It’s not so much a matter of ‘should’, but rather a matter of ‘can’. This is because many providers will try to tell you that you cannot buy foam fire extinguishers anymore. They will tell you that they are banned. I have some good news: that’s not true. The matter is, of course, more complicated than this (more on that later). The point is that there are plenty of options for Foam Fire Extinguishers that you can purchase without worry.
Beyond that, it’s good to know why you may want a foam extinguisher in the first place. There are reasons you may want one, and reasons you may want to go for a different type altogether. I aim to give you every angle, and arm you with the knowledge you need to make an informed decision.
What is a Foam Fire Extinguisher Actually Used For?
Foam extinguishers are a popular choice for commercial and domestic premises. This is because they provide effective firefighting power against the most common classes of fire: A and B. Class A refers to flammable solids, such as plastic, rubber, wood and fabrics. Basically, anything that produces ash. Class B, on the other hand, is flammable liquids: oil (not cooking), petrol and paint. Powder Extinguishers actually offer a broader range of uses, but are difficult to justify for indoor use. Foam has the edge of being good for the two most common types of fire in any environment.
As an extinguishing agent, foam operates similarly to water, but with some additive functionality that expands its firefighting capabilities. Like water, and unlike powder, foam cools the fire’s fuel source. Then, like powder, but unlike water, it can sit on top of flammable liquids, allowing it to smother them effectively. Water, unfortunately, can sink below these liquids, which makes it an ineffective extinguishing agent for liquid fires. Combining these two features allows foam to cool the fire directly while also starving it of oxygen. The smothering effect also seals vapours, making indoor use even safer.
Are Foam Fire Extinguishers Being Phased Out in the UK?
Possibly the most discussed aspect of Foam Fire Extinguishers is the ban looming over them. This is a dense issue, and we have covered it in greater detail in both article and video form. But the straightforward answer is yes. AFFF Foam extinguishers are being phased out, but that legislation has not fully come to pass. The ban already in place is for perfluorooctanoic acid, a forever chemical known as PFOA. Extinguishers are not allowed to be made or sold with this agent inside them.
Forever chemicals are named such due to their quality of heartily outstaying their welcome, almost refusing to ever fully break down. This makes their disposal very difficult and led to them being considered an environmental hazard. The fire safety industry is, at the very least, ahead of this aspect. We’ve been exclusively using PFAS foam since 2020, so most standard foam extinguishers use that, unless they are fluorine-free. FFF (Fluorine-free Foam) is the direct answer to the bans, as it avoids the environmental concerns of forever chemicals.
PFAS foam uses considerably less forever chemicals than PFOA, its predecessor, but it is still potentially facing a ban in the near future. As such, this information may be outdated when you’re reading this. But, as of the publishing of this article (February 2026), AFFF Foam Fire Extinguishers are legal to manufacture, supply, and use.
What Exactly is Foam as an Extinguishing Agent?
I’ve already mentioned fluorine-free foam, for which we stock a range of extinguishers, if you want to avoid ban concerns altogether. Just between you and me, I understand the paranoia. But for now, I want to help you understand exactly what is inside our standard foam extinguishers.
Aqueous film-forming foam is a water-based substance containing water (of course), foam concentrate, and air. The foam itself is a stable mass of air bubbles with a low density. This is what allows it to sit on top of the surfaces of flammable liquids, as previously explained. This agent actually dates back to before the 2000s, when it was merely an additive to make water extinguishers more effective.
To conclude, whether you ‘should’ still buy a Foam Fire Extinguisher is up to you. The Fluorine-free options are right there, and you can buy them and keep them on-site without the slightest worry. But, they are considerably more expensive than the standard variety and, like we’ve thoroughly established, extinguishers that use AFFF are still entirely legal.
Going fluorine-free will avoid any complications with future bans, and is a more sure-fire way of ensuring environmental friendliness, but the original Foam Fire Extinguishers are here for you to browse and to buy entirely legally. And if you want an even better idea of what you’re getting into, then feel free to check out this helpful video below. Thank you!
