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Chapter 3 Low Expansion Foam Systems
Chapter 3 Low Expansion Foam Systems
NFPA 11
Standard for Low Expansion Foam
Flammable Liquids
Flammable liquid is defined as a liquid that has a flash point below 100F and having a vapor pressure not exceeding 40 psi What is flash point?
Combustible Liquids
Combustible liquid is defined as a liquid that has a flash point at or above 100F
Low-Expansion Foam
Low-expansion foam systems are used when a blanket of foam is needed to float on the horizontal surface of a flammable or combustible liquid. Limited vertical surface protection Use when Coating and O2 Displacement are the preferred method of extinguishment
Coating
Separates the fuel from the flame Blocks admission of air to the combustion process (i.e. oxygen dilution/separation of the fire) Cools the surface of the fuel
Low-Expansion foam is an appropriate substitute for water when water is heavier than the Flammable/Combustible liquid being protected. Specific gravity
Expansion Ratio
Expansion Ratio
The expansion ratio of foam is computed by measuring the volume of the foam produced after water and air are added and comparing that volume to the original volume of foam concentrate used Low-Expansion Foam = up to 20:1 of the hazard
Components of Foam
Air
Water
Foam Concentrate
1st - the Foam Concentrate is mixed with water to make a Foam Solution 2nd - the Foam Solution flows through the piping system to the hazard location 3rd - the Foam Solution is mixed with air (disch. devices) at the specified rate to make FOAM Its like blowing bubbles
Types of Foam
Types of Foam
Protein Foam Fluoroprotein Foam (FFFP) Aqueous Film-Forming Foam (AFFF) Alcohol-resistant Foam Chemical Foam
Protein Foam
Expansion ratio between 8:1 and 10:1 Protein-based animal additives (hooves, feathers) Hmm, Hmm, Good! Can be effective on hydrocarbon fires, but absorbs fuel and tends to fail, no film
Organic Compounds that contain only carbon and hydrogen (i.e. Natural Gas, Petroleum, Coal, etc)
Shorter shelf life More frequent replacement compared to other types of Foam May not maintain floating above the fuel
Fluoroprotein Foam
Protein-based Foams(Summary)
Ranked by Effectiveness
Thin aqueous film that separates the foam from the fuel
Readily available Foam of choice for many applications including Aircraft Hangars protection
Alcohol-resistant Foam
Used for the protection of alcohol-based flammable liquid fires Effective because the alcohol in the flammable liquid does not collapse the foam bubbles (water absorption) like other foams Forms a polymeric membrane between the foam and the fuel
Chemical Foams
Depends on chemical reaction within the Foam Solution to create air bubbles (Foam) Obsolete due to AFFF and FFFP
Proportioning Methods
Proportioning Methods
Ensures proper expansion Ratio and proper proportions 6% Foam Concentrate, 94% Water
Types of Proportioners
Water moves past the metering orifice, thus creating negative pressure at the orifice that forces (pulls) Foam Concentrate into the water stream of the Venturi Foam is dependent on metering orifice size, but is typically 1%, 3%, or 6% mix
Pressure Proportioner
Draws a portion of incoming water stream into the tank holding the Foam Concentrate
This is done in an effort to pressurize the tank where the foam concentrate is stored
Collapsible bladder holds the Foam Concentrate Water increases the amount of pressure on the bladder tank, thus forcing foam concentrate out of the bladder and towards the proportioner
Uses an atmospheric foam concentrate tank Uses a pump to pressurize the concentrate and force it toward the proportioner A proportioner that balances the pumped concentrate pressure to the water supply pressure, mixing the two at the correct ratio
Mobile and Portable Apparatus Semi Fixed Systems Fixed Foam Systems
Fire Departments
Selection of Foam or Foam Equipment should match the expected flammable or combustible liquid
Semi Fixed Piping used in conjunction with mobile or portable foam equipment
Mobile or portable foam equipment should be able to serve multiple semi fixed piping installations
Detection system, continuously attended central station, on-site fire brigade is recommended
Specifically fixed storage tank foam F.P. and fixed aircraft hangar F.P.
