Energy Matters Forums

[disenchant@solar]

[/quote]Foam or AFFF is as good as and as bad as water is on electrical fires.

Of course if the whole house or roof is involved, the removal of 2 sides of the fire triangle (taking away the heat and oxygen from the fire) by water is the best way to do it.


Safe firefighting practices minimises the risk.

Don't forget most house fires have the electricity still connected when fire fighting is started, as sometimes they can not isolate the power from the property by normal means.[/quote]

What happens with foam on an electrical fire?
I've done a few electrical insurance jobs and most of the damage was done by the water, collapsed ceilings and personal effects, the fire damage was minor.

[bpratt]

What happens with foam on an electrical fire?
I've done a few electrical insurance jobs and most of the damage was done by the water, collapsed ceilings and personal effects, the fire damage was minor.

Foam is basically sudsed up water. It's a bit like wash up water frothed up.

Foam on an electrical fire does pretty much the same as water on an electrical fire. The advantage with foam on an electrical fire is if the fire also includes flammable liquids in particular.

[disenchant@solar]

quote]Foam is basically sudsed up water. It's a bit like wash up water frothed up. quote]

Does it cause as much damage as water

[bpratt]

quote]Foam is basically sudsed up water. It's a bit like wash up water frothed up. quote]

Does it cause as much damage as water

If you can put the fire out fairly quickly with foam, you don't get as much flowing away.

It will differ from fire to fire, but foam is water based, and you really should not use water on an electrical fire. Obviously on a house fire the best way to put it out is with truckloads of water, but on a electrical switchboard fire, then CO2 is the best way to put it out without causing other safety issues. Back in the old days BCF was the best option, but it caused issues with the ozone layer. Of course there are the halon and other gases that could be used, but generally they only work properly on fires in an enclosed space.