Foam Fire Extinguishers

What are Foam Fire Extinguishers?

Foam fire extinguishers can be used on both Class A fires, which involve solid combustibles such as wood or textiles, and Class B fires, which involve flammable liquids such as petrol or diesel. They can be recognised by their cream label stating 'Foam'.

The most common size is 6 litres although they are available in a range of sizes from 1 litre up to 9 litres. If the foam fire extinguisher has passed the 35kV conductivity test, it is safe for accidental use on electrical equipment, which increases the operator's safety.

How do Foam Fire Extinguishers work?

Foam fire extinguishers work in two ways. Firstly, they are mostly water-based so have the same cooling effect on the fuel as water fire extinguishers, and put out the fire by lowering the temperature. Secondly, and what differentiates them from water extinguishers, is the addition of 'Aqueous Film Forming Foam', or 'AFFF'. This foam smothers the fire, and seals in the flammable vapours. This creates a barrier between the flammable liquid's surface and the flames which is foam extinguishers can be used effectively on class B fires.

What are the benefits of using Foam fire extinguishers?

Foam fire extinguishers are very useful in spaces with more than one type of hazards such as offices, warehouses and commercial spaces. Due to their ability to combat flammable liquid fires, they are also advantageous to have in vehicles and boats. Especially when paired with CO2 extinguishers for electrical fires, they offer well-rounded fire safety for most premises. 

Foam extinguishers are designed to prevent re-ignition, they are lighter than the closest equivalent water extinguishers, and are non-toxic and non-damaging to the majority of materials. 

Which foam fire extinguishers are in the First Mats range?

Our foam fire extinguishers come in a wide variety of sizes, to suit different customers needs. 

For example, our 2 Litre foam extinguisher (FXF2) is perfect for use in smaller vehicles, and a great accompaniment to a tradesperson's toolkit. In the same XTR range, we offer a 9 Litre extinguisher (FXF9), ideal for large commercial or industrial environments with its impressive fire rating! Or, if high-quality design and aesthetics are important considerations for your space, we have the 6Ltr (FXF6) and 9Ltr (FXF9) polished stainless steel extinguishers. 

Why buy foam fire extinguishers from First Mats?

All of our Foam Fire Extinguishers are designed, developed and tested in the UK, so you know you are buying reliable, high performance fire safety at a competitive price. And, with our excellent Trustpilot rating of 4.9 out of 5, we pride ourselves on our reputation for great customer service and quality products. If you have any queries or questions about this range of foam extinguishers or any other product on our website, please feel free to contact our friendly and knowledgeable team.