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I N T E G R A T E D COMPRESSED AIR FOAM SYSTEMS

Alberta Industrial Fire Chiefs. I N T E G R A T E D COMPRESSED AIR FOAM SYSTEMS. Systems Inc. www.fireflex.com. Alberta Industrial Fire Chiefs. Agenda. COMPRESSED AIR FOAM (CAF) TECHNOLOGY: Introduction & history Description Fire Tests. Alberta Industrial Fire Chiefs. Agenda.

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I N T E G R A T E D COMPRESSED AIR FOAM SYSTEMS

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  1. Alberta Industrial Fire Chiefs I N T E G R A T E DCOMPRESSED AIRFOAM SYSTEMS Systems Inc. www.fireflex.com

  2. Alberta Industrial Fire Chiefs Agenda • COMPRESSED AIR FOAM (CAF) TECHNOLOGY: • Introduction & history • Description • Fire Tests

  3. Alberta Industrial Fire Chiefs Agenda • ICAF SYSTEM: • Components • Design • Applications • Case Studies • CONCLUSION

  4. CAF TECHNOLOGY History: • 1941: Hose lines by US Army during WWII • 1994: First fixed piping tests for CDN Navy • 2001: Licensing agreement with NRCC • 2004: FM Approval: Hydrocarbons

  5. CAF TECHNOLOGY History and industry recognition : • 2006: NFPA-11, TIA # 05-1: New foam type • 2006: FM Approval enhanced: Polar solvents • 2007: Meets FM 5130 requirements • 2007: Simultaneous CAF & Spkr Discharge Testing - FM Approved • 2008 : NFPA 850 - 851 CAF New Option • 2009 : FM 7-29 Flam. Liquid Portable Storage

  6. Introduction : Fire-fighting foams NFPA 11 • Foam Type Expansion ratio • Low expansion 1:20 CAF 10:1 • Medium expansion 20:200 • High expansion 200:1000

  7. Introduction : Fire-fighting foams • 3 basic components of foam : • Foam Concentrates – Synthetic AFFF’s • Foam Generation – Aeration vs. agitation • Delivery & Distribution System

  8. Introduction : Foam Quality - Low exp Extinguishing Mechanism - seals fuel surface CAF - Improved physical separation on top of fuel • Performance : 2 contributing factors • Greater Exp Ratio – high end of low ex • Long Drain time – ability to hold water

  9. CAF TECHNOLOGY Description:Compressed Air Foam (CAF) • Uniform & stable • Robust foam blanket • Low-Ex : 10:1 • New foam type

  10. CAF TECHNOLOGY Description: An homogenous foam produced by combining… Water Piping Network Compressed Air CAF CAF Nozzles Mixing Chamber FoamConcentrate ICAF Cabinet

  11. Flammable liquid Density gpm / sq. ft. Foam-Water CAF Hydrocarbons 0.16 at 3% 0.04 at 2% Polar solvents : Alcohol 0.24 at 3% 0.06 at 6% Ketone 0.26 at 3% 0.06 at 6% CAF TECHNOLOGY Description:Compressed Air Foam (CAF) Lower design densities: Uses 4 times less water

  12. CAF TECHNOLOGY Description:Compressed Air Foam (CAF) • Shorter discharge durations: • 5 minutes on Specific Hazard Configuration • 10 minutes on Ceiling Nozzle Configuration • with automatic shut-off after foam discharge

  13. CAF TECHNOLOGY Description:Compressed Air Foam (CAF) • Foam Concentrates: • Hydrocarbons: • National Foam Aer-O-Lite 3% AFFF & Aer-O-Water 3EM 3% AFFF (MIL Spec.) • Polar Solvents: • Ansul Ansulite 3X3 LV Alcohol Resistant AFFF

  14. CAF TECHNOLOGY Fire tests:Class 'B' - Flammable Liquids Typical sprinklers UL 162 Spill Fire Transformers 'Critical' Applications

