HomeMy WebLinkAbout308.016 - Foam
TRAINING AND EQUIPMENT MANUAL
MISCELLANEOUS EQUIPMENT
308.016 FOAM
EFFECTIVE: OCTOBER 2017
Current Revision Date: 10/17/19 Next Revision Date: 10/17/24
Author’s Name/Rank: Dennis Barnhart, Engineer Review Level: 1
Administrative Support:
Crystal Giannopulos,
Senior Administrative Clerk
PURPOSE
Identify Fresno Fire Department (FFD or Department) approved firefighting foam
products for use and application.
APPLICATION
Class A Foam is designed for use in combating ordinary combustible fires, to reduce
water surface tension and increase the penetration capability to reach deep seated
fires.
Class B Alcohol Resistant Aqueous Film Forming Foam (AR-AFFF) is for use in
combating flammable liquid fires or halting the production of flammable vapors from
unignited flammable liquid spills.
OPERATIONAL POLICY
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OPERATIONAL GUIDELINE
The following Class A foams are approved for use on FFD apparatus:
Solberg Fire-Brake.
Phos-Chek WD 881 (Unless unavailable from the foam provider, Fire-
Brake should be used to restock FFD apparatus).
Ansul Silv-ex Plus (No longer stocked by FFD, but will be found on
mutual aid incidents. Fire-Brake should be used to restock FFD
apparatus).
Section 308.016
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FFD approves the following Class B foam for use with apparatus designated for
Class B fire response:
Ansulite AR-AFFF
PROCESS
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INFORMATION
Class A Foam:
Fire-Brake, Phos-Chek, and Silv-ex are equivalent synthetic fluorine free foams
designed specifically for use on wildland, structure, and all other Class A fires.
These foams are environmentally compatible when used according to
manufacturer’s recommendations.
When Fire-Brake, Phos-Chek, and Silv-Ex Plus are used with fresh or brackish
water, the expansion will vary depending on the proportion and equipment used.
Foam solutions of .1% to 1% are recommended depending on the fuel and
application.
Phos-Chek is carried on all OES pumpers. This is the Class A foam product OES
specifies for their apparatus, therefore it is carried on the FFD assigned OES
pumper(s). Phos-Chek may also be found at fire stations housing Brush or Patrol
apparatus.
Phos-Chek is frequently acquired when crews restock FFD apparatus,
usually Brush or Patrol units, from Supply Units at mutual aid incidents.
Silv-ex Plus is used by OES and USFS.
Silv-ex is frequently acquired when crews restock FFD apparatus,
usually Brush or Patrol units, from Supply Units at mutual aid incidents.
Fire-Brake, Phos-Chek, and Ansul Silv-ex Plus are compatible and may be mixed in
apparatus foam tanks as needed.
Never mix Class A with Class B Foam.
Storage and shelf-life of these foams is indefinite if unopened.
Section 308.016
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Class B Foam:
AR-AFFF is a synthetically-produced material, which when mixed with water and
discharged through fog nozzles, produces foam. In addition, this foaming agent
produces an aqueous film which floats on the surface of most flammable liquids and
slows down the propagation of flammable vapors.
AR-AFFF is compatible with most other extinguishing agents such as dry chemical
and carbon dioxide.
In extinguishing Class B fires, a 3% or 6% concentration should be used depending
on the type of fuel involved. If the material is a polar solvent (alcohol based) a 6%
concentration will be utilized for fire and vapor suppression. If the liquid is not a
polar solvent, the 3% concentration will provide a sufficient blanket for
extinguishment or vapor suppression.
Never mix Class A with Class B Foam.
Storage and shelf-life of these foams is indefinite if they are unopened and have not
been exposed to water.
Section 308.016
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Summary of Application Rates:
Agent Concentration Fuel
AR-AFFF 3 percent Hydrocarbons
AR-AFFF 6 percent Polar Solvents
Class A Foam 0.1 – 1 percent Ordinary
DEFINITIONS
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CROSS-REFERENCES
ICL Performance Products/PHOS CHEK Data Sheet
PHOS-CHEK WD881 Class A Foam Concentrate
Johnson Controls/ANSUL Data Sheets
ANSULITE A364 3%x6% AR-ARFF Concentrate
DILV-EX PLUS “Class A” Fire Control Concentrate
Perimeter Solutions/Solberg Company Data Sheet
FIRE-BRAKE FB_CAF FOAM CONCENTRATE
Perimeter Solutions/Solberg Company Technical Bulletins
#1018, Foam Compatibility – FIRE-BRAKE & PHOS-CHECK WD88
#1019, Foam Compatibility – FIRE-BRAKE & SILV-EX PLUS
Section 308.016
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Training and Equipment Manual
Section 301.008, Supplying Special Streams
Section 303.002, Flushing Pumps
Section 303.005, Pump Operators Guide
Section 303.009, FoamPro 2001-2002 Installation and Operation Manual
Section 313.024, Supplying Elkhart In-Line Eductor
Section 316.010, Deploying and In-Line Eductor
Section 308.016
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