Why water alone fails on fuel fires
Water is heavier than most fuels and sinks beneath them, so spraying it on a burning flammable liquid can spread the fire rather than stop it. Foam works differently: it floats a stable blanket on the fuel surface that smothers the flames, seals in flammable vapour, and cools — the correct approach for Class B (flammable-liquid) hazards.
How firefighting foam works
Foam concentrate is mixed with water and air to create an expanded blanket that controls a fire three ways: it separates the flame from the fuel, suppresses flammable vapours, and cools the fuel and nearby surfaces — which together also help prevent re-ignition.
Foam types by expansion ratio
| Type | Expansion ratio | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| Low expansion | up to ~20:1 | Fuel spill & storage fires, foam-water sprinkler / deluge, monitors, car parks |
| Medium expansion | ~20:1 to 200:1 | Bunded areas and spill / vapour control |
| High expansion | ~200:1 to 1000:1 | Total-flooding of enclosed spaces — warehouses, hangars, basements |
Foam concentrates: AFFF, AR-AFFF and fluorine-free (F3)
AFFF (aqueous film-forming foam) and AR-AFFF (alcohol-resistant, for polar/alcohol fuels) are widely used. Because of environmental and health concerns over PFAS “forever chemicals”, the industry is transitioning to fluorine-free foams (F3). What is permitted or required varies by jurisdiction and is changing — we confirm the right, compliant concentrate for your site.
Getting the mix right: proportioning
Performance depends on dosing the concentrate at the correct ratio (commonly 1%, 3% or 6%). This is done with bladder (pressure-proportioning) tanks, inline inductors or balanced-pressure pumps, sized to the hazard and water supply — usually alongside fire pumps and a foam-water sprinkler or deluge system.
Where foam is used in the UAE
- Car parks and basements
- Fuel and flammable-liquid storage, and tank farms
- Warehouses storing flammable goods
- Aircraft hangars and helidecks
- Processing and industrial areas
Exact requirements are set by the UAE Fire & Life Safety Code and your Civil Defence authority after a hazard assessment.
Standards & design
Foam systems are designed to NFPA 11 (low-, medium- and high-expansion foam) and NFPA 16 (foam-water sprinkler and deluge), within the UAE Fire and Life Safety Code. Correct selection depends on the fuel, the hazard geometry and the required discharge density.
Maintenance & foam-quality testing
Foam concentrate degrades over time, so systems need scheduled inspection, proportioning checks and periodic foam-concentrate quality testing, plus discharge testing where required — all kept current under an Annual Maintenance Contract with records ready for Civil Defence.
Need a foam system specified, installed or serviced? See our foam systems or request a quote.
General guidance for the UAE. The final foam type, concentration, system design and testing intervals follow the UAE Fire and Life Safety Code, the governing NFPA standard and your Civil Defence authority — our team confirms the compliant solution for your site.
Frequently asked questions
Why not just use water sprinklers for fuel fires?
Water can sink under and spread burning liquids; foam floats a blanket that smothers the fire and seals in vapour — the correct method for Class B (flammable-liquid) fuels.
Is AFFF being banned?
PFAS-based foams face tightening restrictions and the industry is moving to fluorine-free (F3) foams; what is required varies by jurisdiction and is changing — we confirm a compliant concentrate for your site.
How often are foam systems tested?
They are inspected and maintained on a schedule and the concentrate is quality-tested periodically per the standard and Civil Defence; an AMC keeps this current.