  15. ICAF SYSTEM Description: Typical System Layout Air Cylinders Piping Network Distribution Nozzles Integrated Cabinet Foam Tank (water tank also available)

  16. ICAF SYSTEM Description: Typical System Layout Air Cylinders Twin Hazards Trim Cabinet Foam Tank Integrated Skid (water tank also available)

  17. CAF TECHNOLOGY Components:Integrated System Air Cylinders Water Tank Integrated Skid Foam Tank

  18. ICAF SYSTEM Components: Foam Nozzles Turbine action rotary nozzles ceiling & specific hazard configurations

  19. ICAF SYSTEM Components: Foam Nozzles • Ceiling Nozzle Configuration: • Max. spacing: 12’-3" x 12’-3"(10’-0" x 10’-0" on polar solvents) • Max. dimension: 16 ft.(irregular spacing) • Max. height: 46 ft. • (35 ft. on polar solvents) TAR-225C

  20. ICAF SYSTEM Components: Foam Nozzles Typical discharge pattern

  21. ICAF SYSTEM Components: Foam Nozzles TAR-225C Nozzle: • Balanced flows with bullhead tees • Small pipe sizes • 150 ft2 per nozzle • 4800 ft2 per zone

  22. ICAF SYSTEM Components: Foam Nozzles • Specific hazard configuration: • Aimed directly at hazard surface • 7 ft. diam. discharge pattern • 10 ft. horizontal throw • Effective on cascading fires TAR-225L

  23. ICAF SYSTEM Components: Foam Nozzles • Balanced flows • Groups of 2, 4, 8, 16 or 32 nozzles • Same equiv. length for each branch pipe • • Bullhead tees

  24. ICAF SYSTEM Components: Foam Nozzles Typical discharge patterns

  25. ICAF SYSTEM Components: Foam Nozzles Coverage on cascading fire

  26. ICAF SYSTEM Components: Piping requirements • Piping: • Black or Galvanized • Sch.10 or 40 • ASTM A-795, A-53 & A-135 • Hangers per NFPA-13 • Fittings: • Threaded, Grooved, Welded or flanged • Cast iron Class 125, ASME B16.4 • Malleable iron Class 150, ASME B16.3 Improved hydraulics: Feed Main up to 500 ft. (tested and listed)Elevation losses only 10% of water (0.04 psi vs. 0.43)

  27. ICAF SYSTEM Components: ICAF Nozzles • New FPO Oscillating Nozzle: • Up to 92 ft. throw • 90 or 180 degree arc of oscillation • Densities: - Hydrocarbon: 0.025 GPM/Ft2 at 3% - Polar solvents: 0.06 GPM/Ft2 at 6% • (FM Approval in progress) FPO-4-90

  28. ICAF SYSTEM Components: ICAF Nozzles • FPO Nozzle Applications: • Aircraft hangars • Helipads • Loading/unloading racks • Diked areas FPO4-90

  29. ICAF SYSTEM Examples of application: • Hydraulic Presses • Diesel Generators • Lube Oil Skids • Diesel Fuel Storage & Refueling

  30. ICAF SYSTEM Examples of application: • Rolling Mills • Pump rooms • Fuel Pumping Stations • Methanol Storage • Etc.

  31. ICAF SYSTEM Case Studies: Transformers Aircraft Hangars Oil Storage Rooms

  32. Water supply: 7% ! Detection system: 2% Detection system: 2% Start-up: 1% Installation: 13% Installation: 13% Savings 35% ! Systemhardware: 15% Water supply: 69% Systemhardware: 42% Start-up: 1% Foam-Water System ICAF System ICAF SYSTEM Costs Comparisons: 45,000 ft2 Aircraft Hangar

  33. CONCLUSION Reasons to use CAF Systems • Water supply • eliminate / reduce size of water tanks & fire pumps • Drainage / Containment • eliminate / reduce size of drainage systems and spill tanks, oil separators

  34. CONCLUSION Reasons to use CAF Systems • System performance • effective extinguishing mechanism • Environmental impact • Less water & foam • Reduced disposal costs of AFFF • Potential for LEED points

