Not True! Foam extinguishers have capabilities that cannot be found in any other fire extinguisher; therefore they have a place anywhere flammable liquids are located and spills could occur.

Prevent Ignition
Foam extinguishers can be applied to a spill to prevent ignition. Dry Chemical, water, CO2, Halon 1211 and Halon substitutes only work if there is a fire. Why wait for ignition to occur? By applying foam prior to clean up and disposal operations, a greater margin of safety can be achieved.

Easy to Apply
It is very easy to apply foam, which assures success for almost any operator. Dry Chemical must be applied correctly or the fire will not go out. On a hydrocarbon spill, foam is almost as easy as “put the wet stuff on the red stuff”. On a polar solvent spill (such as alcohol, acetone and others), it only has to be bounced in front of the spill. No other agent is easier or more forgiving. (See Common Myth #24)

Where to Use
Paint stores, hardware stores, filling stations, printers, wood finishers, pipelines, maintenance departments, paint departments, anywhere flammable liquids sold or stored represents a need for foam extinguishers.

How to Demonstrate
One of the best ways to demonstrate the difference between foam and dry chemical is to ALWAYS SHOW IT LAST DURING A LIVE FIRE TRAINING SESSION. You need to show it last because re-lighting the fire for more training will be difficult. Showing it last will give everyone a better appreciation for it after struggling with dry chemical. You will be surprised at how useful the extinguisher is. So will your customers. (See Common Myth #20)