FT 04 FIRE PHASE

LOW EXPANSION FOAM AND MAKING EQUIPMENT

OBJECTIVE 1. To explain what is foam either it is chemical or mechanical their properties, expansion and the foam making equipment. REFERENCE 2. a. b. Manual of Fireman Ship Book 2. Student Note 2 of Lancashire County Fire Brigade.

CONTENTS 3. Chemical Foam. Chemical foam is normally produced by the interaction of Aluminum Sulphate and Sodium Bicarbonate solutions, to which a stabilizer is added. The stabilizer taken in part in the chemical reaction; what it does is to strengthen the walls of the foam bubbles so as to prevent them from bursting, main substances used are: a. b. c. d. Liquorices Turkey Red Oil Saponine Albumen

4. When larger quantities of chemical foam are required, some form of continuous foam generation must be employed. Large quantities of chemical foam may be produced in one of two ways: a. By bringing together as required solutions of the two ingredients which, on mixing, produce foam. b. By introducing into a hose line the two main ingredients in power form. In the pressure of water the powders dissolve, chemical action ensures, and foam is generated. 5. Mechanical Foam. It has already been stated that by introducing a suitable compound into the water stream and them aerating the resulting mixture stable foam can be produced. The compound used for the production of mechanical foam is referred to and aeration is termed foam equipment, and the resultant foam is mechanical foam, sometimes referred to as air foam. 6. Types of Compound: a. The most common compounds used with mechanical foam apparatus are of the hydrolyzed protein type; other types are available, but protein types have proved generally more satisfactory and are now in general use in the Fire Service. b. The basic materials used in the manufacture of protein compounds are horn and hoof meal and animal blood. c. If protein compounds are exposed to air, oxidation occurs and produces a scum which slowly settles through the liquid. In time this form a sediment on the bottom if the container. For the above reason, decanting re-canning should never be done unless absolutely necessary.

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d. Foam compound is usually stored in two or five gallon drums and, in some cases, in tanks on foam tenders, with a capacity of 4,500 liters. e. Drums of compound should be stored so that they are protected from frost and heat. Damp storage should also be avoided. f. Protein bases compound will mix without ill effects on one another or on the foams, but soap and protein compounds must not be mixed. The react chemically and form pumps of a protein-type compounds react with each other and end to break down rapidly where they in contact. The mixing of these two of foam should therefore be avoided. 7. Foam Equipment. The most general way of producing mechanical foam is: a. By means of a special branch known as a foam making branch, used in conjunction with some form of inductor. b. By the use of a piece of equipment known as a mechanical foam generator which induces amount of foam compound and generates the foam. 8. To produce mechanical foam the following equipment is required: a. b. c. A pump for imparting the necessary energy to the water. Hose for delivering the water where required. A means of injecting the foam compound into the water stream.

d. A means of aerating the resulting mixture and apparatus for projecting the resultant foam onto the fire. 9. Foam Making Branches (see diagram). With the exception of the smaller sizes, foam making branches are led with a pre-mixed solution of foam compound in water achieve by various forms of inductor. Some models are however fitted with connection enabling foam compound tubes to be used. This method is not generally favored by Fire Brigades for the following reasons: a. The foam compound has to be transported to the branch. b. It is impossible to see when the compound is used up unless it is decanted or the top of the container removed. c. There is a danger of water being discharged on the fire should the flow of compound be interrupted due to its low level and when the pick-up tube is transferred from an empty container to a full one. d. The branch operators movements are restricted. e. Control and operation of the compound inducing equipment is better carried out away from the branch at a safe distance from the fire.

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On/Off Control Valve Male Instantaneous Coupling

Air Inlet Holes Outlet Nozzle

Turbulence Chamber

Semi-circular Baffles

Strainer

Downstream Oriffice plate Foam Making Tube

Dispersal Disc

Upstream Orifice Plate

Figure 1. Diagram of Foam Making Branches

10. Mechanical Foam Generators. These are a development of he self inducing type of foam making branch. They are designed to induce foam compound and air in correct proportion to the quantity of water flowing to generate the foam and deliver it through hose to the point of discharge. Note: The back pressure against which the equipment can work is limits and, accordingly, the length and size of hose need is important. Approximately 60 m at 70 mm RRL. 11. A minimum pressure of 10 bars is required to operate these generators and they are therefore placed in the hose line close to the pump, usually by means of a short piece of hose long enough to allow the generator to stand on the ground. 12. Foam Inductors: a. Inline Inductors. As the name implies it is placed in the line delivery hose usually about 30 m/60 m from the branch, the reason being that should the inductor be placed close to the pump with a long delivery line to the branch, the ratio between the inductor outlet and inlet pressures is raised and the rate of induction will drop. It the pressure ratio increases above a certain figure, induction will cease altogether. b. Variable Inductor and Multi Jet Inductor. Not positioned in hose lines, but connected direct to the pump by a series of adaptors. The variable inductor may be got to work in the following manner: (1) Fit the adaptors to the suction inlet and delivery valve of the pump respectively. (2) Connect the length of 25 mm rubber hose from adaptor on the delivery valve to the inlet of the inductor. (3) Connect the 38 mm rubber hose to the inductor outlet and the suction of the pump.

