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Pumping Apparatus Driver/Operator — Lesson 15

Pumping Apparatus Driver/Operator — Lesson 15. Pumping Apparatus Driver/Operator Handbook, 2 nd Edition Chapter 15 — Foam Equipment and Systems. Learning Objectives. 1. List the reasons why foam and durable agents have increased in use in recent years.

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Pumping Apparatus Driver/Operator — Lesson 15

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  1. Pumping Apparatus Driver/Operator — Lesson 15 Pumping Apparatus Driver/Operator Handbook, 2nd Edition Chapter 15 — Foam Equipment and Systems

  2. Learning Objectives 1. List the reasons why foam and durable agents have increased in use in recent years. 2. Match to their definitions terms associated with the foam-making process. 3. Select facts about the principles of foam. (Continued) Pumping Apparatus Driver/Operator

  3. Learning Objectives 4. Explain how foam extinguishes and/or prevents fire. 5. Answer questions about foam proportioning. 6. List the four basic methods by which foam may be proportioned. (Continued) Pumping Apparatus Driver/Operator

  4. Learning Objectives 7. Select facts about how foam is stored. 8. Answer questions about Class A foam. 9. Explain the common guidelines for performing various applications with Class A foams. (Continued) Pumping Apparatus Driver/Operator

  5. Learning Objectives 10. List the type of Class A foam required for given situations. 11. Select facts about Class B foam. 12. List the variables that determine the rate of application of Class B foam. (Continued) Pumping Apparatus Driver/Operator

  6. Learning Objectives 13. List the application rates of Class B foam for common fire scenarios. 14. Explain how to determine the application rate available from a nozzle. 15. Calculate foam application rates. (Continued) Pumping Apparatus Driver/Operator

  7. Learning Objectives 16. Select facts about specific foam concentrates. 17. List the three things that happen when Aqueous Film Forming Foam (AFFF) is applied to a hydrocarbon fire. 18. List the three basic applications of high-expansion foams. (Continued) Pumping Apparatus Driver/Operator

  8. Learning Objectives 19. Describe the two principles by which foam proportioning devices operate. 20. Answer questions about portable foam proportioners. 21. List the operating rules when using eductors. (Continued) Pumping Apparatus Driver/Operator

  9. Learning Objectives 22. Answer questions about apparatus-mounted foam proportioning systems. 23. Distinguish between advantages and limitations of compressed-air foam systems (CAFS). 24. Identify characteristics of various portable foam application devices. (Continued) Pumping Apparatus Driver/Operator

  10. Learning Objectives 25. Install an in-line foam eductor and operate a high expansion foam generator. 26. Select from a list the reasons for failure to generate foam or for generating poor quality foam. 27. Match to their definitions various foam application techniques. (Continued) Pumping Apparatus Driver/Operator

  11. Learning Objectives 28. Answer questions about the environmental impact of foam concentrates and solutions. 29. Select facts about durable agents. Pumping Apparatus Driver/Operator

  12. Why Foam and Durable Agents Have Increased in Use Recently • Magnitude and frequency of hazardous materials incidents requiring foam for control • New advances in foam concentrate technology that have provided products which are more easily used by municipal and wildland firefighters (Continued) Pumping Apparatus Driver/Operator

  13. Why Foam and Durable Agents Have Increased in Use Recently • Technological improvements in foam proportioning equipment and systems that make their inclusion in the construction of new fire apparatus, or the retrofitting of existing apparatus, feasible for many fire departments Pumping Apparatus Driver/Operator

  14. Foam Terms • Proportion — To mix with water • Aerate — To mix with air • Foam concentrate — The raw foam liquid in its storage container before being combined with air and water (Continued) Pumping Apparatus Driver/Operator

  15. Foam Terms • Foam proportioner — The device that introduces foam concentrate into the water stream to make the foam solution • Foam solution — The mixture of foam concentrate and water before the introduction of air • Foam — The completed product after air is introduced into the foam solution Pumping Apparatus Driver/Operator

  16. Principles of Foam • To produce quality fire fighting foam, foam concentrate, water, air, and mechanical aeration are needed. (Continued) Pumping Apparatus Driver/Operator

