Is AFFF Class A or B?

Class B Foam (also called AFFF): Used to extinguish Class B materials, which include gasoline, oil, and jet fuel.

Is AFFF foam Class A or B?

Class B Fluorine-Containing Firefighting Foams

AFFF foams have the potential to create an adverse environmental impact if released uncontrolled to the environment, particularly if the foam solutions reach drinking water sources, groundwater, or surface waters.

Can AFFF be used on Class B fires?

Class B fires are typically extinguished by using AFFF, which are caused by flammable liquids such as alcohol, ether, oil, gasoline, and grease.

What is the difference between Class A foam and Class B foam?

There are many different types of foam for firefighting: Class A foam is used for combustibles, structural fires and wildfires; Class B foam is used for ignitable liquids, like gasoline and diesel; and polar solvent foams help extinguish alcohol-based liquids and alcohol-type fuels.

What class is a AFFF extinguisher?

An AFFF Foam fire extinguisher is effective on Class A and Class B fires. It can be applied to Class B liquid spills to prevent ignition. They are ideal for emergency first response vehicles. An FFFP Foam fire extinguisher is effective on Class A and Class B fires.

AFFF FOAM: The Good, The Bad, and the PFAS

What is Class A firefighting foam?

Class A Foam is specially formulated to make water more effective for firefighting. The surfactants in Class A foam significantly reduce water's surface tension and, when mixed with air, create a superior foam blanket that surrounds fuels with a thick foam blanket.

What type of fire is Class A?

There are four classes of fires: Class A: Ordinary solid combustibles such as paper, wood, cloth and some plastics. Class B: Flammable liquids such as alcohol, ether, oil, gasoline and grease, which are best extinguished by smothering.

What type of foam is AFFF?

Synthetic foams

Aqueous film forming foams (AFFF) are water-based and frequently contain hydrocarbon-based surfactant such as sodium alkyl sulfate, and fluorosurfactant, such as fluorotelomers, perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), or perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS).

What is the difference between AFFF and AR-AFFF?

AFFF and AR-AFFF consist of essentially the same ingredients. These typically include fluorosurfactants, hydrocarbon surfactants, solvents, inorganic salts, corrosion inhibitors, water; and in the case of AR- AFFF, a polymer which is typically a polysaccharide.

Can you mix Class A and Class B foam?

Class A and Class B foam should never be applied simultaneously or on top of one another. While mixing foams during foam application on scenes can render an operation ineffective, mixing foams in storage can cause the foam to degrade and become ineffective when used.

Is AFFF foam banned?

The military plans to phase out the use of firefighting foam containing PFOAs by October 2024, as directed in the National Defense Authorization Act of 2020. However, this deadline is still two and a half years away, leaving little protection for the people who are exposed in the meantime.

What are Class B foams effective on?

Class B Foam Agents are the ideal fire suppression choice for hazards involving flammable and combustible liquids. A foam blanket is formed that works to prevent the release of fuel vapor and separates the fuel from the air it needs to burn. The water content of the foam provides a cooling effect.

What is a AFFF fire extinguisher used for?

Aqueous Film Forming Foam (AFFF) is a fire suppressant used to extinguish flammable liquid fires such as fuel fires.

What is class B foam made of?

Class B foams can be protein foams or synthetic foams. Protein foams contain natural proteins and are generally biodegradable; synthetic foams are made of synthetic foaming agents.

What is class A foam made of?

Class A foams consist of a mixture of water, foam concentrate, and air. The composition of the foam depends on the proportion of the three components. The two most common methods for producing class A foam are nozzle-aspirated foam systems and compressed air foam systems (CAFS).

When using foam a Class B fire is extinguished by?

Foam extinguishes Class B Fires by covering the flammable liquid with a foam blanket, thus cutting off the oxygen supply from the combustion process. The water content of the foam will help lower the temperature of the flammable liquid.

How does class A foam work?

As a carbon-loving solution, Class A foam soaks into solid, combustible materials by breaking down the surface tension of the water. It helps the water penetrate the burning material to quickly suppress the fire and prevent rekindles.

What is Class C fire?

Class C. Class C fires involve energized electrical equipment. Extinguishers with a C rating are designed for use with fires involving energized electrical equipment.

Is AFFF considered hazardous waste?

AFFF constitutes a U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration hazardous material because of its physical hazards, such as skin and eye irritation. Discharge of wastewater and runoff containing AFFF on land, at sea, or to surface water bodies is also subject to regulation under the Clean Water Act.

Does Class B foam contain PFAS?

The vast majority of the Class B fire- fighting foam in stock or service in the United States is aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF) or alcohol-resistant aque- ous film-forming foam (AR-AFFF). 1 These foams contain PFAS. Class B foams that are fluorine-free do NOT contain PFAS.

How many types of foam expansion classification are there?

LOW EXPANSION FOAM: Foam aerated to an expansion ratio of between 2 to 1 and 20 to 1. MEDIUM EXPANSION FOAM: Expansion ratio between 20 to 1 and 200 to 1. HIGH EXPANSION FOAM: Expansion ratio above 200 to 1.

How many types of fire foam are there?

This standard amalgamates first three parts, namely, Part 1 Protein foam concentrate, Part 2 Aqueous film forming foam (AFFF) and Part 3 Fluoro-protein foam. The purpose of all the three types is same, that is, for use in Fire Extinguishing agent for Class 'A' and 'B' flammable liquid (Hydrocarbons) fires.

Which of these will qualify for Class B fire?

As alluded to above, Class B fires are ones in which flammable liquids and/or gases become involved. They are the fuel source in the fire triangle (fuel, heat, oxygen + chemical reaction). Flammable liquids include gasoline, diesel fuel, oils, tars, petroleum greases, solvents, alcohols, and oil-based paints.

Which is an example of a Class C fire?

A Class C fire is the burning of flammable gases, which can be very dangerous and highly explosive. These include gases such as butane and propane in gas canisters, which you'd expect to find in certain building trades. You will also find these with gas camping stoves and gas barbeques.

What are the 5 main classes of fire?