Foam & Nozzles

1. Foam & Nozzles

2. Class A Foam Training Available... • Awareness and Operations Training • In-Depth Education • Current Applications • Attack Strategies • Proportioning Tools • Application Devices • Training Aspects • Environmental Concerns

3. Foam Terminology • Foam Concentrate As purchased from the manufacturer. Must be proportioned in water. • Foam Solution Foam concentrate proportioned with water Prior to the addition of air and mechanical agitation. • Finished Foam Foam solution after air and mechanical agitation is added. Quantity will vary, dependent upon how much air is added. Quality will be dependent on type of concentrate used, and type of aspiration method used.

4. Basic Foam Making Foam Concentrate + Water + Air + Mechanical Agitation = FOAM

5. 6% 6 gallons 6% foam concentrate + 94 gallons water = 100 gallons 6% foam solution 6% Foam Solution (Class B)

6. 3 gallons 3% foam concentrate + 97 gallons water = 100 gallons 3% foam solution 3% Foam Solution (Class B) 3%

7. 0.5 gallons 0.1% - 1% foam concentrate + 99.5 gallons water = 100 gallons 0.5% foam solution 0.5% Foam Solution (Class A) 0.1-1%

8. Foam Concentrates... • Class A For Class A Combustibles 0.1% - 1.0% • AFFF(Aqueous Film Forming Foam) For Class B Hydrocarbon Flammables 1% ; 3%; 6% • AR-AFFF (Alcohol Resistant - Aqueous Film Forming Foam) For Class B Hydrocarbon & Polar Solvent Flammables (1% x 3%) (3% x 3%) (3% x 6%)

9. Foam Concentrates... • Protein For Class B Hydrocarbon Flammables 3%; 6% • Fluoroprotein For Class B Hydrocarbon Flammables 3%; 6% • FFFP (Film Forming Fluoroprotein) For Class B Hydrocarbon Flammables 3%; 6%

10. Foam Concentrates... • Syndet - High Expansion For Quickly FillingEnclosed Areas For LNG Suppression (Liquefied Natural Gas) • HazMat Foam Vapor Suppression for Fuming Chemicals

11. For AllFoam Concentrates... • Determine what fuel/hazard is involved • Use appropriate concentrate for the hazard • Read manufacturer’s recommendations for proper use • Refer to MSDS sheet for safety information • Understand the environmental concerns • Pre-plan with waste-water treatment facilities • Refer to NFPA 11 guidelines for application rates

12. Batch Mixing • Simple • Economical • Apparatus Water Tank • Portable Tank • Foam at All Discharges • Not Easily Adjusted • Increased Maintenance of Pumps, Tanks, Valves

13. Around the Pump Proportioner • Higher Flows • Foam to All Discharges • Normal Pump Pressures • Higher Cost • Operator Must Know Flow • Inlet Pressure Limitations • Typically Installed by Manufacturer • Increased Maintenance of Pumps, Tanks, Valves

14. Discharge Side Proportioner • No Foam in Pump or Water Tank • Automatic Systems Available • Increased Accuracy for Class A Foams • Dual Agent Capabilities • Simpler Operation • Normal Pump Pressures • Works with Most Nozzles • Higher Initial Cost

15. Inline or Bypass Eductor • Simple Design • Few Moving Parts • Most Common • Relatively Economical • Nozzle Limitations • Pressure Minimums • Hose Line Limitations

16. Typical Foam Eductor Design

17. 200 psi Inlet Pressure - 70 psi Eductor Loss 130 psi Outlet Pressure -100 psi Nozzle Pressure 30psi Hoseline Friction Loss Allowance Operational Considerations Foam Eductor 200 psi Inlet Pressure 70 psi Eductor Loss 130 psi Outlet Pressure 100 psi Nozzle Pressure (typical) Clean Metering Valve & Check Ball after EVERY use.