  17. Principles of Foam • Proper aeration should produce uniform-sized bubbles to provide a longer lasting blanket. A good foam blanket must maintain cover over either Class A or Class B fuels for the required period of time. (Continued) Pumping Apparatus Driver/Operator

  18. Principles of Foam • Some foams are now available that are rated for use on fires in both Class A and Class B fuels. • If a department still has single-class foam only, each must be matched to the fuel for which it was formulated. (Continued) Pumping Apparatus Driver/Operator

  19. Principles of Foam • Class B fuels • Hydrocarbons — Petroleum based and float on water; Class B foam is effective as an extinguishing agent. Examples: Crude oil, fuel oil, gasoline, benzene, naphtha, jet fuel, and kerosene (Continued) Pumping Apparatus Driver/Operator

  20. Principles of Foam • Class B fuels • Polar solvents — Flammable liquids that mix with water; foam can be effective, but only in special alcohol-resistant formulations Examples: Alcohol, acetone, lacquer thinner, ketones, and esters (Continued) Pumping Apparatus Driver/Operator

  21. Principles of Foam • Class B foams designed solely for hydrocarbon fires will not extinguish polar solvent fires regardless of the concentration at which they are used. However, many foams that are intended for polar solvents may be used on hydrocarbon fires, but this should not be attempted unless the manufacturer of the particular concentrate being used says this is permissible. (Continued) Pumping Apparatus Driver/Operator

  22. Principles of Foam CAUTION! Failure to match the proper foam concentrate with the fuel can result in an unsuccessful extinguishing effort and could endanger firefighters. Pumping Apparatus Driver/Operator

  23. How Foam Extinguishes and/or Prevents Fire • Separating — Creates a barrier between the fuel and the fire • Cooling — Lowers the temperature of the fuel and adjacent surfaces (Continued) Pumping Apparatus Driver/Operator

  24. How Foam Extinguishes and/or Prevents Fire • Suppressing (sometimes referred to as smothering) — Prevents the release of flammable vapors and therefore reduces the possiblity of ignition or reignition (Continued) Pumping Apparatus Driver/Operator

  25. How Foam Extinguishes and/or Prevents Fire Pumping Apparatus Driver/Operator

  26. Foam Proportioning • Describes the mixing of water with foam concentrate to form a foam solution • For maximum effectiveness, foam concentrates must be proportioned at the specific percentage for which they are formulated. This rate is clearly marked on the outside of the foam container. (Continued) Pumping Apparatus Driver/Operator

  27. Foam Proportioning • Most fire fighting foam concentrates are intended to be mixed with 94 to 99.9% water. Example: When using 3% foam concentrate, 97 parts water mixed with 3 parts foam concentrate equals 100 parts foam solution. (Continued) Pumping Apparatus Driver/Operator

  28. Foam Proportioning • Class A foams are not proportioned as other foams. Their percentage can be adjusted (within limits) to achieve specific objectives. • Dry (thick) foam suitable for exposure protection and fire breaks require higher percentage of foam. • Wet (thin) foam that rapidly sinks into a fuel’s surface can be adjusted to a lower percentage. (Continued) Pumping Apparatus Driver/Operator

  29. Foam Proportioning • The selection of a proportioner depends on the foam solution, foam requirements, available water pressure, cost, intended use, and the agent to be used. (Continued) Pumping Apparatus Driver/Operator

  30. Foam Proportioning • Proportioners and delivery devices are engineered to work together. Using a foam proportioner that is not compatible with the delivery device can result in unsatisfactory foam or no foam at all. Pumping Apparatus Driver/Operator

  31. Methods by Which Foam May be Proportioned • Induction • Injection • Batch mixing • Premixing Pumping Apparatus Driver/Operator

  32. Induction • Uses the pressure energy in the stream of water to induct (draft) foam concentrate into the fire stream • Is achieved by passing the stream of water through a venturi device called an eductor Examples: In-line eductors and foam nozzle eductors (Continued) Pumping Apparatus Driver/Operator

  33. Induction Pumping Apparatus Driver/Operator

  34. Injection • Uses an external pump or head pressure to force foam concentrate into the fire stream at the correct ratio in comparison to the flow Pumping Apparatus Driver/Operator

