Polar Solvent-type Fires

Some types of foam are not suitable for water miscible or polar solvent liquids. Special foams designed for fighting fires involving these materials are available. For more information on low-expansion foam systems refer to NFPA 11, Low-Expansion Foam Systems. For additional information on medium- and high-expansion foam systems, refer to NFPA 11 A, Medium- and High-Expan-sion Foam Systems. 

All polar compounds are alike in terms of being polar. Therefore, polar compounds are soluble in polar compounds. One of the main reasons polarity is discussed in terms of emergency response is because of the foam used for fighting flammable liquid fires. Two general types of foam are used to extinguish flammable liquid fires hydrocarbon foam and polar-solvent foam, which is sometimes referred to as alcohol-type foam. The reason that different types of foam are necessary for flammable liquid fires is polarity. 

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