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Why would class A foam be added to a Stored-Pressure Water Extinguisher?

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Final answer:

Class A foam is added to a Stored-Pressure Water Extinguisher to improve efficiency in fighting fires, especially those involving organic liquids, due to its ability to spread over surfaces and create a barrier between the fuel and oxygen.

Step-by-step explanation:

Class A foam would be added to a Stored-Pressure Water Extinguisher to improve its fire-fighting capabilities. This type of foam consists of fluorinated surfactants which reduce the surface tension of water, allowing it to spread more effectively across combustible materials and cover a larger surface area. The foam not only cools the fire but also suffocates it by forming a barrier between the fuel and the oxygen that is required for combustion.

Adding such surface-active agents, also known as surfactants, transforms a regular water extinguisher into one that can more efficiently tackle fires involving organic liquids. These fluorinated foams are particularly useful in situations where large-scale fires, such as those involving fuels or oils, need to be rapidly and effectively controlled and extinguished.

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