Soybean Based Firefighting Foam

MADISON, Wis. (CIVIC MEDIA) – A Wisconsin Company has developed a soybean-based foam used to suppress fires, and it’s safe for the environment.  

Cross Plains Solutions is the company behind SoyFoam. They’re based just west of Madison, Wisconsin.

SoyFoam TF 1122 meets NFPA requirements for a smothering and wetting agent that’s capable of putting out Class A (ordinary combustibles) and Class B (flammable liquids) fires.

It is soy-based and contains no PFAS chemicals.

Since the 1950s, PFAS were used to put out fires, repel oil and water, reduce friction and more in a wide range of products. The EPA reports PFAS are found in water, air, fish, and soil at locations across the world.

Exposure to PFAS is linked to several adverse health effects including certain cancers, thyroid dysfunction, changes in cholesterol, and small reductions in birth weight. As a result, governments are prohibiting firefighting foams that contain intentionally added PFAS.

This SoyFoam is certified ready biodegradable by the Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development and is certified as 84% biobased through the U.S. Department of Agriculture BioPreferred program. The Department of Defense and U.S. Forest Service are also doing further evaluations.

Dave Garlie the Chief Technology Officer at Cross Plains Solutions says farmers can also use the soy foam to fight combine fires. They say it’s pretty simple.

“On our truck we got 1,000 gallons of water and we have a 20-gallon foam tank, and quite literally… when we need to use the foam, we just push a button on it.” said Jason Wiley, the fire chief for Rock Falls Wisconsin Fire Department. “It comes out a certain percentage that we set on the truck, and away we go. It’s as is as easy to use as traditional foam. ”

U.S. soybean farmers have invested millions of dollars to research, test and promote biobased products. Much of this work was done through the United Soybean Board, which is composed of 77 U.S. soybean farmers appointed by the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture to invest soybean checkoff funds.