  35. Batch Mixing • Is the simplest method of mixing foam concentrate and water • Occurs when an appropriate amount of foam concentrate is poured into a tank of water • Is commonly used to mix foam within a fire apparatus water tank or a portable water tank (Continued) Pumping Apparatus Driver/Operator

  36. Batch Mixing • Is common with Class A foam but should only be used as last resort with Class B foam • May not be effective on large incidents • When the tank becomes empty, the foam attack lines must be shut down until the tank is filled with water and more concentrate is added • Requires that the pump and associated piping must be thoroughly flushed after use Pumping Apparatus Driver/Operator

  37. How Foam is Stored • Foam concentrate is stored in a variety of containers, depending on the procedural manner in which the foam is generated and delivered. The four common foam concentrate storage methods include pails, barrels, 275 gallon (1 100 L) tote tanks, and apparatus tanks. Pumping Apparatus Driver/Operator

  38. Pails • Are usually 5-gallon (20 L), made of plastic • Are perhaps the most common containers used by the muncipal fire service to receive and store foam concentrate • Are durable and are not affected by the corrosive nature of foam concentrates (Continued) Pumping Apparatus Driver/Operator

  39. Pails • May be carried on the apparatus in compartments, on the side of the apparatus, or in topside storage areas • May be airtight to prevent a skin from forming on the surface Pumping Apparatus Driver/Operator

  40. Barrels • Are used for larger quantities of concentrate • Are usually 55-gallon (220 L) plastic or plastic-lined barrels or drums • Are most common in industrial applications (Continued) Pumping Apparatus Driver/Operator

  41. Barrels • May be carried directly to the emergency scene or may need to be transferred to pails or apparatus tanks for transport to the point of application Pumping Apparatus Driver/Operator

  42. Totes • Are 275-gallon (1 100 L) containers used for bulk storage of foam concentrate • Are used for large quantities of foam, such as in aircraft rescue and fire fighting (ARFF), industrial, or wildland firefighting applications Pumping Apparatus Driver/Operator

  43. Apparatus Tanks • Are found on municipal and industrial pumpers, foam tenders, and ARFF apparatus • Eliminate the need to use separate pails or barrels (Continued) Pumping Apparatus Driver/Operator

  44. Apparatus Tanks • Vary in type, location, and design • Smaller foam tanks are located directly above the fire pump area. • Newer designs incorporate foam tanks as an integral cell within the water tank • Some apparatus have an additional pump and connection nearer ground level for refilling the concentrate tank. (Continued) Pumping Apparatus Driver/Operator

  45. Apparatus Tanks • Vary in type, location, and design • Large foam concentrate tanks may be directly adjacent to the water tank. • Foam tenders and some industrial foam pumpers have a large tank that contains foam concentrate and no water tank. (Continued) Pumping Apparatus Driver/Operator

  46. Apparatus Tanks • Must be airtight • Should have a pressure vacuum vent • Range from 20 to 200 gallons (80 L to 800 L) • May carry 8,000 gallons (32 000 L) or more of concentrate Pumping Apparatus Driver/Operator

  47. Class A Foam • Is intended for use on Class A fuels • Is effective for fires in structures, wildland settings, coal mines, tire storage, and other incidents involving deep-seated fuels WARNING! Use Class A foam only on Class A fuels. It is not specifically formulated for fighting Class B fuels. (Continued) Pumping Apparatus Driver/Operator

  48. Class A Foam • Is the formulation of hydrocarbon surfactants that reduce the surface tension of the water in the foam solution. Reducing the surface tension provides better penetration of the water, thereby increasing its effectiveness. (Continued) Pumping Apparatus Driver/Operator

  49. Class A Foam • May be used with fog nozzles, aerating foam nozzles, medium- and high-expansion devices, and compressed-air foam systems using almost any nozzle • Has a shelf life of as much as 20 years if properly stored (Continued) Pumping Apparatus Driver/Operator

  50. Class A Foam • Is used in such small percentages in solution that harm to the environment is not usually a concern; however, there is some evidence that the concentrate may slightly affect aquatic life, so direct application into bodies of water is not recommended (Continued) Pumping Apparatus Driver/Operator

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