Fire Service Plus FireAde is a UL162-approved foam liquid concentrate. Contents in the canister are non-toxic and biodegradable, will not stain or corrode, and allow users to spray the fire-fighting foam at 150 psi. FireAde is approved for all flammable materials, and it can be used as a coolant for metals, valves and pipes found in garages and other places tools are used. The 16-oz fire extinguisher has a five-year shelf life and does not need to be shook before spraying. Partial proceeds from every can go to the Ronnie Thames Foundation (TRTF), to help burned children and their families that have been forever changed by fire.
The review
FireAde is a personal fire extinguisher with the capacity to put out fires in a shop emergency with less mess than a standard dry powder extinguisher. Because of its cooling properties and its use as a wetting agent, it can also serve a purpose in daily use.
Eric Moore, owner of DeMary Truck in Columbus, Ohio, found that when FireAde was applied to heated metal, like in the case of exhaust-related repairs, it cooled the surface enough to be handled for repairs.
"It was very impressive how quickly FireAde was able to bring temperatures down to working levels on pieces that had been heated for removal," he says. "If a shop is working with metal that has to be heated regularly, this product is fantastic. It definitely takes the waiting game out of using a torch or induction type removal tool."
Moore even put FireAde to the test using a pyrometer to read the temperature change of bolts and nuts that were torched off for removal on a 2012 UD 2600 medium duty truck.
"The temperature of the flange was 611 degrees F once heated enough for removal of the bolt," Moore says. "Once FireAde was sprayed on the piece it cooled to 99.7 degrees within seconds. The technician was able to touch the piece without burning his hand. His exact words were, 'It’s still warm, but I can handle it without getting burned it seems.'"
Moore also tested it on a piece of 1/4” metal which he heated to about 900 degrees F. Once the FireAde was applied the metal cooled down to 105.4 degrees F within a few seconds.
Although easy to use, Moore says the nozzle didn’t have enough control for smaller jobs. He inquired if a spray bottle version could be developed for more precision than the pressurized can.
Lou Fort, lead technician at K.A.R.S. Inc. In Huntingburg, Ind., also tested out FireAde and notes that the cleanup involved after use of this extinguisher is "far less than with conventional extinguishers" and is much different than Halon and chemical (powered-based) ones.
"FireAde is like a wet foam of some kind that doesn’t evaporate quickly," Fort says. "It's like water, but way better."
Fort recommended a visual indicator be included on the can to show the contents were still pressurized, "like a button or tab that, when pushed in, would pop back up indicating the contents were still under pressure."
Overall, Fort was impressed by product. "It is probably the safest and fastest fire extinguisher I have seen or used," Fort says.
