AFFF represents “aqueous film-forming foam.” It is a type of Firefighting Foam that's most commonly used by firefighters to extinguish Class B and Class A fires. Class B fires are those who involve flammable liquids, such as for example gasoline, oil, or paint, while Class A fires are those who involve combustible materials, such as for example wood or paper.
AFFF functions forming a thin layer of water at first glance of the burning liquid, which effectively smothers the fire and prevents it from spreading. Additionally, AFFF contains surfactants—substances that reduce the outer lining tension of water—that assist the water to spread more easily and evenly over the top of the liquid.
How AFFF Works ● Aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF) is a type of firefighting foam that's most commonly employed by firefighters to extinguish Class B and Class A fires. Class A fires are the ones that involve combustible materials like wood or paper, while Class B fires involve flammable liquids like paint, oil, or gasoline.
● To understand how AFFF works, it's first very important to understand how fire works. When a fire burns, it will so because three elements can be found: oxygen, heat, and fuel. The oxygen offers the air necessary for combustion, while the heat causes the fuel to ignite. Once ignited, the fuel begins to burn, releasing energy in the form of heat and light.
● If one of these brilliant three elements is removed, the fire should go out. This really is where AFFF comes in. When applied to a fire, AFFF forms a thin layer of water on top of the burning liquid. This effectively smothers the fire and prevents it from spreading. Surfactants, which lower water's surface tension, are another ingredient in AFFF. They allow it to be easier and more uniform for water to spread across a liquid's surface.
● Surfactants are specifically important when fighting fires involving liquids with high surface tensions, such as for example diesel fuel or crude oil. Without surfactants, these kind of liquids would repel water, making it hard for firefighters to extinguish them.
AFFF Firefighting Foam Lawsuit AFFF Firefighting foam lawsuit is a class action lawsuit that has been filed in the United States District Court for the District of South Carolina. This product has been used by the U.S. Military, as well as many fire departments throughout the country.
● The primary allegations in the lawsuit are that the firms knew or needs to have known that the chemicals in AFFF firefighting foam were dangerous and caused health conditions, nevertheless they failed to warn people or take steps to remove the chemicals from the product.
● The chemicals at issue, in this instance, are perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA).
● These chemicals have now been associated with cancer, along with, other health problems. The plaintiffs, in this case, are seeking compensatory and punitive damages. They are also seeking to have the companies remove these chemicals from AFFF firefighting foam and other products.
Conclusion: Aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF) is a significant tool in the fight against fires. By forming a thin layer of water on the surface of burning liquids, it effectively smothers flames and prevents them from spreading. Additionally, its surfactant content helps water to spread more evenly over surfaces with high surface tensions.