FOAM Flashcards
2 Main categories of foam
Low Ex
High Ex
Low ex foams are extremely useful on fire and spills involving
Flammable and Combustible liquids
High Ex foams are intended to fight fire of
Class A combustible materials in areas that are inaccessible to firefighters, such as cellars and ship holds.
High Ex foam is not suitable for use on
Outdoor flammable liquid fires
An important point to be considered is that the fire must be
Completely extinguished or it will burn back across the surface as soon as the particular extinguishing agent begins to breakdown
Different types of foam concentrates are not
Compatible and should never be mixed for storage. ex: in the tanks of foam carriers, Tenders
At an incident it is permissible to apply
2 different types of Low Ex Foam simultaneously if necessary due to a lack of sufficient quantities of the most correct type to complete extinguishment. Ex: Fluoroprotein and Alcohol (Polydol).
Can u mix High Ex and Low EX
NO
Protein Foam is
Not used by the FDNY, however it might still be encountered at some bulk plants
When using a AFFF extinguisher knockdown will be observed but the film produced might be
Unstable because it in not aerated. Breakdown around hot metal especially pipes in a boiler room should be anticipated. As a precaution a foam line should be made ready
AFFF is not an
Aerated Foam
Port Authority crash trucks use
AAAF Foam
It is important to recognize the fast draining nature of AFFF foam and
Avoid entering the area until a stable Fluoroprotein or Alcohol Resistant Fluoroprotein Foam blanket has been established throughout the area to control the vapors
Fluoroprotein Foam can be generated with either
Fresh or Salt water
Marine companies are issued
55 Gallon drums of Fluoroprotein Foam
Fluoropolydol is the superior fire extinguishing concentrate for both
Hydrocarbon fuel (Gasoline, Fuel Oils) as well as Polar Solvents (Alcohol, Ketones)
Fluorpolydol is used at a rate of
3% Hydrocarbons
6% Polar Solvents
What is the preferred foam to use if we need to enter the blanket
Fluorpolydol (Alcohol Resistant Fluorprotein Foam)
Must be applied continuously while members are in the blanket
Fluoropoydol has excellant
Burnback resistance and wind and water spray resistance
Fluoropolydol is extremely
Corrosive to brass, aluminum and plain steel. It must not be poured into any long term containers that are not made of stainless steel or plastic
How many gallons of Fluoropolydol is carried by the booster tanks of Foam Carrier 206 and Foam Carrier 95
1000 Gallons. The remaining foam carriers caryy 5 gallon cans. The satellites also carry 5 Gallon cans
Where are ARAFFF or ATC used
FDNY does not use
Oil industry uses this foam
Color Code Fluoroprotein Alcohol Hi Ex AFFF
Brown
Green
Yellow
Black
Dry chemical foam must be used to extinguish
3D fire
Premixing of the Fluoroprotein foam solution can be accomplished by dumping
3 - 5 gallon into a 500 gallon pumper or
4 - 5 gallon into a 750 gallon pumper
this will create a 3% solution.
This is only done when a foam eductor cannot be placed into operation. The pumper should NOT be hooked up to a hydrant
1st alarm assignment of 3 engines and 2 ladders should provide
65 gallons of foam concentrate
Ladders have 2 - 5 gallon cans
Engines have 3 - 5 gallon cans
Foam carrier will be needed for spills over
600 SQ FT
Foam Carriers
10 in service
No water on apparatus
Booster tanks fill with 1000 gallons of foam
Fluoroprotein or Fluoropolydol can be carried
Also carry Hi Ex generator and Hi EX foam in 5 cans of 5 gallon hi ex
Must be supplied with water
Dedicated engine company should supply
Transmit a 10-86 if the incident is
beyond the 1st alarm assignment capability
Product level must be within
5 feet of the top of the tank. If to much product is removed a large “chimney” will form and carry away much of the foam
Try to apply the foam in a tank in the “window”
The window is an area in the plume which is located on the upwind side of the tank. It is a small area where the flames aren’t as tall. There are less convection currents in this area.
1st alarm assignment of foam
13 - 5 gallon cans
22 minute duration
Steel tanker roll over with leak
Shell split likelihood decreased
Aluminum tanker roll over with leak
May split open
A vehicle that has rolled over MUST
Be off loaded. NEVER upright
What tanks are more likely to BLEVE
Steel tanks
Aluminum tanks will melt
Get a LCS on the vapor area. This should be done before, or if enough manpower exists in conjunction with stretching a foam line
Have a separate pumper
Test and hook up to a hydrant to supply the foam carrier
The IC should anticipate that the situation will escalate and that the necessity for a Large Caliber Foam Nozzle exists. In being proactive the following apparatus positioning is necessary
1) Satellite apparatus or Tower Ladder if height is an issue to attach the Angus modified foam cannon. Position the apparatus as close as possible to the incident.
