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Foam Fire Extinguishers

UK Approved Foam Fire Extinguishers with Fast Delivery

Foam fire extinguishers are highly versatile and can be used on both solids and certain types of burning liquids, such as paint, turpentine or petrol. Although more limited in their application, when paired with a CO2 extinguisher foam fire extinguishers are a versatile piece of kit that can be used on a wide range of fires.

As they are much lighter than other types of extinguishers, foam fire extinguishers are very user friendly and are, for the most part, non-toxic and will not cause long-term damage to most materials. Care should be taken, however, if using a foam fire extinguisher on small electrical fires.

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What is a Foam Fire Extinguisher Used For?


A foam fire extinguisher is a common fire safety device and is found in most businesses. The acronym AFFF stands for Aqueous Film Forming Foam, so an AFFF fire extinguisher and a foam fire extinguisher are one and the same.

If you are uncertain, just look for the typical cream foam extinguisher colour. A foam fire extinguisher is used for general types of fires. Although it works on flammable liquids, a foam fire extinguisher should not be used on cooking oils and fats. Seton’s fire safety bundle kit has everything from a foam fire extinguisher to first aid supplies to get you started.

Foam fire extinguishers are best used on fires involving solid combustible and organic materials, such as wood or paper, as well as certain types of liquids and chemicals. It should be noted, however, that this does not include Class F fires, meaning those involving cooking oils and fats, or Class C fires, such as those involving flammable gases.

Foam fire extinguishers are typically found in industrial settings, such as warehouses and factories, and would not generally be recommended for domestic use or in commercial kitchens, although certain foam extinguishers are rated for use on Class A,B and F fires such as our Multichem 6L Fire Extinguisher.

Although not specifically designed for electrical fires, foam fire extinguishers can be used on smaller electrical appliance fires if the extinguisher has passed the 35k conductivity test. This is an additional safety measure intended to protect individuals from inadvertently using a foam fire extinguisher on an electrical fire. This greatly reduces the risk of the user getting an electric shock. However, it is still generally recommended to pair a foam fire extinguisher with one specifically designed for putting out electrical fires, such as a CO2 Fire Extinguisher, in most environments to have the majority eventualities covered. See our full range of Fire Extinguisher Storage & Accessories for all of your extinguisher display and storage needs.

How to Identify Foam Fire Extinguishers

Foam fire extinguishers are identifiable by a cream label on the cannister, or by the words ‘Foam’ in large cream text.

Most foam fire extinguishers are water based and use a foaming agent, known as aqueous film forming foam, which allows the foam to form and then float on top of the burning liquid. This creates a sealed barrier between the flames and the surface of the burning substance, which prevents the fire from continuing to burn by rapidly cooling the affected substance. The foam barrier then works to smother the fire and seal in the flammable vapours, thus preventing the flames from reigniting.

Foam Fire Extinguisher Use

If you are using a foam fire extinguisher on a solid material, simply point the nozzle at the base of the flames and cover the entire affected area until the flames have died out. When using this type of extinguisher on a contained liquid fire, do not point the jet straight into the centre of the fire. Instead, work from the outside in, slowly covering as much of the affected as possible until the fire is completely extinguished.

Applying the foam with this method will ensure that the fire does not splash and spread. If you are using the extinguisher on a free-flowing liquid fire, spray the foam in a gentle but steady sweeping movement across the top of the enflamed substance. This will allow the foam to drop down and settle on top of the burning liquid.

Do I Need a Foam Fire Extinguisher?

This will depend on the flammable substances you have on your premises. A foam fire extinguisher, also known as Class B fire extinguisher, or sometimes as an AFFF foam fire extinguisher, is commonly used as a fire extinguisher for wood and paper fires, as well as for fires caused by flammable liquids. These are good fire extinguishers for petrol, diesel or oil fires. For this reason, a foam fire extinguisher can be a useful fire extinguisher for petrol station settings, or other forecourts and workshop areas where cars and vehicles are stored or worked on. If you are looking for a fire extinguisher for petrol pump areas, in garages or marinas, for example, a foam fire extinguisher might also be the appropriate fire extinguisher for you.

How Does a Foam Fire Extinguisher Work?

A foam fire extinguisher actually works in two different ways. They are mainly water-based and so work in a similar way to water extinguishers, putting out the fire by simply lowering the temperature. However, they also contain aqueous film-forming foam, which is why they are also commonly known as AFFF foam fire extinguishers. This works by effectively smothering the fire and sealing in the flammable vapours so that the fire cannot reignite. This also means that foam fire extinguishers are good for putting out flammable liquid fires as they create a barrier between the surface of the flammable liquid and the flames themselves.

What Are the Best Foam Fire Extinguishers For My Business Premises?

Depending on specific conditions in your workplace, you may need a number of foam fire extinguishers, perhaps in conjunction with other types of fire extinguishers, such as CO2 or dry powder extinguishers. Here are a few of our most popular AFFF foam fire extinguishers:

  • Commander Edge 6L MultiCHEM Foam Fire Extinguisher — This versatile foam fire extinguisher is actually an ABF extinguisher, and is safe if inadvertently used on electrical fires. It is suitable for marine applications (MED ‘Ships Wheel’ approved).

  • Seton AFFF Foam Fire Extinguisher — This foam fire extinguisher is a fast and powerful means of tackling Class A and Class B fires, and is reasonably affordable. It is supplied fully charged and includes brackets for easy mounting.

  • Mobile Foam Fire Extinguishers — These large, wheeled, foam fire extinguishers are easy to move around, and are ideal for use in warehouses, petrol stations and fuel storage areas.


Here at Seton, we have a wide range of foam fire extinguishers. If you have any questions, feel free to call us and talk about your needs and requirements with one of our friendly experts.