FOAM MAKING

EQUIPMENT

Presented by:
 Sub Fire Officer Lucknath

 Lead FF Sookur

 FF Heerah

 Lead FF Chuttoree

 FF Ragnath.M

1
Date: 29 Oct 2022
AIMS:

To introduce and elaborate on:

 Fire fighting foam and types of foam available.

 Its associated properties
 Foam making equipment used in the Mauritius Fire
and Rescue Service (MFRS)

FOAM MAKING EQUIPMENT 2

Objectives:
At the end of the session, you should be able to
demonstrate a clear understanding of:

 The different terminology used in relation to foam.

 The principal methods by which foam extinguishes a

fire.
 Expansion ratio of foam
 Factors affecting foam performance.
 The types of foam concentrate in use in the MFRS.
 List the equipment required to make foam.

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Definitions of foam terminology:
 Foam is a mixture of foam concentrate, water and
air in the correct proportion.
 Foam concentrate is the product of a mixture of

foam concentrate, water and air.

 Foam container is a container to carry foam

concentrate.

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 Foam generator is a device introduced into a line
of hose for creating mechanical foam which is
discharged through a branch.
 Foam inline adaptor is an adaptor fitted on fixed

foam inlets to enable foam branches to feed into a

fixed installation.

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 Foam dam is a portable reservoir to provide a
continuous supply of foam concentrate for pick-
up tubes.
 Foam inductor is a piece of equipment whereby

the correct amount of foam concentrate is induced

into the water stream.
 Foam solution is a solution of foam concentrate in

water at an appropriate concentration.

 Foam tender is an appliance wholly or mainly

used for carrying foam-producing equipment.

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Equipment required to make foam
 Pump to impart energy
 Hose to deliver water
 Means of inducing foam concentrate
 Means of aerating the solution.
 Equipment to project foam onto the fire.

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How foam works:

FOAM MAKING EQUIPMENT 9

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HOW FOAM IS MADE
Finished foam is a combination of foam
concentrate, water and air. When these
components are brought together in proper
proportions and thoroughly mixed, foam is
produced.

The following diagram shows how foam is

made through typical proportioning
equipment.

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FOAM TYPES
The following foam concentrates are the most
commonly used today by firefighters.

 Protein Foam Concentrates

 Fluoroprotein Foam Concentrates •
 Film Forming Fluoroprotein Foam
Concentrates
 Aqueous Film Forming Foam Concentrates •
 Alcohol-Resistant Foam Concentrates (AR-
AFFF and AR-FFFP) •
 Synthetic Detergent Foam (Mid and High
Expansion)
FOAM MAKING EQUIPMENT 13
Expansion ratio:

 The ratio of the volume of foam generated

(finished foam) to the foam concentrate used in
that is called expansion ratio of the foam.
 The foam with expansion ratio between 1:2 and

1:20 is called low expansion foam.

 Foam with expansion ratio between 1:20 and 1:200

is called medium expansion foam.

 Foam with expansion ratio above 1:200 is called

high expansion foam.

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Inline inductors:
 Inductors are placed in the delivery line between
the pump and the foam nozzle and can be used
for medium and for heavy foam nozzles. The
venturi system creates a vacuum in the body of
the inductor and the foam concentrate is picked
up via a suction hose with a coupling

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Low expansion branch pipe

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Low expansion foam branch
 Portable low expansion foam-making branch
pipes are used in mobile hose lines with
water/foam premix and are suitable to produce a
low expansion foam for extinguishing fires of
flammable liquids or of solid materials. Their
purpose is to add air to the foam/water premix
stream forming a fire extinguishing low expansion
foam with an expansion rate of about 1:7.

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Medium expansion branchpipe

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High expansion foam generator:

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