Using Foam Suppression Systems in Fires

A common misconception about fires is that they are all of the same kind. This, in turn, leads to the belief that if all the fires are same then the means of extinguishing the flames has to be alike as well. This widely accepted fallacy could not be further from the truth. The nature of the fire always depends on the combustible element that brought about the flames and the extinguishing agent also varies accordingly. This distinction is especially significant when it comes to installing fire sprinkler systems as they are often the first line of defense against a rapidly spreading blaze. This article takes a look at foam suppression systems that do not use either water or compressed air to tackle a fire. 

What is a foam fire sprinkler system?

Upon making the discovery that water could not act as a universal extinguishing agent, the need to come up with a fluid that is capable of suppressing chemical fires (especially those occurring at oil farms and petrol stations) became apparent. Given its properties, the answer to mitigating such fires became abundantly clear as foam. Foam fire sprinkler systems are often used in combination with water. This is because the chemical characteristics of foam amplify the effectiveness of water in extinguishing certain types of fire. The water and foam solution is found to be cooler and thus, becomes a more potent agent to break surface tension and subdue the flames. Foam fire suppression systems are commonly installed at airport hangars, oil rigs, flammable liquid storage units, refineries, and LNG factories.

How do they work?

In order for this kind of suppression system to be at its best, water and foam concentrate must be mixed at the prescribed ratio. The structural components of the sprinkler devices remain the same as wet pipe or dry pipe systems. However,

heavy steel fabrication companies in india additional element here is that of the external bladder tank that stores the foam and supplies it through the pipelines in the event of a fire. When the sprinklers are triggered (either automatically or manually), water is used to exert pressure in the foam bladder tank. Due to this, the foam chemical concentrate surges into a proportioning device that facilitates the blending process of foam with water. From here, the sprinkler heads are activated and the concocted solution is dispersed all over the area below.

What makes foam such a desirable fire suppression agent?

The successful use of foam in smothering hazardous fires dates back to its physical properties, specifically its density. By being lower in density as that of most flammable liquids such as petrol or crude oil, foam is able to act as a kind of floating blanket that cuts of oxygen or air to the fuel and thereby, allows it to cool. When the carbon-dioxide laced foam chemically reacts with flammable liquids, it leads to the formation of flammable vapors which are crucial in preventing a re-ignition of the fire. On the market, foam concentrates are generally available in low expansion (5:1) or high expansion (500:1) foaming agents. The expansion ratios of these two types indicate the volume of foam that will be produced when it is mixed with water.

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