Foam

Foam Solution of air, water, foam concentrate, and mechanical agitation used to form a floating ‘blanket’ on flammable and combustible liquids. It prevents or extinguishes a fire by excluding air and cooling fuel. Foam also aids in preventing reignition by suppressing flammable vapors.

Terminology Foam concentrate - from factory Foam solution - water + concentrate Finished foam solution - water + concentrate + mechanical agitation

Foam Tetrahedron Concentrate Water Air Aeration (mechanical agitation)

Types of Foam Protein Fluoroprotein Film Forming Fluoroprotein Foam (FFFP) Aqeous Film Forming Foam (AFFF) Alcohol Resistant AFFF (AR-AFFF)

Protein Originated in WWII Derived from natural sources 3% or 6% Excellent water retention High heat resistance 35 to 120 degrees F Hydrocarbons only 10 year shelf life

Fluoroprotein Fluorochemical surfactants added to reg. Protein foam Can be used for Subsurface Injection Not affected by thawing or freezing 3%-6% 35-120 10 year shelf life

Film Forming Fluoroprotein Foam (FFFP) 3%-6% 35 - 120 degrees F Can be stored premixed in apparatus Not affected by thawing or freezing Can be used with fresh or salt water

Aqueous Film Forming Foam (AFFF) Most used All synthetic 1% - 3% - 6% Can be used with salt or fresh water Can be premixed in apparatus water tanks 25 - 120 degrees F Good low temperature viscosity

Aqueous Film Forming Foam (AFFF) cont. Suitable for subsurface injection Can be used as Class A foam if needed Effective only on hydrocarbons

Alcohol Resistant AFFF Same charcteristics as AFFF but can also be used on polar solvents!

Expansion Ratios Low Expansion – up to 20:1 (we use 10:1) Medium Expansion – 20-200:1 (Haz-Mat vapor mitigation) High Expansion – 200-1000:1 (Confined Space)

Types of Fuels Hydrocarbons Polar Solvents

Hydrocarbons Products of crude oil Do not mix with water Gasoline, Diesel, JP8, Kerosene, Asphalt, Motor oils, Vegetable oil, and Animal Fat

Polar Solvents Products of distillation Easily mix with water Ketones, Esters, Alcohol, Amine, MTBE

Foam Equipment Eductors HLP-9 (in-line) PC-30A Foam nozzles JS-10 PC-31 PC-50 PC-100 Task Force Tip Foam Adapter

HLP-9 In-line eductor Works off of venturi effect Large amount of friction loss No more than 6 feet between eductor and concentrate surface Pump at 200 psi

HLP-9 No more than 200 feet between eductor and nozzle

PC-30A Utilized for Sub-Surface Injection

JS-10 1-1/2” nozzle 100 gpm at 100 psi

PC-31 2-1/2” nozzle 310 gpm at 100 psi

PC-50 This nozzle under ideal conditions is capable of delivering 500 gallons of finished foam solution per minute It has a reach of 170 feet at 150 PSI

PC-100 Capable of delivering 1000 gallons per minute of finished foam solution under ideal conditions Has a reach of 190 feet at 150 PSI

Task Force Tip - Foam Adapter Purpose is to provide additional foam as a master stream Can be used on ground monitors or elevated master streams (ladder trucks)

Tactics

Establish an Excellent Water Supply!

Solution

Size up How large is the spill\fire? What resources are needed?

Approach Scene If possible approach from upwind

Application Techniques Bounce off Bank in Rain down

blanket Minimum 4” blanket If you must walk through blanket do not pick feet up!

Chesapeake’s First Foam Unit Property of Shell Utilized a dry powder hopper which worked off of a venturi effect Carried A & B foam

Foam 35 Donated by the Department of Civil Defense. It carried an extinguishing agent called “Purple K” which is located in the center dome shaped container. It also carried the A & B type foam powder.

Engine 6 Chesapeake Fire Department’s third foam unit Manufactured in house by CFD Personnel

Foam 12 Foam 12 - 1978 Pem-Fab / National Foam Designed with a balanced pressure system 1000 GPM pump 275 gal. Water tank 128 GPM Foam pump with 550 gallons of Universal Gold Currently assigned in the Western Branch area

Engine 1 1993 Pierce / National Foam Unit Has a balanced pressure system 2000 GPM water pump with 500 gallons water 250 GPM foam pump with 500 gallons Universal Gold

Foam 1 1973 Chevrolet Carries 1400 gallons of XL-3 type foam Also carries a limited supply of foam appliances

Chesapeake’s Foam Universal Gold 3% AR-AFFF XL-3 Fluoroprotein

Engine Company 15 gal. Universal Gold 3% HLP9 in-line eductor JS-10 foam nozzle