Design and installation guide
AR-AFFF foam: protection for hydrocarbons and compatible polar solvents
AR-AFFF is the alcohol-resistant aqueous film-forming family. It combines film and blanket effects on suitable hydrocarbons with protection against foam breakdown on compatible polar solvents. Actual fuel information is central to mixed-liquid risk selection.
AR designation does not establish compatibility with every chemical. Fuel lists, concentration, application method and hardware scope follow model documentation. Özkartay assesses fluorinated families and alcohol-resistant NFF alternatives against facility performance and environmental requirements.
01
How does the foam form and provide protection?
Concentrate chemistry, proportioning with water and application method together determine foam behaviour.
Proportioning and solution
Concentrate is proportioned for the relevant fuel. Some models use the same concentration on hydrocarbons and polar solvents; others use different settings. Incorrect proportioning can affect the blanket and protective polymer layer.
Film on hydrocarbons
An aqueous film and blanket help limit vapour release on suitable hydrocarbons. Film behaviour depends on product, fuel and application conditions. Alcohol resistance extends the fuel scope of this mechanism.
Protective layer on polar solvents
A suitable AR formulation develops a layer that limits interaction between water-miscible fuel and foam. Application and blanket integrity matter. Forceful or gentle application suitability follows fuel- and model-specific testing.
02
Selection, hardware and product condition
Combustible material, product documentation and installed hardware are assessed together for appropriate selection.
Fuel and concentration
- Identify the fuel precisely
- Alcohol, ketone or solvent-blend type and composition are established. Documented fuel performance is matched to the material. Hydrocarbon approval does not automatically establish polar-solvent performance.
- Dual concentration notation
- Notations such as 3×3 or 3×6 identify hydrocarbon and polar-solvent concentrations for particular products, rather than one family-wide setting. Each fuel concentration is checked in the product instructions.
Proportioning and discharge equipment
- Viscosity and proportioner
- Polymer-containing products can have flow-dependent viscosity. Pumps, suction piping and proportioners are assessed at the lowest operating temperature and required flows. Equal nominal concentrations do not establish identical behaviour in existing equipment.
- Discharge and water suitability
- Chambers, branchpipes, monitors or sprinklers follow the model scope. Application method is checked separately for polar solvents. Fresh, sea or hard-water suitability comes from product-specific documentation.
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.
Paint and chemical production
- Application need
- Multiple solvents or fuel blends may be present.
- Selection approach
- AR performance, concentration and suitable NFF options are assessed for the material.
Solvent storage and transfer
- Application need
- Storage and spill arrangements vary with fuel properties.
- Selection approach
- Validated blanket arrangements and duration are selected for fuel and equipment.
Multiple-fuel response
- Application need
- Mobile equipment may need to address different liquids.
- Selection approach
- Fuel scope, concentration changes and operator instructions are defined clearly.
04
Checks considered together for this product
Scroll the table horizontally to view every column.
| Item | Product approach | Verification |
|---|---|---|
| Hydrocarbons | Film and blanket on suitable fuels. | Model hydrocarbon performance. |
| Polar solvents | Alcohol-resistant protective structure. | Actual fuel and application method. |
| Concentration | Single- or dual-concentration model. | Concentration and proportioning for each fuel. |
| NFF alternative | Compatible AR-SFFF options may be assessed. | Hardware, approval and transition cleaning. |
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.