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c. The maximum capacity of the variable inductor is 77 liters/per min and can be used with branches using up to 2273 liters/per min. The multi-jet inductor is 54 liters/per min of foam compound. d. Both the variable inductor and multi-jet inductor can be used from: (1) (2) Open water. Low pressure mains (below 1 bar).

e. If it is necessary to work from high pressure mains (above 1 bar) the supply will have to be fed into: (1) (2) A portable dam and a pump with the inductor set into it. Connected up to a pressure reducing valve.

f. The pressure reducing salve is connected between the hydrant and the suction adaptor. It will reduce the incoming pressure by 5 to 1 i.e. 5 bars to 1 bar. 13. Properties of Mechanical Foam a. Foam produced as a result of the aeration of the water/compound mixture in extinguishing fire involving an inflammable liquid, blankets can protects the surface from the heat of the flames and radiation from other sources, thus lending to prevent the formation of vapor cools the liquid with the water that is carries in suspension and limits the supply of oxygen. b. The important properties of foam which have a bearing on its construction, fire resistance, and suitability for a particular application are expansion and sheer strength. 14. Expansion. The expansion of foam depends on the amount of the air contains, the greater the amount of air the higher the expansion. If the water contains less than 3% of compound, the foam will have a low expansion and appear wet. Due to the fact that to retain its air the foam requires a minimum quantity of compound in the water from which it is made. 15. Sheep Strength a. The more efficiently the foam is mixed, the smaller the bubbles of air and hence the higher the sheer strength and fire resistance of the foam. b. The only means of varying the properties of foam produced by foam making branches is branch pressure. The towers the branch pressure the lower the expansion and sheer strength. Branch pressure should never be allowed to gall below 6 bars and should is possible. 16. Practical Considerations. Producing foam on a large scale for long periods requires much care and constant attention; it is strongly recommend that at large fires requiring the use of foam the following points should be given particular attentions: a. Care should be taken to prevent stones and other foreign matter from being drawn into pump suctions or getting into the bores of couplings of delivery hose whilst it is being laid out. b. Precautions should be taken to avoid the use of any protein compound which may find its way to the scene of the fire. c. Inline inductors should be as close as possible to the foam making branches and in any case not further back than 60 M. d. Strainer should be used on ail inductors. e. Special attention should be paid to the performance of foam making branches for the first ten minutes so that any blockages of inductors or branches by stones are promptly detected and dealt with. 32

f.

Spare foam making branches and inductors should be available.

g. There should be some organized plan for stacking full and empty compound drums where they will not obstructs access to pumps, inductors and roadways. 17. Care and Maintenance. Foam in large quantities is required only on care occasions but when it is called for the needs is urgent. It is important that compound and equipment should not be allowed to deteriorate during long periods in store. Therefore the following points should be considered: a. Compound containers should be inspected periodically. Compound in rusty or leaky containers should be used for drills. It there is too much to use by this means the compound should be decanted. b. Inductors should be kept clean and in particular no rust should be allowed to form inside the tanks, since rust flakes can smoke the inductors when at work, all signs of rust should be removed and the insides of the tank should be painted. c. The jets and cocks on inductors can choke gradually with layers of foam compound which dry out after the inductor has been in use and it is to avoid this that inductors should be well flushed with clean water after use. 18. Foam making equipment: TYPE Hi Ex P 500 P 125 Med EX KR4/75 KR2/159 Low Ex { 5x { No. 10 FMN No. 20 FMN No. 30 FMN No. 5A MEG No. 10 MFG WATER MIN 156 ltrs 10 ltrs 400 ltrs 200 ltrs 200 ltrs 200 ltrs 230 ltrs 451 ltrs 908 ltrs 1362 ltrs 254 ltrs 568 ltrs FOAM COMPOUND MTN 3 bars 2,25 ltrs 3 bars 5 ltrs 5 bars & branch 9 ltrs 9 bars & Branch 1.5 ltrs 5 bars 9 ltrs 5 bars 9 ltrs 7 bars 14 ltrs 7 bars 14 ltrs 7 bars 28 ltrs 7 bars 12 ltrs 10 bars 9 ltrs 10 bars 22 litrs PRESSURE PRODUCED FOAM MTN 140 M3 35 M3 28 M3 30 M3 2050 ltrs 2050 ltrs 3373 ltrs 3636 ltrs 7272 ltrs 10906 ltrs 1752 ltrs 4090 ltrs

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