Class B polar solvent fire firefighting foam concentrates

Class B chemical fires are fuel based polar liquid and flammable liquid fires. Polar solvents properties have affinity for water and are fuels which are miscible with water. They are usually carriers of O or N atoms, or also halogens: Cl, Br, F or I.

Class B polar solvent fires are split into 7 main categories:

Alcohols: methanol, ethanol, isopropanol…
Ketones and aldehydes: acetone, acetaldehyde, MIBK…
Esters: ethyl acetate…
Ethers: diethylether, MTBE, THF…
Glycols: a combination of ‘alcohol + ether’: MEG, MPG, Butoxyethanol, butylcarbitol…
Amines: trimethylamine…
Acids: acetic acid, propionic acid…

What are the class B polar solvents fire firefighting foam concentrates?

Polar solvents have great affinity for water, that’s why class B polar solvent fires can only be put out with specific “versatile” or “Alcohol Resistant (AR)” firefighting foam concentrates.

The versatile property of pseudoplastic AR firefighting foam concentrates consists in forming a protective gel coating on all types of inflammable liquids, sealing vapours from the surface of the fuel. This film provides excellent resistance to re-ignition. The application method requires gentle application, or indirect application, in order to preserve the foam blanket.

BIOEX offers two efficient solutions to extinguish class B polar solvents fires: one containing fluorine-components (AR-AFFF) and one free of all PFAS components (AR-F3). Both solutions can be applied in low, medium and high expansion. BIOEX Class B polar solvents foams are compatible with every type of fixed and mobile foam equipment and proportioning devices, at any foam application rate.

BIOEX class B foams are effective on class B polar solvents fires and approved by international standards (EN1568, UL 162, NFPA, LASTFIRE, GESIP, IMO 1312…). Our class B firefighting foams are used by major chemical plants, refineries, tank farms, power plants, painting facility, warehouses but also in municipal fire brigades…