Foam suppression systems are designed to tackle flammable liquid fires, which water alone cannot control. Foam works by spreading a blanket across the surface of the fuel that smothers the flames, seals in flammable vapours and cools the liquid, and it keeps the fire from re-igniting. This makes foam essential wherever fuels, oils, solvents or other flammable liquids are stored, processed or handled. MEP designs, supplies and installs foam fire suppression systems for industrial and high-hazard sites across the UK.
A foam system mixes foam concentrate with water in the correct proportion, then combines the solution with air to generate a blanket of bubbles. Delivered over the risk through sprinklers, pourers, monitors or foam generators, the blanket covers the burning liquid and cuts off the oxygen and vapour the fire needs. Systems are described as low, medium or high expansion depending on how much the foam is aerated, and the type is chosen to suit the fuel and the way it is stored or used.
Foam protects fuel storage tanks and bunds, loading and tanker areas, aircraft hangars, warehouses and process plant handling flammable liquids. Older foams often contained fluorinated compounds that are now being phased out on environmental grounds, so new and upgraded systems increasingly use fluorine-free alternatives. We design each system to the relevant standard, such as BS EN 13565, select a foam suited to both the hazard and current environmental requirements, and size the storage, proportioning and delivery to match the risk.
Get in touch with our team of fire suppression experts to discuss your requirements and receive a tailored solution.
A system that extinguishes flammable liquid fires by covering the fuel with a foam blanket that smothers the flames, seals in vapours and cools the liquid.
Water is ineffective and often dangerous on burning liquids because they float on it. Foam forms a blanket on the surface that cuts off oxygen and vapour.
Fuel storage tanks and bunds, loading areas, aircraft hangars, warehouses and process plant where flammable liquids are stored or handled.
It refers to how much air is added to the foam. The right expansion depends on the fuel and how it is stored, which we assess during design.
Yes. Foams containing certain fluorinated compounds are being phased out for environmental reasons, so we increasingly specify fluorine-free alternatives.
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