When it comes to choosing a safety foam kit, one size definitely doesn’t fit all. At Pacific West Foam, we’ve spent over 30 years helping clients across defense, aerospace, racing, and industrial sectors find the right foam solution for their needs. Whether you’re building something from scratch or replacing an existing setup, here’s a detailed guide to help you choose the right foam kit.
1. Define the Application
Ask yourself: What is the foam being used for?
- Fuel Cell Protection: For explosion suppression, slosh control, or baffling inside fuel tanks, you’ll need reticulated polyurethane foam engineered for fuel compatibility and durability.
- Shock or Vibration Absorption: For marine, automotive, aerospace, or packaging needs, prioritize shock-absorbing, vibration-dampening foam.
- Regulatory Requirements: Aviation and defense applications likely require materials that meet MIL-PRF-87260B or other MIL-SPEC standards.
2. Select the Proper Size
There is no universal standard size—dimensions depend entirely on your project. For power sports and watercraft, we offer standard block sizes (e.g., 14″ x 6″ x 4″, 7″ x 6″ x 4″). For all other industries and specialized builds, we provide custom-cut solutions to match your exact specifications.
Pro Tip: When in doubt, it’s better to order slightly more material and trim to fit than risk coming up short.
3. Choose the Right Kit Format
The best format will depend on your application:
- Custom-Cut Kits – Most industrial, defense, and aviation applications require a customized solution tailored to tank geometry and access.
- Pre-Cut Kits – Offered for power sports and watercraft, these kits provide a consistent, ready-to-install option.
- Single Blocks or Bulk Material – Available for testing, prototyping, or when flexible installation is preferred.
Not sure what works best? Our team can guide you through the right configuration based on your design.
4. Confirm Compliance & Quality
At Pacific West Foam, all kits are manufactured under a tailored ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management System, ensuring traceability, consistency, and performance. We produce foam solutions compliant with MIL-PRF-87260B, and we support customer-specific documentation, certifications, and traceability needs.
Need help getting started? We’re here to support projects from prototype to production.