Foam Extinguishers

Foam extinguishers contain water and a fire fighting foaming agent (usually called AFFF).

The foam smothers the fire by building a foam blanket over the fire, starving the fire of oxygen. The foam has also very good cooling properties, as the water evaporates and cools the surface and the liquid can penetrate absorbing materials such as soft furnishing and paper and tackle the fire in depth. The chemical used in foam extinguishers is often slightly carcinogenic, so care has to be taken when cleaning up after a fire and when disposing of old foam extinguishers. Small household foam extinguishers can be disposed of at the local recycling centre. Businesses need to either exchange, when they are buying new extinguishers, or ought to ask us for a quote to dispose of the extinguishers in a responsible way.

 

Foam extinguishers are used in offices, on soft furnishing, on liquid fire such as burning petrol (the foam builds a carpet over the liquid), fabrics and paper.