What percent are Class A foams used at?
Class A foams typically runs at 0.1%, 0.3%, 0.5% or 1%. The percentage is related to the foam manufacturer recommendations and the size and type of fire, as well as the foam equipment used.
What is a Class A foam?
Class A Foam: Used to extinguish Class A materials, such as wood, paper, brush and vegetation (wildland), is widely used by many fire departments for structural firefighting using compressed air foam systems.
What is the percentage of Class B foam?
Most Probable Class B AFFF-ATC that will be used by MCFRS •1% proportioning ratio for normal hydrocarbon fires. 3% proportioning ratio for polar solvent fires. Foam Proportioning Systems refers to the method in which foam concentrate is introduced into hose streams.
What are the percentages of AFFF?
AFFF is purchased as a concentrate, typically referred to as “3%” or “6%” (Type 3 or Type 6, respectively) depending on its mixture ratio with water.
What is 6% foam used for?
Fomtec AFFF 6% is tested according to EN 1568 for use on class B hydrocarbon fuel fires such as oil, diesel, gasoline and aviation fuels. Fomtec AFFF 3% is effective against class A fires such as wood, paper, textiles etc.
What is AFFF foam 3 percent?
Fomtec AFFF 3% is an aqueous film forming foam concentrate (AFFF) consisting of a blend of fluorocarbon-, hydrocarbon surfactants and various solvents and stabilisers. Only C6 Pure fluorosurfactants are used in Fomtec AFFF-formulations.
How effective is Class A foam?
The benefit to the fire fighter is faster extinguishment, less water usage and less heat stress. The National Institute of Standards and Technology states that water treated with a Class “A” foam concentrate makes the water 3 to 5 times more efficient at fire extinguishment than untreated water.
What is Class A and B foam?
With its high surface tension, Class A foam soaks into solid materials and breaks down the chemical bonds of fires to stop them from spreading. Class B foam, on the other hand, repels carbon.
What is the ratio of Class A foam to water?
The ratio of class A foam concentrate to water is typically 0.1 to 1.0 percent.
How do you calculate foam?
In order to understand the simple formula, it is important to know the components in a foam formula. The formula for calculating the needed foam concentrate at a flammable liquid release is as follows: Area X Critical Application Rate (CAR) X Eduction Rate (ER) X 15 = Foam Concentrate Needed.
Can you mix Class A and B foam?
Never mix Class A and Class B foam concentrates.
Is Class A foam wet or dry?
Class A foams are one-component, wet concentrates that are mixed with water to improve the firefighting characteristics of water.
Is AFFF foam still used today?
Despite growing awareness of its dangers, AFFF is still in use today. The military and some civilian firefighting units continue to use AFFF for its unparalleled firefighting capabilities, especially in scenarios where rapid response to fuel fires is critical.
What is Class B foam?
In the early 1960's, 3M and the U.S. Navy developed Class B “aqueous film forming foam” (AFFF) type foams. Class B foams are used on flammable petroleum fires and spills. Some or most Class B foams have had PFCs as part of their formulation, in particular PFOS.
Can AFFF be used on Class A fires?
AFFF (aqueous film-forming foam) and FFFP (film-forming fluoroprotein) fire extinguishers are rated for use on both Class A and Class B fires. As the name implies, they discharge a foam material rather than a liquid or powder. They are not suitable for use in freezing temperatures.
What is 3% foam used for?
Aberdeen Foam 3% F3 is a low viscosity newtonian Fluorine Free Foam designed for minimal environmental impact. Quickly extinguishes and secures Class B hydrocarbon fires of liquids such as crude oil, gasoline, aviation kerosene and fuel oil.
What has replaced AFFF foam?
GFFF is a Fluorine Free Foam Replacement for AFFF and the Leading Firefighting Foam that is SAFE for firefighters. Protecting Life, Property, and Resources. GreenFire® Firefighting Foam (GFFF) is a class B foam BUT is non-toxic and non-carcinogenic.
What is a Class A fire?
Class A: Ordinary solid combustibles such as paper, wood, cloth and some plastics.
What is B Class A fire?
Description. Class A Fires. Fires in ordinary combustible materials, such as wood, cloth, paper, rubber, and many plastics. Class B Fires. Fires in flammable liquids, combustible liquids, petroleum greases, tars, oils, oil-based paints, solvents, lacquers, alcohols, and flammable gases.
What is the difference between foam and AFFF?
Well, fluorine-free foam requires more volume and special equipment to make it effective, but doesn't pose any risk to the environment. On the other hand, AFFF is an incredibly effective extinguishing agent, but poses extreme risks to the environment and those who live within it.
