Fire Fighting Foam

Foam Terms:

Foam Concentrate: Raw foam liquid in the storage cont

Foam Terms

Foam Proportioner: Mechanical device that injects

the

correct amount of foam into the water

stream

Air Aspirating Nozzle: Nozzle allowing air to combine

with water before being discharged

Foam Terms
Foam Solution: Mixture of foam concentrate and
water after it leaves the proportioner, but before
it is

discharged from the nozzle

Foam Terms
Finished Foam: Foam solution that is mixed with
air as it is discharged from the nozzle.

Foam Terms
Hydrocarbon fuel: Petroleum based product such
as gasoline, diesel fuel, benzene, and natural gas
Polar solvent fuel: Non-petroleum-based fuel such
as
alcohol, lacquers, thinners, acetone, and
acids

How Foam Works:

Smothers Prevents air and flammable vapors from m

Separates Barrier between fuel and fire
Cools - Lowers fuel and surface
temperatures
Suppresses Prevents the release of flammable
vapors

Four Elements of Foam

How Foam is Generated

- 1st Stage: Water is mixed
with foam concentrate to
form
foam solution
- 2nd Stage: Foam solution
passes through the hose to
the foam nozzle where air
is added to form finished
foam
- Depending on the
proportion rate, foam is 90
to 99 percent
water.
- For example, when 3%
foam is used, 3 gallons of
foam
concentrate are used for
every 97 gallons of water.

Foam Concentrates:

Aqueous Film Forming Foam (AFFF)- Synthetic foam. Surfa

that drain from the foam blanket form vapor-sealing bla
over the fuel. Most common foam used today
Fluoroprotein Foam Protein based with fluorinated
surfactants added. Most commonly used in
subsurface injection applications

Film Forming Fluoroprotein Foam (FFFP) Has the benefits

AFFF and fluoroprotein foam
Class A Foam Foam concentrate that is used on class A
fires
Class B Foam Foam concentrate that is intended for use
on
flammable and combustible fires

Types of Foam:

Low-expansion foam Used on flammable liquid fires.

and FFFP are common types.

Medium-expansion foam Used as a space-filling age

hard-to-reach areas such as underground vaults
and basements.

High-expansion foam Same uses as those for medi

expansion foam.

Things to Remember

The eductor is set up no more than 6 feet above the bottom of the
foam concentrate.
The eductor and nozzle are matched for foam production. The gpm
rating on the eductor needs to match the gpm rating on the nozzle.
The foam eductor is set for the proper percentage of concentrate.
(3% for hydrocarbons and 6% for polar-solvents)
The pump pressure is correct. The nozzle pressure should be 100
psi.
The nozzle operator should keep the hose stream away from the
fire until foam is flowing
The nozzle operator directs the hose stream away from the fire if
the foam stream turns to water.
Do not exceed 200 feet of hose past the eductor. If the eductor is
attached to the pump panel, then you can use 200 feet of hose
past the eductor. If you lay out a 2 inch line with the eductor inline, you can only use 200 feet of hose past the eductor.
Do Not break the foam blanket after it is applied.
Clean and flush all appliances after each use.