Which type of foam is particularly well suited for gasoline spills?

Aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF) is specifically designed to combat flammable liquid fires, particularly those involving petroleum products like gasoline. The formulation of AFFF allows it to create a thin film on the surface of the liquid fuel. This film helps to suppress the release of flammable vapors and cools the burning surface, effectively diminishing the heat reaching the fuel. Additionally, the ability of AFFF to spread quickly across the surface of spills allows it to be particularly effective in mitigating the hazards associated with gasoline.

In contrast, other foam types, such as protein and fluoroprotein foams, while effective for certain applications, may not provide the same level of effective vapor suppression for gasoline spills. Protein foams are historically used for their effectiveness against high-temperature fires, but they do not perform as well in terms of spreading and forming a protective layer over gasoline. Alcohol-resistant foams are specifically designed for polar solvent spills and primarily focus on preventing the mixing of alcohols with water rather than addressing gasoline's properties. Therefore, AFFF's unique characteristics make it the most suitable choice for handling gasoline spills.