1. FOAM APPLICATION TECHNIQUES
HOSTED BY THE Jefferson County Fire and Rescue Training Academy

3. TACTICS
DO NOT START A FOAM OPERATION IF YOU DO NOT HAVE ENOUGH FOAM. (The fire will not go out and you will just waist foam)
*INSTEAD, ATTEMPT TO PROTECT EXPOSURES OR EVACUATE
IF YOU HAVE AN ETHANOL FIRE, USE AR-FOAM
IF AT A FIXED FACILITY, ASK THE PEOPLE THAT WORK THERE FOR HELP. (They are the experts with the product on fire.)

4. OBJECTIVES TERMS HOW FOAM WORKS FOAM GENERATION TYPES OF FOAM
APPLICATION RATES
FOAM EQUIPMENT
PRACTICAL EVOLUTION

5. What is Foam?
NFPA- 11 describes Foam as an aggregate of air filled bubbles and is lower in density than flammable liquids.
Must be able to-
Flow Freely
Have a high resistance to heat
Fuel tolerance
Form a tough, cohesive blanket
Must hold water

7. Smothering: prevents release of vapors
Foam’s Extinguishing Characteristics
Smothering: prevents release of vapors
Separating: creates a barrier between the fuel and fire
Cooling: lowers temperature of the fuel

8. Limitations of Foam Foam solution is 94%-97% water Cannot be used on:
Electrical fires
Three Dimensional Fires
Pressurized Gases
Combustible Metals

9. Kinds of Foam Protein Fluroprotein Film Forming Protein (FFFP)
Aqueous Film Forming Foam (AFFF)
Alcohol Resistant AFFF (ARFFF)

10. Aqueous Film Forming Foam (AFFF)
Good penetrating characteristics
Can be used with non-aerating nozzles
Spreads a vapor-sealing film over fuels
Can be pre-mixed
Can be mixed with antifreeze
Good low temperature viscosity
May be applied directly on fuel surface, applied indirectly, or used with subsurface injection

11. Foam Delivery Systems In-Line Eductors Around the Pump Eductor
Compressed Air Foam System
By-Pass Line Eductor

12. Most commonly used Attached to pump or at some point in the hose lay
In-line Foam Eductors
Most commonly used Attached to pump or at some point in the hose lay
The foam concentrate inlet to the inductor must be no more than six feet above the surface of the liquid foam concentrate

13. Venturi Principle in Eductors
As water at a high pressure passes over a reduced opening, it creates a low pressure near the outlet side of the eductor
The low pressure creates a suction which draws the foam concentrate into the water stream.

14. VENTURI PRINCPLE- VACUUM CREATED WITHIN THE DEVICE BY MANIPULATING WATER VELOCITY.
SUPPLY TUBE IS CONNECTED TO THE VACUUM CHAMBER AND PLACED IN THE FOAM CONCENTRATE.
BECAUSE OF THIS, EDUCTOR IS APPROX. 65% EFFICIENT.

15. ALL NOZZLES DO NOT PRODUCE SAME QUALITY BLANKET.
WHAT MIGHT APPEAR TO BE A GOOD BLANKET, MAY BE DRAINING OUT QUICKLY AND REQUIRE FREQUENT RE-APPLICATION.
ASPIRATING FOAM NOZZLE MINS; STRUCTURAL NOZZLE WITH ATTACHMENT- 10MINS.
STRUCTURAL FOAM NOZZLE- 1 MINUTE

16. REMEMBER
MATCH NOZZLE TO EDUCTOR
MAINTAIN 200 PSI INLET PRESSURE

17. Back Pressure should not exceed 70% of inlet pressure
HYDRAULICS
Back Pressure should not exceed 70% of inlet pressure
Back Pressure=NP+FLH+FLE
250’ of 1.75” and 0’ elevation
FLH= psi + 0= 130 psi
FLE= 70 psi
130psi + 70 psi= 200 psi

18. Foam Production
Foam must be proportioned with water and aerated with air to be used effectively
Most fire fighting foams are designed to be mixed at 3% to 6% concentrate in water

20. Foam & Foam Streams
To be effective, foam concentrates must be matched to the fuel to which they are applied

21. DETERMINE TYPE OF LIQUID
POLAR SOLVENTS- .16 GPM SQ. FT.
HYDROCARBONS GPM SQ. FT.

22. HOW MUCH FOAM - NFPA 11 DETERMINE SQUARE FOOTAGE
10 FT. X 1OO FT.= 1000 SQ. FT.
2. DETERMINE TYPE OF LIQUID
POLAR SOLVENT- .16 GPM/SQ. FT.
HYDROCARBONS- .10 GPM/SQ.FT.

23. APPLICATION RATES hydrocarbon fuels
3. DETERMINE AMOUNT OF FOAM CONCENTRATE.
100 GPM X .O3 = 3 Gal. Foam/Min.
4. AMOUNT REQUIRED FOR 15 MIN.
3 GPM X 15 MIN. = 45. Gal of Foam will be required.

24. APPLICATION RATES hydrocarbon fuels
Determine amount of water needed
100 GPM X .97 = 97 GPM
97 X 15 = 1455 Gallons of Water

25. Foam Application Methods
Roll – On Method
Bank Down Technique
Rain – Down Method
DO NOT PLUNGE

29. FOAM APPLICATION SCBA SWEEPING MOTION DO NOT PLUNGE FOAM
DO NOT WALK IN LIQUID
DO NOT TURN YOUR BACK TO FLAMMABLE
DO PRESERVE THE FOAM BLANKET

30. Causes of Poor Foam Generation
Eductor and Nozzle Mismatch
Too Much Hose between Eductor & Nozzle
Nozzle Elevation
Partially closed Nozzle Shut Off
Kinked Discharge Line

31. Fuel Mixture comprised of 85% ethanol and 15 % gasoline
Fires should be treated differently than traditional gasoline fires-
These mixtures are polar/water-miscible flammable liquids ( ie- they mix readily with water)
Degrade effectiveness of fire-fighting foam which is not alcohol- resistant
Refer to Guide 127 ( Flammable Liquids Polar/Water Miscible) of 2004 ERG

32. PRACTICAL FOAM HOOK-UP EDUCTOR MAKE SURE NOZZLE MATCHES EDUCTOR
SET METERING DEVICE
SET FLOWING PRESSURE
INSERT PICK-UP TUBE INTO FOAM

33. QUESTIONS?

45. DETERMINE AMOUNT OF FOAM CONCENTRATE
600 GPM X .03 =
18 GAL. FOAM MIN.

46. Fluoroprotein Foam Good water-retention capabilities
W Excellent heat resistance
W Not affected by freezing & thawing
W Can be mixed with antifreeze
W Good fluidity on fuel surface

47. Do not allow foam to plunge into burning liquids.
Protein Foam
W Excellent water-retention capabilities W High heat resistance and re-ignition resistance W Performance can be affected by freezing and thawing W Can be mixed with antifreeze W Can be made resistant to alcohol
Do not allow foam to plunge into burning liquids.