FOAM MAKING

EQUIPMENT

Presented by:
Sub Fire Officer Lucknath.D PF
No:759
Lead FF Chutooree.P PF No: 930
Lead FF Heerah.H PF No: 859
Lead FF Sookur.S PF No: 1437
FF Ragnath.M PF No: 1773

Date: 9th Nov 2022 FOAM MAKING EQUIPMENT 1

AIMS:

The purpose of this presentation is to provide

knowledge and elaborate on:

 Fire fighting foam and types of foam available.

 Properties of foam.
 The different types of foam making equipment used in the

Mauritius Fire and Rescue Service (MFRS)

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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 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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Foam extinguishes flammable liquid fires
in 4 ways:
1. It excludes air from the flammable vapours.
2. It eliminates vapor release from the fuel surface.
3. It separates the flame from the fuel surface.
4. It cools the fuel surface surrounding metal
surfaces.

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How foam works:

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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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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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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)
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FOAM CHARACTERISTCS
 To be effective, a good foam must contain the
right blend of physical characteristics:
1. Knockdown speed and flow
2. Heat resistance
3. Fuel resistance
4. Vapour suppression
5. Alcohol resistance

The finished foam must form a cohesive

blanket.

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Properties and comparison of firefighting
foam types:

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Foam percentages:
 All foams are usually supplied as liquid
concentrates which must be mixed with water to
form a foam solution before they can be applied
to fires.

 They are generally supplied by manufacturers

as either 6 %, 3 % or 1 % foam concentrates.

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6% concentrates: 6 parts foam concentrate in 94
parts water.

3% concentrates: 3 parts foam concentrate in 97

parts water

1 % concentrate: 1 part foam in 99 parts water

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Low expansion branch pipe

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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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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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Inline inductors:
 Inductors are placed in the delivery line
between the pump and the foam nozzle.
 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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Medium expansion branchpipe

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High expansion foam generator:

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