Chapter 15- Foam Equipment And Systems

Question 0

What are the two categories of Class B fuels?

Answer 0

Hydrocarbons

Polar solvents

Question 1

Name the three ways foam extinguishes and/or prevents fire.

Answer 1

Separating (barrier between fuel and fire)

Cooling (lowers the temp of the fuel)

Suppressing (smothering, prevents release of vapors)

Question 2

What is the range of foam concentrate for Class A foam?

Answer 2

0.1% to 1.0%

Question 3

What are the four ways foam can be proportioned?

Answer 3

Induction
Injection
Batch mixing
Premixing

Question 4

What are two uses for Class B foam?

Answer 4

Extinguish fires involving flammable and combustible liquids

Suppress vapors from unignited spills

Question 5

What is the proportioning range for Class B foams?

Answer 5

1% to 6%

Question 6

Three types of foam and ratio of finished foam to foam solution

Answer 6

Low Expansion. 20:1

Medium Expansion. 20:1 to 200:1

High Expansion. 200:1 to 1000:1

Question 7

Four factors that determine rate of foam application.

Answer 7

Type of foam concentrate

Fuel on fire?

Type of fuel (hydrocarbon or polar solvent)

Whether fuel spilled or in a tank

Question 8

How to calculate the foam application rate from a nozzle

Answer 8

Divide the nozzle flow rate by the area (sq ft). ie .25 gpm/sq ft

Question 9

Fluoroprotein foam characteristics

Answer 9

Security blanket for long-term vapor suppression
Flows more easily than regular protein foam
High heat resistance and water retention
Can be made alcohol resistant

Question 10

AFFF foam characteristics

Answer 10

Most commonly used
Reduces surface tension of water below that of fuel
Forms a film across fuel
Vapor excluding film is released ahead of foam blanket
Followed by more insulation by foam blanket
As it drains its water, more film is made “healing”
Can be made in alcohol resistant forms but should be applied gently

Question 11

What type of foam system is on our rigs?

Answer 11

Variable flow Variable rate direct injection system

The foam concentrate injection is controlled by monitoring the water flow and controlling the speed of a positive displacement foam concentrate pump.

Question 12

Four techniques for applying foam

Answer 12

Direct application-directly onto the burning material

Roll on-Class B foam, apply on ground near spill

Bank down-spray at vertical surface near spill

Rain down- spray into the air and let it rain down