18. Maximum Hose Length on Eductor Outlet • Shown for 100 psi nozzle. • Lower nozzle pressure = Increased maximum length • May vary depending on eductor, hose and nozzle

19. Using Foam Eductors... • Follow eductor manufacturer’s recommendations for pump pressure, hose size and hose length • Nozzle flow rating must match eductor flow rating • Automatic nozzle will adjust itself to eductor flow rating • Nozzle must be fully open • Avoid kinking of hose line • Mix ratio setting on eductor must match that of the foam concentrate being used • Elevation loss must be calculated, if nozzle is elevated • Check for plugged or damaged pick up tube on eductor

20. Foam Expansion Methods Without Foam Attachments Low Expansion Typical Expansion 4 - 8 to 1

21. Foam Expansion Methods With Foam Attachments Low Expansion Typical Expansion 8 - 10 to 1 Medium Expansion Typical Expansion 20+ to 1

22. Foam Capable? “Our department has an eductor, foam nozzle, and 15 gallons of foam on the truck, so we can handle liquid fires, too. ...Or can we?” Let’s look at the facts...

23. NFPA # 11For ignited spills of shallow depth Hydrocarbon fuels: • Rule of thumb: Eductor flow rate x 10 = sq. ft. of ignited hydrocarbon spill area Example: 95 GPM x 10 = 950 ft2 • 0.1 GPM foam solution /ft2 (AFFF or FFFP) • 15 minutes of continuous foam application 95 GPM Eductor 42.75 gals. of 3% Foam Concentrate 1382.25 gals. of Water 1425 gals. of Foam Solution

24. Calculations Square footage of the spill (L x W) X Application rate (0.16 for hydrocarbon, 0.2 for polar) X Duration of flow (15 min for flammable, 15 min for combustible) = Total gallons of water needed X Concentration of foam (3% or 6%) = Gallons of foam needed

25. Scenario 1 3,000 gallon MC-306 has wrecked spilling gasoline 8 inches deep in a burmed parking lot 30’ by 40’. It is in a suburban area with several ignition sources. It is ignited by the time you arrive. How much gallons of water and foam are needed? How about if it hasn't lit off yet? 30 x 40 = 1200 sq ft 1200 x 0.16 = 192 gpm 192 x 15 min = 2,880 gallons of water will be used 2,880 x 0.03 = 87 gallons of foam (18 buckets)

26. Scenario 2 A MC-307 carrying methyl ethyl ketone has spilled on a hot day. It is in a retaining area that is 60’ in diameter. How much water and foam will you need? 60 x 60 x 0.785 = 2,826 sq ft OR 3.14 x 30 x 30 = 2,826 sq ft 2,826 x 0.2 = 565 gpm 565 x 15 = 8475 gallons of water 8475 x 0.06 = 508 gallon of foam (101 buckets)

27. NFPA # 11For ignited spills of shallow depth Polar Solvent (alcohol type) fuels: • Rule of thumb: Eductor flow rate x 5 = sq. ft. of ignited polar solvent spill area Example: 95 GPM x 5 = 475 ft2 • 0.2 GPM foam solution /ft2 • 15 minutes of continuous foam application 95 GPM Eductor 85.5 gals. of 6% AR Foam Concentrate 1339.5 gals. of Water 1425 gals. of Foam Solution

28. Master Foam Streams Foam Concentrate Usage

29. ERG • The DOT Emergency Response Guide is the source of the answer. • When the correct orange guide is referenced during an emergency, it will point us to the correct foam concentration to use. • It tells us in 2 places: • At the top of the page beside the guide number, it may say “Polar” • In the Emergency Response section under Fire

30. Non-polar flammable liquids • Guide 128 is one of the possible guides for flammable liquids, in this case gasoline was researched and guide 128 was the proper guide. • The reference to regular foam would indicate 3% foam.

32. Polar flammable liquids • Guide 127 was found when ethanol was researched. • The reference to alcohol resistant foam tells us to use 6% foam.

34. Final reminders • Foam can be used in non fire spills to prevent ignition. • Foam can gum up equipment easily, all equipment must be flushed well with water after foam use. • Since the eductor needs 200 psi of inlet pressure, the closer to the pump the eductor is, the better.