A foam fire extinguisher (AFFF extinguisher) is a water-based unit for Class A fires in ordinary solids such as wood, paper and cardboard, and Class B fires in flammable liquids such as petrol, diesel and petroleum oils. The foam blankets the burning liquid and seals it off, which reduces the chance of re-ignition. It is not for live electrical equipment and not for cooking oil fires in commercial kitchens.
This guide explains when to choose foam over dry powder, how to read the rating on the label, and how the 6, 9, 10 and 12 litre sizes differ, using the official datasheet for the Falcon Gold standard portable foam fire extinguishers that AZEIDK supplies in Saudi Arabia.
Key takeaways
- The Falcon Gold datasheet rates its foam extinguishers for Classes A and B only. They suit areas where petroleum liquids sit alongside ordinary combustibles.
- Do not use them on live electrical equipment or cooking oil. Commercial kitchens need dedicated solutions.
- Standard series: FF6L (13A 113B), FF9L (21A 183B), FF10L (27A 183B) and FF12L (34A 233B).
- A separate BSI Kitemark version of FF6L and FF9L has its own datasheet and different ratings, so state the version when you order.
- AFFF extinguishers are hydrostatically tested every 5 years (OSHA Table L-1 and NFPA 10) and must be recharged after any use.
In this article
- What is a foam extinguisher and how does it work?
- Which fires is a foam fire extinguisher suitable for?
- Foam vs dry powder: what is the difference?
- Falcon Gold foam extinguisher sizes: 6 to 12 litres
- Which foam extinguisher size suits your facility?
- How to use a foam extinguisher on a liquid fire
- Conformity, approvals and PFAS
- Common mistakes with foam extinguishers
- Frequently asked questions
- Conclusion
What is a foam extinguisher and how does it work?
The cylinder holds a water solution premixed with AFFF (aqueous film forming foam). Pressure drives it through a hose and nozzle that mixes it with air, so it leaves as foam. The Falcon Gold datasheet describes AFFF as an agent that seals the burning surface against ignition: it forms a layer over the burning liquid that keeps its vapours away from the air.
On solid materials, the water in the solution cools and wets the burning material, which is why foam carries a Class A rating as well as Class B. In the Falcon Gold standard series the cylinder is cold rolled steel sheet with an electrostatic polyester epoxy finish. It is coated internally against rust and corrosion, with an operating pressure of 15 bar and a test pressure of 30 bar.
Which fires is a foam fire extinguisher suitable for?
The datasheet lists fire classes A and B only. It gives no rating for electrical fires or cooking oils. In practice:
| Fire type | Examples | AFFF foam extinguisher |
|---|---|---|
| Class A: solids | Wood, paper, cardboard, textiles, many plastics | Suitable |
| Class B: hydrocarbon liquids | Petrol, diesel, engine oil, paints | Suitable; blankets the surface |
| Polar solvents | Methanol, acetone, some solvents | Only if the extinguisher label says so |
| Live electrical equipment | Distribution boards, motors, cables | Not suitable: isolate power or use CO2 |
| Cooking oils | Restaurant fryers and grills | Not suitable: wet chemical extinguisher plus hood suppression |
| Combustible metals | Magnesium, sodium | Not suitable |
Why not on electrical equipment?
A water-based solution conducts electricity. Under EN 3-7, a manufacturer may label a water-based extinguisher for use on live electrical equipment only after it passes the dielectric test, and then only within the voltage and distance on the label. The Falcon Gold datasheet does not mention this test, so treat the foam unit as unsuitable for live electrical equipment and place a CO2 extinguisher near electrical rooms. See our CO2 fire extinguisher guide.
Why not on polar solvents?
Amerex, an extinguisher manufacturer, explains that polar solvents such as methanol pull water out of the foam bubbles so the foam breaks down. These fuels need a foam listed for them on the extinguisher label, and any fuel with more than 10% polar solvent should be treated as a polar-solvent fire. The standard datasheet does not claim alcohol resistance, so raise solvent or alcohol stores before you order.
Foam vs dry powder: what is the difference?
ABC powder is more common because one cylinder covers three classes. The right choice still depends on the hazard in each area, not on what is common:
| Item | AFFF foam | ABC dry powder |
|---|---|---|
| Classes | A and B | A, B and C (US system) |
| How it works | Cools solids and blankets liquid surfaces | Powder layer covers the fuel and interrupts burning |
| After a liquid fire is out | Foam stays on the surface and reduces re-ignition | No lasting sealing layer on the liquid |
| Live electrical | Not suitable | Suitable |
| Residue | Water-based, cleans with water | Powder spreads and harms electronics |
| Temperature range (Falcon Gold) | +5 to +60 °C, standard series | Per each model’s datasheet |
In short, powder is a good general-purpose unit for mixed areas and near electrics. Foam is better where petroleum liquids and solids dominate and there is no exposed live equipment. For ABC vs BC powder and where powder should not be used, read our dry powder extinguisher guide.
Falcon Gold foam extinguisher sizes: 6 to 12 litres
Standard series data from the manufacturer’s datasheet (Emirates Fire Fighting Equipment Factory, ref. FXD 043):
| Model | Capacity | Fire rating | Discharge range | Discharge time | Gross weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FF6L | 6 L | 13A 113B | 5 m | ≥28 s | 8.5 kg |
| FF9L | 9 L | 21A 183B | 6 m | ≥30 s | 12.55 kg |
| FF10L | 10 L | 27A 183B | 6 m | ≥32 s | 13.55 kg |
| FF12L | 12 L | 34A 233B | 7 m | ≥35 s | 15.98 kg |
What does 13A 113B mean?
