What type of foams are also referred to as high-expansion foams?

High-expansion foams are typically associated with synthetic detergent foams due to their ability to create significant volumes of foam compared to their liquid counterparts. This characteristic makes synthetic detergent foams particularly effective for certain applications, such as in large-volume fire suppression scenarios where rapid foam generation is necessary to cover extensive areas quickly.

These synthetic foams can expand and stabilize to form a blanket over fires, providing insulation from heat and preventing the release of flammable vapors. The expansion ratio is a critical property, making them suitable for operations involving high-risk environments or materials that require comprehensive coverage.

In contrast, the other types of foams mentioned do not carry the same level of expansion characteristics. Protein foams are derived from natural sources and do not achieve high expansion ratios, while film-forming foams are designed to form a protective film on the fuel surface but are not classified by expansion. Alcohol-resistant foams are formulated to fight fires involving polar solvents but similarly lack the high expansion properties attributed to synthetic detergent foams. Thus, the designation of high-expansion foam aligns specifically with synthetic detergent foam due to its unique characteristics and operational benefits in firefighting.