Subsurface injection Surface application Seal protection for floating roof tanks Dike protection
Foam is applied below the surface of the liquid, and floats to the top of the fuel surface
Piping and nozzles at bottom of tank with nozzles in the liquid, dedicated solely to foam injection Nozzle spacing provides uniform disbursement of foam to surface of the liquid (more gentle and uniform than surface application of foam) Not practical for existing tanks
Tapped directly into the tank product line Practical for existing tanks
High back-pressure foam makers required on both types of subsurface injection types
The circular area of the exposed fuel at the upper level of the tank Area=(pi)(r)^2
D=foam discharge rate (gpm) A=tank surface area (Step #1) R=application rate (See Figure 3-8)
Q=primary foam concentrate quantity (gal) A=tank surface area (Step #1) R=application rate (See Figure 3-8) %=concentrate percentage for foam selected
# of addl. hose streams x 50gpm (# of addl. hose streams) x (50gpm) x (Operating Time) x (%)
Dt=D+Ds
Qt=Q+Qs
Break
Surface application discharge devices are designed to roll a thin blanket of foam over the surface area of the fuel with fixed discharge outlets permanently located above the fuel surface
Discharge devices
Designed to deliver foam onto the liquid surface in a very gentle fashion
Two types Porous Tubes tube overcomes diaphragm pressure and drops into tank from the Foam Chamber Foam Trough Chute securely attached to the inside of the tank, like pouring concrete
These outlets are designed to extinguish fire with a minimum of Foam-producing materials.
Considered obsolete because nearly all currently manufactured foams are suitable for use with Type II discharge outlets
Most Foam Chambers are of a Type II discharge outlet design, since they are normally suitable for use with modern foams
A floating roof floats on the surface of the flammable liquid, rising and falling as the liquid is added to or removed from the tank
The floating roof allows no space between the bottom of the roof and the surface of the liquid, no vapor buildup
A system that involves building a dam around the perimeter of a floating roof and filling the seal area with low expansion foam
The space between the edge of the floating roof and the perimeter of the tank
The (weather) seal that covers this area requires Foam Protection This involves building a Dam of Foam around the perimeter of the floating roof and the tank
Some cases require Foam Distribution Piping to penetrate the (weather) seal
Foam dam height 12 inches, Outlets-40ft max Foam dam height 24 inches, Outlets-80ft max Mechanical Shoe seal, Outlets-130ft max Tube seal, Outlets-60ft max typically Foam dam required when 6 in or less between top of roof and tube
Containment dike for tank farms will often have a supplemental Low Expansion Foam System The dike area is flooded with Foam that will float on top of any flammable liquid that may have been spilled within the containment area See Figure 3-19, Plan view
fixed cone roof (FCR) floating roof tank (FRT) dike area
Design Procedure
Note: If a tank is installed with its bottom mounted to the floor of the dike, then the surface area of the tank may be deducted from the total dike area
Determine application rate and discharge times per NFPA 11 Calculate foam discharge rate and concentrate quantity Determine the number of foam discharge devices required
Calculate dike area Determine application rate(outlets & monitors) Determine discharge times(outlets & monitors)
Step #2
Step #3
Step #4
N=(2L+2W)/30
Aircraft that are stored or serviced in an aircraft hangar contain large amounts of flammable fuel Servicing the aircraft offers numerous opportunities for the spilled fuel to ignite
NFPA 409
Low expansion foam systems not only smother flammable liquid pool fires on the floor, but effectively coat the aircraft skin with an effective exposure protection barrier.
Aircraft hangar fire protection design can consist of low expansion foam systems
Aspirated foam water nozzles (Air) vs. Non-aspirated sprinklers Water Oscillating monitors
NFPA 11- Standard for Low Expansion Foam NFPA 16- Standard for the Installation of Deluge Foam-Water Sprinkler and Foam-Water Spray Systems NFPA 16A- Standard for the Installation of Closed-Head Foam-Water Sprinkler Systems The point where flammable and combustible liquids are pumped from storage tanks to a truck See Figure 3-25, Page 69
Most dangerous portion of the manufacture of a flammable or combustible liquid Pumping the liquid involves Pressurization of the hose line that transmits the liquid Pump could fail Hose could burst or become dislodged from the connection to the truck
Roof protection
Foam-water sprinklers or Foam-water spray nozzles at the roof of the truck loading rack. Typically, at a maximum of 100 sq.ft.(10 x 10) i.e. Extra Hazard
To provide complete protection of the drainage area
The drainage area is the curbed area designed contain spilled flammable or combustible liquids as it flows towards floor drains. Note: Drainage area may not always coincide with the Roof area. The hazard area is always the drainage area, not the roof area.
See Figure 3-28 Additional nozzles are aimed directly at the point of connection of the hose to the truck Additional nozzles are aimed beneath the truck to enable the sweeping of liquid from beneath the truck See Figure 3-29
Summary
Use
Components of Foam
Types of Foam
Summary (cont.)
Applications
Subsurface injection Surface injection Seal protection Dike protection Aircraft Hangars Truck loading racks
Questions???