What do you mean by 1% 3% & 6% terminology used for foam concentrate?
In other words, depending on the type of foam, or the type of fuel, foam concentrate is designed to be mixed with 99 parts water to 1 part concentrate (1 % foam concentrate), 97 parts water to 3 parts (3% foam concentrate), or 94 parts water to 6 parts concentrate (6% foam concentrate).
How is Class A foam generated?
A compressed-air foam system (CAFS), another Class A foam deployment system, is defined as a standard water pumping system that has an entry point where compressed air can be added to a foam solution to generate foam. The air compressor also provides energy that propels compressed air foam.
Is Class A foam a wetting agent?
Class A foam suppressants contain foaming and wetting agents. The foaming agents affect the accuracy of an aerial drop, how quickly the water drains from the foam, and how well the product clings to the surface of fuels. The wetting agents increase the ability of the drained water to penetrate fuels.
Is Class A foam corrosive?
Class A Foam (Wildland Foam) The foam is a non-corrosive, non-toxic, biodegradable concentrate. When mixed with water in the correct proportion, it changes the properties of water.
What is the percentage of water and foam in AFFF?
AFFF is used in the U.S. military, and in most civilian applications worldwide, as either a 3% or a 6% concentrate. The numbers refer to the percentage of the foam concentrate mixed with either fresh or sea water by a proportioning nozzle.
How is foam graded?
Foam Grades Explained
Foam density is measured in pounds per cubic foot (lb/ft³) or kilograms per cubic meter (kg/m³). The higher the density, the more durable and supportive the foam is likely to be. Low-Density Foam: Foam with a low density is typically softer and less supportive.
What is the shelf life of Class A foam?
If kept in the original unopened and airtight CHEMGUARD supplied container and stored within the temperature range 32 °F-120 °F (0 °C-49 °C), a shelf life of 20-25 years can be expected.
What is foam ratio?
Expansion ratio is calculated by dividing the volume of finished foam by the volume of foam solution used to create it. For example, an expansion ratio of 5:1 means that one litre of foam solution, after aeration, will fill an empty 5-litre container with expanded foam.
What is the mixing ratio for AFFF?
Description. Fomtec AFFF 1% A should be used at 1% proportioning (1 part concentrate and 99 parts of water). May be used with all water types. Fomtec AFFF 1% A can be stored as premix when blended with fresh water.
What proportions are most Class A foams mixed in?
Most Class A foams are mixed in proportions of 3 to 6 percent.
What is the unit for foam?
Foam density is measured in kilograms per cubic meter. This unit of measurement is important: foam density defines what is the use of the material. Polyethylene and polyurethane foam density depends on the manufacturing process. The foam density scale ranges from 24 kg/m3 up to 300 kg/m3.
What is the concentration of firefighting foam?
SYNTHETIC/DETERGENT (High Expansion) FOAM CONCENTRATE: Normally used at a concentrate rate between 1.5% to 2.5%, this type of foam concentrate is manufactured from a combination of hydrocarbon surfactants and solvents.
How do you calculate foam volume?
( Length x Weight x Height ÷ 1728 ) x Foam Density
The calculation will calculate the volume of the packaging in cubic feet. The parenthesis portion of the equation solves this. You can also use an online cubic feet calculator to make this process simpler. Next, multiply the volume by the density to get the weight.
What is a Class A foam?
Class A Foam: Used to extinguish Class A materials, such as wood, paper, brush and vegetation (wildland), is widely used by many fire departments for structural firefighting using compressed air foam systems.
What is the percentage of Class B foam?
Most Probable Class B AFFF-ATC that will be used by MCFRS •1% proportioning ratio for normal hydrocarbon fires. 3% proportioning ratio for polar solvent fires. Foam Proportioning Systems refers to the method in which foam concentrate is introduced into hose streams.
Why use Class A foam?
Class A Foam is specially formulated to make water more effective for firefighting. The surfactants in Class A foam significantly reduce water's surface tension and, when mixed with air, create a superior foam blanket that surrounds fuels with a thick foam blanket.
What temp does Class A foam freeze?
Class A foams were developed specifically for controlling wildfires, and is now used for class A fires, such as structure fires. They lower the surface tension of the water, which wets fuels and suppresses fire and prevents reignition.
What is Class A foam for structural firefighting?
All cappuccinos have shots of rich espresso and a smooth layer of foamed milk. But a wet cappuccino has more steamed milk and less foam, while a dry cappuccino has less steamed milk and more foam.
Does wet mean more foam?