2) A 2000 gallon per minute pumper attached to a good source of water is needed for the supply. This apparatus should be as close to the incident as possible
3) Determine a foam assembly point for the foam carrier apparatus or tender to deliver the foam concentrate. The best placement for this is at an intersection where units can come in from one direction and leave by another. This Foam Assembly Point and direction of access should be relayed to the dispatcher for transmittal over the department radio. A BC preferable a Foam Coordinator should be assigned this duty
Jet A fuel is a
Kerosene based fuel
PAPD uses large quantities of
AFFF Foam
One of the priorities of the FDNY at a airport plane crash is
Water supply to PAPD crash trucks
If operations are going to involve firefighters working in the vapor area of the airplane crash with fuel present, it is imperative to
Apply a Fluoroprotein or Alcohol Resistant Fluoroprotein Foam blanket ovet the AFFF foam blanket produced by the PAPD
If an airplane crashes anywhere but at an airport the PAPD
may or may not send a crash truck response. In order for the airport to stay open they need a minimum amount of crash trucks to stay open
All of NYC Bulk Oil Facilities have a
Fire protection system in place. Our 1st consideration is to supply this system with what is needed. Some systems need water and some systems need foam
It is important to get at least one TL
As close to the tank as possible. If possible leave access for a Satellite
A tank that is full will act as a
Heat Sink and will not be as dangerous as a tank that is partially full
A tank full of vapors is
Much more dangerous than a tank full of product
Use water on a tank only
When it is Steaming. When the tank stops steaming shut down the line
Sometimes there are small tanks located in the
Dike area that are used for additives to the fuel, vapor recovery units, etc. Many of these tanks are pressurized.
The identifying clue to recognizing a pressurized container is the
Rounded Ends. These MUST BE COOLED
If any tank that is exposed to heat and the pressure relief valve has activated
Monitor the release for intensity. Operate hose lines form the SIDES OF THE TANK. The ends of tanks present a more serious danger if the tank ruptures.
If the pressure relief valve increases in noise and/or the flame jet increases in height
Withdraw with all but UNMANNED lines. This indicates a serious BLEVE potential
The specific gravity of most petroleum products is such that they are
Lighter than water and will float on the surface
As Foam Carriers arrive they should be staged under the control of a
BC, preferably a Foam Coordinator. They should report to a pre arranged Foam Assembly Point and NOT ENTER the facility until called for.
Large fire boats carry
1200 Gallons of foam concentrate. Additional foam concentrate may be provided utilizing foam bladders capable of holding 1200 and 2000 gallons of foam concentrate. These bladders will have to be filled at the time of the incident
In Bulk Oil Facilities the FD Foam connection will be what color
Red with Bright Orange Bands or Caps
1st alarm assignment of foam with one handling in operation is how many SQ FT
600 SQ FT
What is the required expansion ratio range for Hi-Ex foam to be classified as a Hi-Ex Foam
200/1 to 1000/1
The effectiveness of a Hi-Ex foam blanket depends on many factors. Increasing the settings on the educator will do what
Increase the amount of foam concentrate used
When cleaning eductors how long should water be educated through it
At least 15 minutes
What is the band color for Hi-Ex foam
Yellow
Hi-Ex Foam operations
- Fresh or salt water can be used
- Relatively small flow of water (60 gpm) is required
- 200-220 PSI at the inlet of the foam eductor
- Eductor metering calibrations are relative and do not necessarily indicate the actual percentage of solution that will be formed
The chute used for Hi-Ex foam operations should be
One foot larger in diameter than the mouth of the generator
What action must be taken to use a Hi-Ex foam generator as a smoke ejector
Turn the generator around
Electrical equipment
Must be deactivated
How is the Hi-Ex generator output computed
Cubic Feet Per Minute
Foam concentrate should be stacked no more than
2 cans high
All foam concentrates have a
Shelf life
What is the shelf life of
Protein based foam
Synthetic based foam
Protein based foam is 10 years
Synthetic based foam is 20 years
10/20
Why is it important to warn all members operating in and around the fire area before Hi-Ex foam operations are started
To prevent operating forces from becoming enveloped in foam
Can you use salt water for foam applications
Yes
At a bulk oil tank plant fire what is the FDNY’s 1st concern
- To supply the existing fire extinguishing equipment.
- May need water, foam concentrate or solution
- Establish a foam assembly point with foam coordinator supervising (staging area)
If the tank fire is of combustible product the application time is
30 minutes
If the tank fire is of flammable product the application time is
60 minutes
Foam handling ops
- Use 2 1/2 from rig to eductor
- Eductor must be placed at least 1 length from rig
- Only 1 3/4 from eductor to nozzle
- Max of 4 lengths from nozzle to eductor
- 200 psi at EDUCTOR
- May not work if stretch is uphill
- Operate nozzle at or below level of eductor
Tower ladder foam operations
- TL FF’s attach foam cannon or foam nozzle to TL
- 500 GPM nozzle screws right onto the Stang
- TL raised and pointed away from fire
- Unmanned (OK to man with 500 GPM nozzle)
- If FIMM pumper is connected to hydrant must use 4 1/2 back flow prevention valve
Supplying the TL with foam
- Foam concentrate supplied to FIMM pumper via 1 3/4 hose from foam carrier or foam tender (foam tender is preferred)
- Pressure in concentrate supply line must be 50 psi over hydrant pressure
- Stretch 5” hose from FIMM pumper to TL
- Need 250 psi at base of TL
- Both FIMM pumper & relay pumper in volume
- Relay pumper needs 80 psi at intake
- FIMM will use 3% rate
- When foam is established move TL into position