This is a European-style rating. The number before each letter reflects the size of the test fire the extinguisher put out in the laboratory, and a higher number means more capability on that class. The 12 L unit (34A 233B) is clearly stronger on solids than the 6 L unit (13A). The 9 L and 10 L units share a 183B liquid rating, while the 10 L unit goes up to 27A. These numbers cannot be compared directly with US ratings such as 2-A:10-B because the test methods differ, so specifications should state the required rating and system, not just the capacity.
Standard version vs BSI Kitemark version
The BSI portable foam extinguishers use the same model names, FF6L and FF9L, but they are a separate release with a different datasheet (FXD 043-3). That datasheet cites a BSI Kitemark to BS EN 3, 3% AFFF, dry nitrogen propellant, and ratings of 13A/144B (6 L) and 21A/183B (9 L). The standard version’s datasheet does not mention a Kitemark. If your project specification calls for Kitemark, write “BSI version” on the request for quotation and check the mark on the label at delivery.
What about the 25 litre foam extinguisher?
AZEIDK also lists a Falcon Gold 25 L foam extinguisher for factories, warehouses and fuel stores where a larger foam quantity is needed. The product page does not publish detailed specifications; the datasheet comes with the quotation, so check its rating and handling arrangement before you specify it.
Which foam extinguisher size suits your facility?
The designer sets numbers, locations and travel distances under the Saudi Fire Code SBC 801 and Civil Defense requirements, with NFPA 10 as the technical reference for selection. Within that framework, typical foam applications are:
- Shops and small stores holding flammable liquids: FF6L, easy to carry at 8.5 kg gross, with a CO2 unit near the electrical panel.
- Vehicle workshops and oil-change bays: FF9L or FF10L for the 183B liquid rating and 6 m range.
- Warehouses with cardboard and oils together: FF12L for the highest rating in the series (34A 233B).
- Fuel and petroleum stores and large open areas: the 25 L unit, after reviewing its datasheet.
- Commercial kitchens: foam is not the answer; see kitchen fire suppression systems.
A 12 L unit weighs almost 16 kg in total, so choose a size the people on site can actually carry and use. Avoid locations where temperatures can leave the datasheet range of +5 to +60 °C.
How to use a foam extinguisher on a liquid fire
- Pull the safety pin and stand at a safe distance with the wind behind you.
- On solids, aim at the base of the flames and sweep across the burning material.
- On liquids, do not blast foam into the middle of the pool and splash it; let it flow gently across the surface, for example by bouncing it off the container wall or rim. Amerex specifically recommends gently bouncing foam off an object behind or in front of the fuel on polar-solvent fires.
- Keep going until the whole surface is covered and do not walk away at once; hot liquid can re-ignite if it is exposed.
- After any discharge, however short, send the unit for recharging before it goes back on its bracket.
Conformity, approvals and PFAS
The SASO Technical Regulation for Fire Control Materials and Equipment covers fire extinguishers and requires a certificate of conformity, issued through the SABER platform, before they are placed on the market. The standard series datasheet cites approval by the UAE Civil Defence; this is not a Saudi approval. What your Saudi project needs is confirmed with the consultant and the authority having jurisdiction, and a current conformity file should be requested with each supply.
According to the US Interstate Technology & Regulatory Council (ITRC), PFAS (fluorinated surfactants) are the active ingredient in fluorinated Class B foams, including AFFF, and markets such as the EU are restricting PFAS-containing foams. The datasheet does not describe the agent’s chemistry in this respect, so if your facility has an environmental policy or a client that requires fluorine-free foam, ask before you buy. Background in our news item on EU PFAS foam restrictions.
Common mistakes with foam extinguishers
- Placing a foam unit on its own next to a switchboard or transformer room.
- Using it on a restaurant fryer instead of a wet chemical extinguisher.
- Confusing the standard and BSI versions because the model name is the same, then having the consultant reject the units for lack of a Kitemark.
- Selecting by capacity alone without comparing the A and B ratings.
- Relying on it in an alcohol or polar-solvent store without checking the label.
- Skipping the hydrostatic test, or putting a partly discharged unit back in service.
Frequently asked questions
Can a foam extinguisher be used on electrical fires?
No. The Falcon Gold datasheet lists Classes A and B only, and the water-based solution conducts electricity. Isolate the power and use CO2 or powder on live equipment.
Is a foam extinguisher suitable for a kitchen?
Not for cooking oil fires in commercial kitchens. Those need a wet chemical extinguisher and a hood suppression system.
Foam or dry powder: which is better?
ABC powder is more general and works near electrics. Foam is better on petroleum liquids and solids because it blankets the liquid, reduces re-ignition and leaves no powder.
What is the difference between 6 L and 9 L foam extinguishers?
In the standard series, FF6L is rated 13A 113B with a 5 m range and FF9L is rated 21A 183B with a 6 m range. Gross weights are 8.5 kg and 12.55 kg.
How often is a foam extinguisher hydrostatically tested?
Every 5 years for AFFF units under OSHA Table L-1 and NFPA 10, with monthly inspection, annual maintenance and recharging after any use.
Conclusion
An AFFF foam extinguisher fits where petroleum liquids and ordinary combustibles meet: workshops, warehouses and oil stores. Choose by rating rather than size, specify the standard or BSI version clearly, and never rely on foam alone near electrics or in a kitchen. For inspection and recharging, AZEIDK’s own team maintains extinguishers under its preventive maintenance contracts.
Need to size foam extinguishers for a warehouse or workshop? Tell us what the site stores and how it is laid out, and we will propose suitable Falcon Gold models with datasheets. Contact the AZEIDK team