Fomtec AFFF 3% is an aqueous film forming foam concentrate (AFFF) consisting of a blend of fluorocarbon-, hydrocarbon surfactants and various solvents and stabilisers. Only C6 Pure fluorosurfactants are used in Fomtec AFFF-formulations.
What is 3% AFFF foam?
Class A foams do not contain PFAS and are safe to use for their intended purpose. They are covered under NFPA 1150 (Standard on Foam Chemicals for Fires in Class A Fuels).
Do Class A foams have PFAS?
Fire Fighting Foams usually have a very long shelf life, provided they are kept within the manufacturers guidelines and temperature limits and are stored in the original and unopened shipping containers. For example, a shelf life of 10–20 years can be expected for AFFF-LF and AFFF concentrates, if stored correctly.
Does AFFF foam expire?
With its high surface tension, Class A foam soaks into solid materials and breaks down the chemical bonds of fires to stop them from spreading. Class B foam, on the other hand, repels carbon.
What is Class A and B foam?
In order to obtain ICAO Level C certification the foam concentrate, once proportioned correctly, must extinguish a 7.32m2 hydrocarbon fire within the given specifications (see table below). The application rate for the ICAO Level C test is 1.75 L/min/m2.
What is level C foam?
The types of foam used by our customers can be basically broken into two categories, Class A and Class B. These are the same classes as used in identifying fire extinguishers. Class A foam is used on common combustibles such as paper, wood, and textiles. Class B foam is used on flammable liquids.
What is the difference between Class A and Class B foam?
Aqueous film forming foams (AFFF) are water-based and frequently contain hydrocarbon-based surfactants such as sodium alkyl sulfate, and fluorosurfactants, such as fluorotelomers, perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), or perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS).
What is the composition of AFFF foam?
Never mix Class A and Class B foam concentrates.
Can you mix Class A and B foam?
In the early 1960's, 3M and the U.S. Navy developed Class B “aqueous film forming foam” (AFFF) type foams. Class B foams are used on flammable petroleum fires and spills. Some or most Class B foams have had PFCs as part of their formulation, in particular PFOS.
What is Class B foam?
Class B foams are mainly used on two-dimensional hydrocarbon (petroleum-based) and polar solvent (alcohol-based) fires. Class B foam concentrates are available in both polar and nonpolar formulations. Polar concentrate formulations can be applied to both hydrocarbon and polar solvent fuels.
What is true of Class B foam concentrates?
Despite growing awareness of its dangers, AFFF is still in use today. The military and some civilian firefighting units continue to use AFFF for its unparalleled firefighting capabilities, especially in scenarios where rapid response to fuel fires is critical.
Is AFFF foam still used today?
AFFF (aqueous film-forming foam) and FFFP (film-forming fluoroprotein) fire extinguishers are rated for use on both Class A and Class B fires. As the name implies, they discharge a foam material rather than a liquid or powder. They are not suitable for use in freezing temperatures.
Can AFFF be used on Class A fires?
Class A fire fuel consists of ordinary combustibles like fabric, paper, and wood. This happens when the material reaches a certain temperature, which causes its ignition.
What's the composition of Class A fuels?
Class A - Wood, paper, cloth, trash, plastics. Solid combustible materials that are not metals. Class B - Flammable liquids: gasoline, oil, grease, acetone. Any non-metal in a liquid state, on fire. Class C - Electrical: energized electrical equipment.
What are Class A fuels?
Class A fire ratings indicate a flame spread rating somewhere between zero and 25. Materials that fall into Class A or Class 1 include things like brick, gypsum wallboard, and fiber cement exterior materials. These materials do not burn well and are very unlikely to contribute fuel to a fire.
What is Class A material?
Class A: Ordinary solid combustibles such as paper, wood, cloth and some plastics.
What are the 5 classes of fire?
Description. Class A Fires. Fires in ordinary combustible materials, such as wood, cloth, paper, rubber, and many plastics. Class B Fires. Fires in flammable liquids, combustible liquids, petroleum greases, tars, oils, oil-based paints, solvents, lacquers, alcohols, and flammable gases.
What is a Class A fire?
The ratio of class A foam concentrate to water is typically 0.1 to 1.0 percent.
What is B Class A fire?
Most Class A foams are mixed in proportions of 3 to 6 percent.
What percentage is Class A fire fighting foam?
In other words, depending on the type of foam, or the type of fuel, foam concentrate is designed to be mixed with 99 parts water to 1 part concentrate (1 % foam concentrate), 97 parts water to 3 parts (3% foam concentrate), or 94 parts water to 6 parts concentrate (6% foam concentrate).