres. AFFF can be bought in concentrated form basically in 3% or 6% which is dependent on its combination proportion with water. When it is used or let out in the environment, cleaning up and containment might be needed for the prevention of further harmful impacts on health.
Before 2002, several Fluor surfactantsthat are utilized in AFFF which leads to the manufacture of AFFF comprised of compounds of precursors and PFOS that led to the formation of PFOA, PFOS and other PFAS that need concern. In that period of time, AFFFs that are based on long chained fluorotelomers that were also easy to avail. In the last few years, AFFF fluorotelomers manufacturers got replaced by the long term Fluor surfactants.
There are many different types of Aqueous film forming foam that are supplied by the AFFF suppliers UAE.These types include:
- Class A foams
These foams are created for the specific purpose of handling wildfires and are also used to control Class A fires like structural fires. They decrease the tension caused on surface of water which can suppress the fire and help in prevention of re ignition.
- Class B foams
Class B foams are developed to be effective on flammable liquids categorized under class B fires. These foams can be synthetic foams or protein foams. Protein foams comprise of organic proteins and are more biodegradable in nature. Synthetic foams are created through artificial foaming agents.
- Alcohol resistant foam
Foams that have high resistance to alcohol can work particularly for creating a layer of protection in which the burning material and foam, which keeps the alcohol in burning material from releasing the foam making it less or not effective at all.
- Medium-expansion foam
The proportion of expansion of these foams ranges from 20-100. This is why it is more effective for uses like liquid, rubber and plastic fires.
- Low expansion foams
These foams are low expansion. They have less viscosity and offer am expansion range of less than 20. The have high mobility and can be used for covering larger areas at once.
- High expansion foams
These are the best kind of foams to be used in enclosed areas.
This was everything you should know about aqueous film-forming foam supply and their uses. As far as their effectiveness is concerned, they can really help in fire suppression and extinguishment.
