Rank: New forum user 
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I carry out site visits to many small shops and offices, all different.
It appears some of the leading fire extinguisher companies are installing Co2 (no issues) and Foam in places with no potential for flammable liquids fires, or have hot oil, cooking facilities.
I consider this over selling as I am sure foam is more expensive to service than a standard water one, or I would expect to see powder type which are multiple use and can be used on electrics which all the shops have.
I have seen a Fire officer also comment that the risk assessments cannot be suitable if Foam are fitted where there are no flammable liquids.
Are there any good reasons to fit Foam instead of standard Water, should I be insisting on powder to allow multiple use.
While I'm on it, this national company are also selling fire blankets for mini staff rest rooms with at most a microwave and a toaster, again I consider this blatant over selling.
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Rank: Super forum user 
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We use CO2 and foam in all of our 'fire points' as this combination provides more flexibility.
For instance a 6 litre foam costs us around £28, but it's coverage is identical to a 9 litre water for £26 (both 21A coverage). The foam tends sticks to fabrics where water runs off, which maybe particularly useful for vertical surfaces and of course the 2kg difference in weight is useful from a manual handling side of things
I reckon it's worth the extra £2
As for the fire officer, s/he is talking nonsense. Foam extinguishers carry a class A rating just like water extinguishers (as they contain perhaps >90% of their contents are water). Please ignore this persons advice, or even report them to their managers as they should not be let loose in the street with that low level of competence
I agree with you that blankets may not required in snack preparation areas where no actual naked flame cooking is taking place
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Rank: Super forum user
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Just try cleaning up an air conditioned office with DSE and other electronic equipment when a Powder extinguisher has been charged!!:-)
Foam extinguishers, I presume the AFFF type, are good for paper and similar fires as well as flammable liquids and fats and they have the big advantage of being lighter in weight than water ones. They are also designed to be safe if sprayed onto electrics due to the spray design.
Bob
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Rank: Super forum user
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I mean discharged - Oh for the edit
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Rank: Super forum user
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Certain selling technigues are rife throughout the UK and there is little that we can do about it
All I can say is that where we interface with our clients we need to get them on board with us so as we can challange any such selling techniques as soon as they come up. A problem is; is that a business has usually bought in the equipment etc. before the H&S professional knowns that they have bought it
U need to get your clients on board so as they contact U first
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Rank: Super forum user 
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We are gravitating more towards CO2 and foam as they have more versatility than Water and powder, although having said that we do have a few powder around, but water is being gradually phased out in favour of foam as it will do both the dry goods like water but also the flammable liquids and with all of them now being red, in a smoky atmosphere it would be safer to pick up a foam than a water which are fairly indistinguishable from each other.
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Rank: Forum user
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Your fire risk assessment should determine the amount and what type of fire extinguishers you require. Unfortunately, companies like this are only to happy to say that you require more than you actually need. Who is to say that their recommendations are always correct. Always challenge them and get them to justify what they propose.
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