IFSTA 14 Foam Flashcards
define mechanical foam
3rd 480
Foam produced by physical adaptation of a mixture including phone concentrate water and air
define proportioning
3rd 480
Mix of water with an appropriate amount of foam concentrate in order to form a foam solution
define aeration
3rd 480
Introduction of air into a foam solution to create bubbles resulting in finished foam
Define eduction
3rd 480
Process used to mix foam concentrate with water in a nozzle or proportioner
concentrate is drawn into water by Venturi method
define foam concentrate
3rd 480
Raw chemical compound solution that is mixed with water in air to produce finish foam
maybe protein, synthetic, acqui film forming, high expansion, or alcohol based
define foam solution
3rd 480
Result of mixing appropriate on a foam concentrate with water exist between proportioner and the nozzle or aerating device
 what two categories are class B fuels divided into 3rd 480
Hydrocarbon fuels
polar solvent fuels
define hydrocarbon fuel
3rd 481
petroleum based organic compound containing only hydrogen and carbon
Oil fuel oil gasoline benzene kerosene
specific gravity less than one will float on water
define polar solvent fuel
3rd 481
Liquid having a molecule where the positive negative charges are permanently separated resulting in their ability to ionize and solution and create electrical conductivity
Alcohol acetone ketones Esther’s
Mixes well with water
define miscible
3rd 481
Materials that are capable of being mixed and all proportions
Class B hydrocarbon fuels that have been blended with 15% solvent additives like gasoline and ethanol should be treated as what
3rd 480
Polar solvents
in which three ways does foam extinguish and or suppress vapors
3rd 481
Separating - Barrier between fuel/fire
cooling - Lowers temp
suppressing/smothering vapors
Most firefighting foam concentrates are formulated to mix with water at what percentages
3rd 482
.1% to 6%
At what percentage are class A foams typically proportioned 3rd 482
.1% to 1%
what four methods are used to proportion foam
3rd 482
education
injection
batch mixing
pre-mixing
define eduction proportioning
3rd 483
Pressure of a water stream drafts foam concentrate through use of an eductor by Venturi effect
define injection proportioning
3rd 483
External pump or head pressure forces from concentrate into fire stream at the correct ratio for flow desired
define batch mixing proportioning
3rd 483
Foam concentrate is poured directly into tank of water
simplest but most inaccurate method
used on class A foam
define premixing proportioning
3rd 484
Mixing pre-measured portions of water and foam in a container examples include extinguishers
name 4 methods for storing foam
3rd 484
Pails
barrels
totes
apparatus tanks
define pails storage containers of foam
3rd 485
5 gallons
define barrel storage of foam
3rd 485
55 gallons industrial applications
define tote foam storage
3rd 485
275 gallon container box storage
what is the typical range of capacity for municipal fire apparatus foam tanks
3rd 485
20-200 gal
class A foam concentrate 3rd 486
for use on class A fires hydrocarbon-based surfactants which act as wetting agents. reducing the surface tension of water & allowing it to soak in better
20 year shelf life
.1% - 1% proportioning
define surfactant
chemical which lowers the surface tension of a liquid, making it spread more rapidly
Class A foam application rate range for overhaul
3rd 488
.2% - .5%
Class A foam proportioning range for exposure protection
3rd 488
.5% - 1%
class A foam proportioning range with a air aspirating nozzle 3rd 488
.3% - .7%
class A proportioning range with CAFS 3rd 488
.2 - 5%
define application rate
3rd 488
The minimum amount of foam solution must be applied to control the spread or extinguish the fire
what are three common application needs for class A foam 3rd 488
Areas requiring maximal penetration vertical surfaces
surfaces of fuels
What factors may affect the breakdown process of class A foam 3rd 488
Heat of a fire height of a flame air temperature wind conditions duration of the process
define synthetic class B foam 3rd 488
mixture of thorough surfactants and proteins derived from animals
what is the shelf life of class B protein based foam 488
10 years
what is the shelf life of synthetic class B foam 488
20-25 years
True or false foam concentrates are the same type which have been manufactured by the US military may be mixed at any time with no adverse effects
489
true
class B foams are mixed and proportioned from one percent to what 490
1% - 6%
