AFFF represents “aqueous film-forming foam.” It is a form of Firefighting Foam that is most commonly used by firefighters to extinguish Class B and Class A fires. Class B fires are the ones that involve flammable liquids, such as for instance gasoline, oil, or paint, while Class A fires are the ones that involve combustible materials, such as for example wood or paper.
AFFF functions forming a slim 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 top tension of water—that assist the water to spread more easily and evenly over the outer lining of the liquid.
How AFFF Works
● Aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF) is a type of firefighting foam that's most commonly utilized by firefighters to extinguish Class B and Class A fires. Class A fires are those who involve combustible materials like wood or paper, while Class B fires involve flammable liquids like paint, oil, or gasoline.
● To know how AFFF works, it's first vital that you know how fire works. Each time a fire burns, it does so because three elements can be found: oxygen, heat, and fuel. The oxygen provides the air required for combustion, while the warmth causes the fuel to ignite. Once ignited, the fuel begins to burn, releasing energy in the shape of heat and light.
● If one of these brilliant three elements is removed, the fire will go out. This really is where AFFF comes in. When put on a fire, AFFF forms a slim 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 make it easier and more uniform for water to spread across a liquid's surface.
● Surfactants are specially important when fighting fires involving liquids with high surface tensions, such as for instance diesel fuel or crude oil. Without surfactants, these kinds of liquids would repel water, which makes it problematic for firefighters to extinguish them.
AFFF Firefighting Foam Lawsuit
AFFF Firefighting foam lawsuit is really a class action lawsuit which was filed in the United States District Court for the District of South Carolina. This device has been employed by the U.S. Military, as well as many fire departments over the country.
● The principal allegations in the lawsuit are that the firms knew or should have known that the chemicals in AFFF firefighting foam were dangerous and caused health problems, but they didn't warn people or take steps to remove the chemicals from the product.
● The chemicals at issue, in this case, are perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA).
● These chemicals have already been associated with cancer, in addition to, other health problems. The plaintiffs, in cases like this, 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.
For more details check out AFFF Firefighting Foam Lawsuit.
No comments yet