  35. Alberta Industrial Fire Chiefs Sustainable Fire Protection Thank you ! www.fireflex.com

  36. FIRE TESTS UL-162 Based Tests • Test Requirements: • Density: 0.10 gpm/ft2 • Foam-water sprinklers @ 15 ft. high • Extinguishment: 5 min. max. • Max. 25% foam drainage after 30 sec. • Min. 5 min. burn back resistance

  37. FIRE TESTS UL-162 Based Tests • Test set-up: • 50 ft2 Heptane pan • 4 nozzles at 40 ft. H. • 12’-3" x 12’-3" spacing • 15 sec. pre-burn • 5 min. discharge

  38. FIRE TESTS UL-162 Based Tests • Comparing: • Foam-water sprinklers • AFFF 3% solution • 0.16 gpm/ft2 density • Vs. • TAR nozzles • AFFF 2% solution • 0.04 gpm/ft2 density

  39. FIRE TESTS UL-162 Based Tests Comparing extinguishing performances – nozzles at 40’ 2% AFFFCAF0.04 gpm/ft² 3% AFFFFoam-Water0.16 gpm/ft²

  40. FIRE TESTS UL-162 Test #2– Nozzles at 40 ft. Hydrocarbon Liquid: Foam-Water CAF UL162 Density (gpm/ft2) 0.16** 0.04** 0.10 AFFF concentration 3% 2% Extinguishing time (min:sec) 1: 42 1:17 5:00 25% Drainage (min:sec) 0:30 3:30 0:30 Burn back resistance (min:sec) 17:09 26:00 5:00 ** UL safety factor of 1.6 included

  41. FIRE TESTS UL Safety Factors • Normal flow: 0.04 gpm / ft2, 2% AFFF • Reduced water flow: factors of 1.33 & 1.64 • Increased water flow: factor of 1.6 • Foam-water sprinkler: 0.16 gpm / ft2, 3% AFFF

  42. FIRE TESTS UL Safety Factors - Comparing densities Foam-water at 0.16 CAF at 0.024 CAF at 0.064 CAF at 0.04 Densities in gpm/sq.ft.

  43. FIRE TESTS UL Safety Factors Test Density(gpm/ft2) AFFFConcent. Extinguishmenttime (min:sec) Burn backTime (min:sec) CAF TAR 0.04 2.0% 1:00 30:50 CAF TAR 0.024 3.3% 1:10 10:00 CAF TAR 0.064 1.2% 1:31 16:50 Foam-Water 0.16 3% 1:40 17:09

  44. FIRE TESTS UL Safety Factors • Normal Design Density (0.04 gpm/ft2): • Safety factor greater than 1.64 • Both for extinguishment & burn-back protection • Increased & Reduced Densities: • Better performance than foam-water sprinklers

  45. FIRE TESTS Spill Fire (Class B - flammable liquids) • Test set-up: • 20’ x 20’ test pad • Continuous flow of Heptane at 6 gpm • 10.7 ft2 shielded area • Nozzles at 35 ft.

  46. FIRE TESTS Spill Fire (Class B - flammable liquids) • 4 x Foam-water sprinklers • 3% AFFF at 0.16 gpm/ft2 density • vs. • 4 x TAR CAF nozzles • 2% AFFF at 0.04 gpm/ft2 density

  47. FIRE TESTS Spill Fire (Class B - flammable liquids) 15 sec. pre burn before system activation 150 ft2 Heptane spill before ignition

  48. FIRE TESTS Spill Fire (Class B flammable liquids) Comparisons of extinguishing performances 2% AFFFCAF0.04 gpm/ft² 3% AFFFFoam-Water0.16 gpm/ft²

  49. FIRE TESTS Spill Fire (Class B - flammable liquids) Technology 99%Extinguishment time (min:sec) 100%Extinguishment time (min:sec) Foam-Water 1:30 N/A *** ICAF 1:55 4:58 *** Fuel flow had to be manually stopped !

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