PR 3

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Operational Guidance

6
Fire & Rescue Service

Operational Guidance
Equipment Manual!
Branch Foam Chubb FB5X!

Audit Info Further Reading Technical Info Tests Advantages & Disadvantages Operation Construction Hazards Function General Info Contents Cover
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Fire & Rescue Service
Operational Guidance

Contents
Equipment Manual

General Info
Branch - Foam
Chubb FB5X Foam Making Branch

Function
Table of Contents

Hazards
1     General Description ............................................................................................ 3  
2     Primary Function ................................................................................................ 3  
3     Hazards .............................................................................................................. 3  

Construction
4     Construction ....................................................................................................... 3  
4.1   Main Parts .......................................................................................................... 3  
4.2   The Pick-Up Tube ............................................................................................... 3  

Operation
4.3   The Branch-pipe ................................................................................................. 3  
5     Operation ............................................................................................................ 4  
5.1   Using the Foam Pick-Up Tube ........................................................................... 4  
5.2   Using the Foam Branch with a Premixed Solution ............................................. 5  

Advantages & Disadvantages

5.3   Using the Foam Branch in Conjunction with a Foam Inlet .................................. 5  
5.4   After Use ............................................................................................................. 5  
6     Advantages/Disadvantages/Limitations .............................................................. 5  
6.1   Advantages ......................................................................................................... 5  
6.2   Disadvantages/Limitations .................................................................................. 5  
7     Tests ................................................................................................................... 5  
8     Technical Information ......................................................................................... 5  

Tests
9     Further Reading .................................................................................................. 6  
Technical Info
Further Reading
Audit Info

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Fire & Rescue Service
Operational Guidance

Contents
Equipment Manual

General Info
Branch
Chubb FB5X Foam Making Branch

Function
1 General Description
The FB5X is a lightweight, easy to handle foam making branch.

Hazards
2 Primary Function
This branch is intended to produce relatively low quantities of fully aspirated foam

Construction
using either concentrate through a 3m foam pick up tube connected and inducted at
the branch or a premixed solution supplied via either fire pump with an around-the-
pump foam proportioner or an inline foam generator.

3 Hazards

Operation
There are no specific hazards for this piece of equipment

4 Construction

Advantages & Disadvantages

4.1 Main Parts
The FB5X has two main parts:
n Foam concentrate pick-up tube (which is detachable)
n The branch-pipe (see figure 1)
4.2 The Pick-Up Tube
The pick-up tube is used to induct foam concentrate directly into the foam branch. It
consists of a stainless steel tube with a hole at the base designed to filter the foam
concentrate as in enters the pick-up tube.

Tests
4.3 The Branch-pipe
The majority of the branch-pipe is constructed from a light alloy. The component
parts are detailed in figure 1.
Technical Info
Further Reading
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Contents
Figure 1 – FB5X Branch-Pipe

General Info
c
b

Function
a

3
PR
EM

Hazards
IX
h

6
g

Construction
f
e
d

Operation
Component parts
a Standard 64mm Male Instantaneous Coupling
b On and Off Control Switch

Advantages & Disadvantages

c Air Induction Port
d Concentrate Selector Valve
e Foam Concentrate Pick-up Tube Connector
f Handle
g Discharge Tube
h Rubber Foam Inlet Seal

5 Operation
Tests
The FB5X branch pipe has an operational pressure range between 3 bar and 10 bar.
For optimum results the branch requires a water supply of 230 l/min at 5.5 bar to
produce approximately 2270 l/min of fully aspirated finished foam.
Technical Info

Unless instructed otherwise, pump operators should always aim to provide that
pressure at the branch. At these ratios the branch will use 7 l/min of foam
concentrate at 3% or 14 l/min at 6%.
5.1 Using the Foam Pick-Up Tube
Further Reading

Ensure that the Concentrate Selector Valve is set to the percentage rating of the
foam concentrate being used either 3% or 6% (see figure 1, item a).
Place the pick-up tube into a fire service bucket and continuously decant the foam
concentrate from the storage drums directly into the bucket. This will allow a constant
supply of foam concentrate to enter the branch and maintain a continuous flow of
finished foam.
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5.2 Using the Foam Branch with a Premixed Solution

General Info
When the foam branch is being supplied by either, a pump with an integrated foam
system (like a round the pump proportioner) or an inline inductor, set the Concentrate
Selector Valve on the foam branch to PREMIX (see figure 1, item a).

When the foam branch is used with an inline inductor the distance
between the inline inductor and the branch must not exceed 60m.

Function
5.3 Using the Foam Branch in Conjunction with a Foam Inlet
When using the branch in conjunction with foam inlets of the instantaneous coupling
type, connect the shaft of a standpipe to the foam inlet via the instantaneous

Hazards
coupling to enhance the flow of finished foam.
Hold the branch firmly against the screw thread end of the standpipe shaft.
5.4 After Use

Construction
After use thoroughly flush and then test the foam branch and all the equipment used
in the production of foam including pumps to prevent future malfunction and chemical
decomposition from contact with the foam.

6 Advantages/Disadvantages/Limitations

Operation
6.1 Advantages
The FB5X is light and contains very few moving parts and when used with a
premixed solution, can be moved around with very little effort.

Advantages & Disadvantages

6.2 Disadvantages/Limitations
The limited jet range requires the operator to work in close proximity to the hazard
area.

7 Tests
Test the foam branch in accordance with Standard Test Procedure Branch Foam -
Low expansion branches.

8 Technical Information

Tests
Table 1 shows the technical information relevant to this piece of equipment.

Table 1 - Technical Specification

Technical Info

Water Requirement 230 l/min at 5.5 bar

Operating pressure range 3 to 10.5 bar
Foam Compound P, FP, FFFP, AFFF, AR-FFFP
Calibration 3% or 6% or premix
Further Reading

with 3% liquid 7 l/min

Foam liquid consumption
with 6% liquid 14 l/min
Foam output 2270 l/min
Jet throw 21 – 24m
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Inlet 64mm (2.5") Anodized male instantaneous coupling
Foam Pick-up 20mm quick release

General Info
Material Light alloy
460mm long
Dimensions
205mm wide
Weight 2kg

Function
NOTE: Performance figures are based on equipment using the appropriate
foam liquid with clean water at 15°C at an atmospheric pressure of 1 bar.

Hazards
9 Further Reading
Further information regarding this equipment and the principles of

Construction
operation can be found in the following documents;
n Fire Service Manual Volume 1 Fire Service Technology, Equipment and
Media
n Fire Service Fire Service Manual Volume 2 Fire Service Operations
Firefighting Foam.

Operation
Advantages & Disadvantages
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