Certification Examination Practice

Illinois Foam Firefighting Technician Certification Examination Practice Questions And Correct Answers (Verified Answers) Plus Rationales 2026 Q&A | Instant Download Pdf

1. The primary purpose of firefighting foam is to:

• Cool structural materials
• Absorb toxic gases
• Create a vapor-suppressing and oxygen-excluding blanket
• Increase water pressure

Foam works by forming a blanket that separates fuel vapors from oxygen while suppressing vapor release.

2. Class B foams are designed for:

• Ordinary combustibles
• Electrical fires
• Flammable and combustible liquids 1 / 4

• Cooking oils

Class B fuels include hydrocarbons and polar solvents; Class B foams are formulated for those hazards.

3. AFFF stands for:

• Activated Fire Foam Formula
• Aqueous Film-Forming Foam
• Alcohol-Friendly Foam
• Aerated Fuel Foam

AFFF creates a water film on fuel surfaces to suppress vapor and extinguish liquid fires.

4. The component that gives foam its structure is:

• Fuel
• Surfactant
• Air
• Salt

Foam bubbles require the introduction of air to form an expanded, stable foam solution.

5. The term “foam concentrate” refers to:

• Fully finished foam
• The chemical agent that mixes with water to create foam solution
• Air bubbles 2 / 4

• Finished foam blanket

Foam concentrate is the raw agent before mixing with water and air.

6. A foam proportioner:

• Pressurizes air
• Controls the percentage of concentrate added to water
• Stores foam for long-term use
• Creates the final foam blanket

Proportioners meter concentrate into the water stream at the correct ratio.

7. The percentage for most standard AFFF use on hydrocarbon spills is:

• 0.1%
• 1%
• 3%
• 12%

AFFF is commonly proportioned at 1% or 3%; hydrocarbons commonly require 3%.

8. The percentage for AFFF on polar solvents when using AR-AFFF is:

• 0.5%
• 1%
• 3%
• 6%

Polar solvents degrade ordinary AFFF; AR-AFFF at 6% forms a protective polymer layer. 3 / 4

9. The term “finished foam” describes:

• Foam concentrate
• Water and concentrate only
• Air and concentrate only
• Foam after air, water, and concentrate have mixed

Finished foam is the final expanded product applied to the fire.

10. Low-expansion foam typically expands:

• 50:1 to 200:1

b. Up to 20:1

• 200:1 to 1000:1

d. 1:1

Low-expansion foams expand up to 20 times their original solution volume.

11. Medium-expansion foam is typically used for:

• Aircraft fires
• High-rise fires
• Large spill vapor suppression
• Tire fires

Medium-expansion foam covers wide areas and suppresses vapors effectively.

12. High-expansion foam is most effective in:

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