Foam Based Fire Suppression Systems

Foam extinguishing system, which has a wide variety of application methods and system components, is a powerful extinguishing method used in a wide variety of situations such as aircraft hangars, transformers, warehouses, with foam concentrates that are resistant to alcohol or specially produced for hydrocarbon fires.

System selection is determined by the type of fuel or combustible material that is planned to be extinguished. The most efficient system is selected by taking into account the test results of the foam concentrate to be used, the application area and the application time.

In foam extinguishing systems, the extinguishing agent is made up of AFFF/AR-AFFF/SFFF type chemicals (SFFF: fluorine-free foam solution). Foam extinguishing systems can be designed for automatic or manual operation. The foam solution is generally used in extinguishing systems such as foam sprinkler systems, foam fire cabinets, tank suppression systems, foam monitor systems and foam generators. Foam extinguishing systems are widely used in areas containing flammable liquid chemicals, tank farms, petrochemical facilities, fuel transfer stations and aircraft hangars.

The foam, which acts as an extinguishing fluid, is mixed with water and delivered to the discharge heads with pressurized water provided by the fire pump. The piping is kept empty. Black steel pipes are preferred because galvanized piping will react with the foam. The foam discharged from the nozzles covers the flammable liquids and forms a blanket layer. Thanks to this layer, the contact of the fuel, which has heat energy, with oxygen is cut off and the reaction of the fire triangle is stopped. Another important point in foam extinguishing systems is that all components used, such as foam concentrate, tank, proportioner, nozzle and valve, must have a common approval.

Foam extinguishing systems are designed in similar standards with aqueous systems and NFPA11, 16, 30, 409 standards are used. Protein-based, synthetic-based, aqua film-forming, alcohol-resistant foam types and foam concentrate suitable for combustible materials are selected. Double-stage verification fire detection systems used in gas extinguishing systems are used for the activation of foam extinguishing systems. While flame detectors are used for flammable liquids, smoke detectors can be preferred in closed areas for materials that produce dense smoke. In the hydraulic calculations of foam extinguishing systems, details such as piping and shot head diameters are determined by using the omniCAD software used in water extinguishing systems.