Design and installation guide
AFFF foam: aqueous film and surface blankets on hydrocarbons
AFFF is the aqueous film-forming foam family. Fluorinated and hydrocarbon surfactants support a thin aqueous film alongside the blanket on suitable hydrocarbon fuels, helping limit vapour release and control fire.
Selection for gasoline, diesel or aviation-fuel hazards follows actual fuel and hardware. Standard AFFF does not replace alcohol-resistant concentrate on water-miscible polar solvents. Current environmental conditions and suitable NFF alternatives are considered in the same assessment.
01
How does the foam form and provide protection?
Concentrate chemistry, proportioning with water and application method together determine foam behaviour.
Preparing the solution
The proportioner introduces the selected AFFF at its specified volume ratio. Nominal concentration and actual proportioning are checked together. Operating flow and pressure losses determine the solution conditions at the outlet.
Film and blanket
An aqueous film and blanket contribute vapour control on suitable hydrocarbons. Spread and blanket performance vary with fuel, formulation, water and application. One spread rate or extinguishing time cannot describe every surface.
Cooling and reignition
Water contributes cooling, while blanket maintenance aims to reduce reignition. Flow, application density and duration are designed for the hazard, considering blanket disruption and fuel temperature.
02
Selection, hardware and product condition
Combustible material, product documentation and installed hardware are assessed together for appropriate selection.
Fuel and concentration
- Hydrocarbon scope
- Water miscibility, temperature and storage configuration are established. Class B designation alone is insufficient for solvents or blends. A validated AR product is selected where alcohol resistance is needed.
- Product-specific concentration
- Models may use concentrations such as 1%, 3% or 6%. These are not interchangeable settings; product data and approved application govern selection. Concentrate quantity follows solution flow and required duration.
Proportioning and discharge equipment
- Proportioning and discharge arrangement
- Branchpipes, monitors, chambers or sprinklers are matched to the product validated application. Aspirating and non-aspirating scope are checked separately. Flow range and solution distribution inform system calculations.
- Water and tank materials
- Fresh- or seawater suitability follows model documentation. Concentrate tanks, piping materials and any premix storage follow product instructions. Suitability for water piping does not establish compatibility with neat concentrate.
Storage, documentation and environment
- Preserving concentrate condition
- Storage temperature and tank materials follow manufacturer instructions. Evaporation, dilution and contamination are controlled, with batch identification and sample checks recorded. Different concentrates are not mixed without documented compatibility.
- Fluorinated ingredients and after-use management
- Safety information and conditions applicable at the project location are reviewed for fluorinated foam. Agent, wash water and contaminated firefighting water are collected appropriately. A transition to NFF also assesses hardware, fuel compatibility and legacy residues.
03
Applications and selection approach
The actual fuel, site conditions and validated scope of the selected model govern the following applications.
Fuel storage and transfer
- Application need
- Hydrocarbon surfaces and spill areas determine coverage.
- Selection approach
- A fuel-compatible model, discharge device and density are selected.
Aviation and response
- Application need
- Fuel fires and rapid-response equipment are considered together.
- Selection approach
- Required ICAO or other performance is verified for the specific model.
Existing fixed systems
- Application need
- Agent changes may affect hardware performance.
- Selection approach
- Existing AFFF arrangements and NFF transition needs are assessed for fuel, hydraulics and cleaning.
04
Checks considered together for this product
Scroll the table horizontally to view every column.
| Item | Product approach | Verification |
|---|---|---|
| Mechanism | Aqueous film and blanket on suitable fuel. | Product–fuel performance. |
| Polar solvents | Outside standard AFFF scope. | Fuel documentation for the required AR model. |
| Concentration | Selected product concentration. | Actual proportioning and required agent quantity. |
| Environmental transition | Fluorinated ingredients and suitable NFF options. | Use conditions, hardware and residue plan. |
A family description does not certify identical performance across manufacturers. Model values and approved application conditions are matched to current product data and the relevant documentation.
Share the combustible material, water supply and existing equipment so we can assess a suitable concentrate and application arrangement together.