How does a fire suppression foam work to extinguish a fire?

Fire suppression foam operates by employing several critical mechanisms to effectively extinguish a fire. The statement that it cools the fire, smothers it, and prevents re-ignition by creating a barrier accurately encompasses these functions.

First, fire suppression foam creates a blanket over the flammable materials, which serves to smother the fire by cutting off its oxygen supply. Fire requires oxygen to sustain combustion, and the foam's expansion reduces the concentration of oxygen around the flames.

Additionally, the foam can cool the fire. Many classes of foam contain water, and as the foam expands and flows over the flames, it absorbs heat and cools the fire down. This reduction in temperature can help slow the combustion process and lead to extinguishment.

Moreover, the formation of a barrier prevents re-ignition by shielding the fuel source. Once the fire is suppressed, this barrier helps ensure that flammable vapors do not come into contact with a heat source, thereby reducing the risk of the fire restarting.

These combined actions make fire suppression foam an effective tool in fire extinguishment and prevention of reignition after the flames have been put out.