class B foam expansion is based on what 4 factors 490
Type of foam concentrate
accuracy proportioning
quality of concentrate
method of aeration
NF PA 11 defines low expansion foam as what ratio
490
20:1
NFPA 11 defines medium expansion foam at what ratio
490
20:1 - 200:1
NFPA defines high expansion foam as having what ratio
490
200:1 - 1000:1
In order to calculate the application rate available for my specific nozzle divide the flow rate by what
491
area of the fire
define protein based foam concentrates
492
Concentrate consisting of proteins hydrolysate and additives prevents corrosion & bacterial decomposition
Less fluid then low expansion foams when applied fuel source
define flouroprotein foam
492
concentrate is a combination of protein based and synthetic foams. the additives provide better flow & longer effectiveness of vapor suppression
define aqueous film forming foam
492
Synthetic from concentrate when combined with water forms a vapor barrier for spills and fires. effective as an extinguishing agent, blanketing hydrocarbon fuels
define alcohol resistant aqueous film forming foam concentrate
493
aqueous film forming foam designed to use on polar solvent  & hydrocarbons fuels
3-6%
1-6% hydrocarbon
define high expansion foam
494
Detergent based low water content less runoff minimizing water damage ideal for confined spaces fixed extinguishing systems class A fire application 1:1000 ratio
what two mechanical methods are used to proportion foam
494
Venturi effect
pressurized proportioning devices
What are three types of portable foam proportioner’s
In line eductor
foam hand nozzle eductor
self educting master stream nozzles
While using an in-line eductor, the pressure at the discharge side must not exceed what percentage of the inlet pressure
495
70%
define around the pump proportioner
498
Apparatus mounted foam proportioner in which a small quantity of water is diverted from the Apparatus pump through an in-line proportioner picking up the foam
most common apparatus mounted foam proportioner in-service
define bypass type balanced pressure proportioner
499
proportioner that operates in tandem with a fire water pump to ensure proper foam concentrate to water mixture
One of the most accurate
used on large mobile apparatus
define variable flow variable rate direct injection system
500
System that injects the correct amount of foam into the pump piping thereby supplying all discharges with foam system automatically monitors and operates the hose lines to maintain consistent quality of foam solution
define variable flow demand type balanced pressure proportioner
500
Proportionally system that is using both fixed and mobile applications it has variable speed mechanism driving the foam pump and automatically monitors the flow of foam to produce an affective foam solution
Define batch mixing
simplest method
operator pours appropriate amount of concentrate directly into water tank
generally for class A foams only once call completed,flush entire tank
High energy foam generating system/CAFS
compressed air introduced to foam solution prior to discharge turbulence created by it creates finished foam
.1% - 1%
longer stream reach durable uniformed bubbles finished product adheres better, longer hose lines & weighs less
higher costs additional training hose easier kink

for safety reasons, When flowing class A foam - Nozzle flow rate should be what 503
The same as for plain water
Low expansion foam may be delivered by what
Handline nozzles or master stream nozzles
Smoothbore Nozzles are limited to what type of foam
504
Class A foam from CAFS
Fog nozzles are not an acceptable choice for delivering what type of foam
504
Fluoroprotein foams or on Incidences involving polar solvents
Air aspirating foam nozzles are the only nozzles that should be used with what type of concentrates
504
Protein and fluoroprotein concentrates
Direct application foam technique
506
Method of fire attack with class A foam. consists of applying finished foam directly onto burning material
Roll on method of foam application technique
506
Method used for applying class B foam Directing stream on ground near edge of burning liquid spill ideal for use on pool of liquid on open ground
Bank down method for applying foam
506
To be employed with class B foam when a vertical surface is near or within a pool of liquid
rain down method of foam application
506
When roll-on or bank down method are not practical due to elevation of fuel above grade rain down method they be employed most common method
NFPA 1150
Standard on foam chemicals for fire in class A fuels
