The Ethanol Emergency Response Coalition sponsored scientific testing to evaluate the effectiveness of six types of foam involving a spill or fire of a bulk container of ethanol or ethanol-blended fuel (known as gasohol). The International Association of Fire Chiefs is a partner in EERC.

The testing was conducted over two weeks in February at Ansul Fire Technology Center, in Marinette, Wis. Using the Underwriters Laboratory 162 Standard for Safety, Foam Equipment and Liquid Concentrates, 43 individual tests were conducted on denatured ethanol (or E95), and E10 (gasohol) using the Type II, Type III, and sprinkler applications. The following six foams were tested in the blind test.

• Alcohol-resistant, aqueous film-forming foam.
• Traditional aqueous film-forming foam.
• Class-A foam intended for fire involving ordinary combustible, or Class A materials.
• An emulsifier.
• Conventional flouro-protein foam.
• Alcohol-resistant film-forming flouro-protein foam.

The AR-AFFF was the only foam agent that successfully passed the UL162 tests against both E10 and E85/95. Some of the other foams may have some degree of effectiveness, depending on the situation and their application rate. However, the tests confirmed that AR-AFFF is the most effective foam for fires or spills involving ethanol-blended fuels.

In addition to participating in the testing, IAFC and EERC are jointly producing a video documenting the test and a training package. It describes how ethanol-blended fuels are produced and distributed and the emergency-response issues that should be considered when confronting a bulk spill or fire involving ethanol-blended fuels.