If fluorinated foams such as AFFF and FFFP can cause environmental damage, is it possible to use fluorosurfactant free foams in extinguishers?
This would be the ideal solution to the problem – but it is not possible. An extinguisher contains a relatively small amount of liquid and requires the intervention of a physical barrier to shut off the oxygen to the fire. This barrier is achieved by forming a film on the surface of the liquid fuel (Class B). The fluorosurfactant provides this film or barrier. The minimum ratings required in the European Standard EN3 cannot be achieved without this film formation.
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