Foam Terms

Question 1

What are Adhesive Qualities in foam?

Answer 1

The ability to bind together substances of unlike composition. It prevents vapor release from a tank shell.

Adhesive qualities are important for maintaining the integrity of foam blankets in fire suppression.

Question 2

What does AFFF stand for?

Answer 2

Aqueous Film Forming Foam

AFFF contains fluorocarbon surfactants that modify water’s physical properties to effectively fight hydrocarbon fires.

Question 3

Define Airfoam.

Answer 3

Foam produced by a physical agitation of a mixture of water, air and a foaming agent, also known as mechanical foam.

Question 4

What is AR-AFFF?

Answer 4

Alcohol Resistant-Aqueous Film Forming Foam, specially formulated for use on alcohols and other polar solvents.

Question 5

What is Boilover?

Answer 5

Violent ejection of flammable liquid from its container caused by the vaporization of water beneath the body of liquid.

Question 6

What does Burnback Resistance refer to in foam?

Answer 6

The ability of a foam blanket to resist direct flame impingement.

Question 7

What characterizes a Class ‘A’ Fire?

Answer 7

A fire in combustible fuel such as wood and paper, where the cooling effect of water is crucial for extinguishment.

Question 8

What is a Class ‘B’ Fire?

Answer 8

A fire involving a flammable liquid, where blanketing or smothering effect is of first importance.

Question 9

What defines a Class ‘C’ Fire?

Answer 9

A fire in ‘live’ electrical equipment, where a non-conducting fire extinguishing agent is essential.

Question 10

Define Cohesive Qualities in foam.

Answer 10

The ability to bind together substances of like composition. A good foam blanket is held together by these qualities.

Question 11

What is a Combustible Liquid?

Answer 11

Any liquid having a flash point at or above 100°F (37.8°C).

Question 12

What does Concentration refer to in the context of foam?

Answer 12

The amount of foam liquid contained in a given volume of foam solution.

Question 13

What is the function of a Deflector in foam systems?

Answer 13

A device that directs the flow of foam down and over a large area of the inside of the tank wall.

Question 14

What is a Discharge Device?

Answer 14

A fixed or portable device that directs the flow of foam onto the hazard to be protected.

Question 15

What does Downstream Device mean?

Answer 15

In the direction to which the water is flowing.

Question 16

What is meant by Drainage Rate?

Answer 16

The rate at which solution drains from a foam.

Question 17

Define Expansion in foam terminology.

Answer 17

The ratio of volume of foam formed to the volume of solution used to generate the foam.

Question 18

What is a Flammable Liquid?

Answer 18

A substance which is liquid at ordinary temperatures and pressures and has a flash point below 100°F (37.8°C).

Question 19

What is Flash-Back?

Answer 19

Reignition of flammable liquid caused by exposure of its vapors to a source of ignition.

Question 20

Define Fluoroprotein Foam Liquid.

Answer 20

A foam based on natural protein and modified with a selected fluorinated surfactant.

Question 21

What is Foam?

Answer 21

The homogeneous blanket obtained by mixing water, foam liquid and air or a gas.

Question 22

What is Foam Solution?

Answer 22

A homogeneous mixture of water and foam liquid.

Question 23

What does Foam Stability refer to?

Answer 23

The relative ability of a foam to withstand spontaneous collapse or breakdown from external causes.

Question 24

What is Friction Loss?

Answer 24

The loss of pressure in a flowing stream resulting from resistance to flow imposed by the inside of the pipe or hose.

Question 25

Define Head Loss in fire protection systems.

Answer 25

Pressure necessary to force water up a pipe or hose to a given vertical height above the source of water pressure.

Question 26

What is Heat Resistance in foam?

Answer 26

The ability of a foam to withstand exposure to heat.

Question 27

What is a Product in fire terminology?

Answer 27

Another name that can be applied to a flammable liquid, such as polar solvent or hydrocarbon.

Question 28

What is a Proportioner?

Answer 28

The device where foam liquid and water are mixed to form foam solution.

Question 29

What is Protein in the context of foam?

Answer 29

Complex nitrogen-containing organic compounds derived from natural vegetable or animal sources.

Question 30

How do you convert feet of water head to pounds per square inch?

Answer 30

Divide by 2.31.

Question 31

What is Heat Resistance?

Answer 31

The ability of a foam to withstand exposure to heat.

Question 32

What does Hydrophobic mean?

Answer 32

Water hating; having the property of not mixing with water.

Question 33

What does Hydrophilic mean?

Answer 33

Water liking; mixes readily with water.

Question 34

What is Mechanical Foam?

Answer 34

See Airfoam.

Question 35

What is Minimum Operating Temperature?

Answer 35

The lowest temperature at which a foam liquid will proportion with venturi devices.

Question 36

What are NFPA Requirements or Recommendations?

Answer 36

Standards established for Foam Extinguishing Systems as set forth in the National Fire Protection Association Standard No. 11.

Question 37

Define Oleophobic.

Answer 37

Oil hating; have the ability to shed gasoline, oil and similar products.

Question 38

What is Pickup in the context of foam?

Answer 38

The induction of foam liquid into a water stream by venturi.

Question 39

What is a Polar Solvent?

Answer 39

A liquid whose molecules possess a permanent electric moment, generally referred to as a flammable liquid which destroys regular foam.

Question 40

What is a Polymeric Membrane?

Answer 40

A thin, durable, cohesive skin formed on a polar solvent fuel surface, protecting the foam bubbles from destruction by the fuel.

Question 41

What is Pour Point?

Answer 41

The lowest temperature at which a foam liquid is fluid enough to pour, generally about 5°F above the freezing point.

Question 42

Define Pressure Drop.

Answer 42

The net loss in flowing water pressure between any two points in a hydraulic system.

Question 43

What is another name for a flammable liquid?

Answer 43

Product.

Question 44

What is a Proportioner?

Answer 44

The device where foam liquid and water are mixed to form foam solution.

Question 45

What is Protein Foam Liquid?

Answer 45

Concentrated solution of hydrolyzed protein to which chemicals are added to obtain fire resistance, freezing point depression and other desirable characteristics.

Question 46

What is Quarter-Life?

Answer 46

The time required in minutes for one-fourth of the total liquid solution to drain from the foam.

Question 47

Define Residual Pressure.

Answer 47

The pressure existing in a line at a specified flow.

Question 48

What is a Skin Fire?

Answer 48

A flammable liquid fire where the liquid is not present in a depth exceeding 1 inch.

Question 49

What is a Spray Pattern?

Answer 49

The pattern produced by a widely divergent flow of fully formed subdivided foam.

Question 50

Define Static Pressure.

Answer 50

The pressure existing in a line at no-flow.

Question 51

What does Submergence refer to in foam firefighting?

Answer 51

Plunging of foam beneath the surface of burning liquid resulting in a partial breakdown of the foam structure.

Question 52

What is a Surfactant or Surface Active Agent?

Answer 52

A chemical that lowers the surface tension of a liquid.

Question 53

What is a Syndet?

Answer 53

Synthetic detergent or cleaning agent.

Question 54

What is Type I Applicator?

Answer 54

The NFPA term for a discharge outlet not supplemented with means for delivering foam on the surface of the burning liquid.

Question 55

What does Upstream refer to in fluid dynamics?

Answer 55

In the direction from which the water is flowing.

Question 56

What is a Venturi?

Answer 56

A constricted portion of a pipe or tube which increases water velocity, thus momentarily reducing its pressure.