Airports Shifting To Eco-Friendly Firefighting Foams, Such As BIOEX’s ECOPOL A+ Fluorine-Free Foam, To Tackle Aircraft Fires

In the case of a fire emergency at any airport, every second counts. Aircraft Rescue Fire Firefighters (ARFF) always have to be effective in a short time, in order to save precious lives from a burning aircraft. The firefighting foam must be quickly efficient and should be able to contain the fire effectively.

fluorine-free foam (FFF)

The world of firefighting is quickly moving towards fluorine-free foam products, moving away from PFAS-containing products (such as AFFF and AR-AFFF foams). The industry’s main challenge was to provide efficient fluorine-free foams, with the same performance as that of fluorinated products.

Performing fluorine-free foams (FFF) that meet ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organization) specifications are available in the aviation market now. Some international airports are changing or have already changed to fluorine-free foam, on-board fire trucks or in aircraft hangar fire safety systems.

ECOPOL A+ fluorine-free foam for aircraft fires

BIOEX launched ECOPOL A+ fluorine-free foam, a high-performance FFF, dedicated to aircraft fire extinguishment

Thanks to its long experience in environmentally-friendly foams and aircraft fire safety, BIOEX launched ECOPOL A+ fluorine-free foam, a high-performance FFF, which is dedicated to aircraft fire extinguishment. This fluorine-free foam quickly extinguishes a wide range of hydrocarbon fuels triggered fires, which are common occurrences at airports, such as kerosene, jet A1, gasoline, and heptane.

ECOPOL A+ meets International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) certification and European Standard EN1568 Part 3 v2018 certification. The foam forms a stable and thick foam blanket, which flows rapidly above burning fuel, to seal vapors and cut off the oxygen supply, in order to quickly extinguish the fire and prevent re-ignition.

Viable alternative to AFFF foams

ECOPOL A+ foam is a viable alternative to AFFF foams and offers equal or better performance than traditional AFFF foams. The ECOPOL A+ foam adheres to vertical surfaces, in order to cool aircraft parts, such as fuselage or body, providing long thermal insulation and allowing for quick passenger evacuation.

Formulated without PFAS-components, this fluorine-free foam is an environmentally friendly solution for airports’ fire protection. ECOPOL A+ foam meets environmental concerns, balanced with high fire safety performances. It is fully biodegradable, fluorine-free, and silicone-free foam.

ECOPOL A+ foam application

ECOPOL A+ foam can be used in low or medium expansion, depending on the fire scenario

ECOPOL A+ foam can be used in low or medium expansion, depending on the fire scenario (such as, landing gear, engine, or fuel line fires). Contained within the ARFF vehicle, the foam concentrate can be applied on direct application, by the airport fire truck monitor. For fires that cannot be reached by the aircraft fire vehicle, it can be put out with fixed or mobile foam proportioning, and foam discharge devices.

The foam concentrate is available in 3% and 6% versions. Firefighters can use it with fresh, brackish, and sea water. BIOEX aviation foam concentrates are tested and approved by many international airports, such as the Paris airport, Geneva airport, and Ottawa airport.

ECOPOL A+ compatible with ARFF equipment

In terms of viscosity, ECOPOL A+ is Newtonian, that is to say, it is liquid. It facilitates the replacement of existing AFFF foam, without any setting or replacement. This aviation foam concentrate is compatible with all fire trucks and fire suppression systems. ECOPOL A+ is non-corrosive and suitable to usual foam equipment materials.

BIOEX can help airports in their transition to FFF and for AFFF foam removal. The fluorine-free foam concentrate can be tested in ARFF-existing foam equipment proportioning and discharge equipment. BIOEX team of experts is available worldwide to support airports in their transition to fluorine-free foam (FFF).