Fluorinated type foam concentrates entered the market in the late 1960’s and early 1970’s as the end all beat all product for Class B (only) fires. Fluorine foam concentrates were never intended for use on Class A fires. Fluorine foams varied for hydrocarbon types – alcohol or non-alcohol and basically worked by creating a film over a “contained” hydrocarbon fuel, basically sealing off the flammable/combustible vapor production. That’s why AFFF was called Aquis (Water) Film Forming Foam.
One reason why these foams worked so well was the combination of the film combined with the bubble blanket to suppress the flammable liquid vapors.
Circa 2020, all fluorine type foams were banned due to the poly-fluorine (PFO’s, PFOA’s) molecules being identified as “Forever” cancer causing products. The “Forever” term is due to the fact that the PFOA’s & PFA’s molecules do not breakdown and remain “forever” in the environment and in the body.
Poly-fluorine chemicals may have been used in many products in the Class B concentrate arena including in both foaming and non-foaming concentrates.
It is rumored that fluorine foam concentrates may still be out there for two reasons – 1) some agencies with large stock piles of fluorine type concentrates may be reluctant from a cost standpoint to replace the product and 2) Some less scrupulous manufacturers might have large quantities of the base product and will continue to use snake-oil sales tactics to sell off the remaining product to unsuspecting FD’s. BUYER BEWARE!!! Especially if the product is being sold at low cost and the seller is reluctant to identify the chemical ingredients, Sales tactics include “Bait & Switch” whereby the product utilized in “miraculous” demonstrations is not the same product delivered to the customer.
Fluorinated concentrates have been BANNED!!!
