:FOAM SYSTEM SYMPOSIUM
An Overview Of Fluorinated Firefighting Foams:Past, Present & Future
Presented by: Jerry Back, JENSEN HUGHES
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Brief History of Foam Standards and Performance State of the Art Updates to Standards What Happens Next
Overview
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Originally Developed for liquid fuels suppression
Protein Foam (PF) Fluoroprotein (FPF) AFFF Other Variants – FFFP, FFF
Overview
Application (mass flow) rate – nozzle flow rate, gallons/minute-ft2 (gpm/ft2)Extinguishment density – mass of foam per unit area required for fire
extinguishment, gal/ft2
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Naval Research Laboratory 1961 – Synthetic surfactant formulated 1963 – Patent application, initial spec 1966 – Patent award assigned to US Secretary of the Navy 1968 – NRL and 3M 6% seawater formulation 1969 – Jacksonville, FLA, large and moderate scale test results,
Mil-F-24385 “Light Water” characterized by spreading surface
tension/spreading coefficient AFFF = Aqueous FILM Forming Foam
AFFF Development
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Somewhat Different Worlds
Commercial / Petrochemical Industry (UL 162) Tank Fuel storage Fuel handling systems
DoD/ARFF/FAA (MIL-F-24385F) VSAs Hangars Aviation / Crash
Main AFFF Uses
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Aircraft carrier flight deck – <60 seconds Commercial Aviation – 60 seconds Aircraft Hangar Military Aircraft – 1 min (damageability
assessment) Commercial aircraft – 2 min Structure – several minutes
Shipboard spaces Military – 1 min desirable 2-5 minutes acceptable in some situations
Gasoline Fueling Facility, Sprinklered Liquid Warehouse – 1-5 minutes to hours Fixed Protection not always provided Critical application rate needed
Scenario Comparison
Genesis / Rationale
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NFPA 11 Foam Basic foam protection, commercial petrochem, marine & industry 0.16 gpm/ft2 application rate, commercial UL 162 spec
NFPA 16 Foam Sprinklers – 0.16 gpm/ft2, UL 162 spec NFPA 403 Aircraft Rescue & Firefighting – commercial aviation, 1 min Performance-based approach
NFPA 409 Hangar Protection Structural protection option – 0.16 gpm/ft2 Low level AFFF to protect aircraft – 0.10 gpm/ft2
NFPA 412 – expansion and drainage measurement and criteria
NFPA Standards
Note – all recognize performance advantage of AFFF vs alternatives
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UL 162 - Foam Equipment and Liquid Concentrates Listed as a complete package Concentrates, Proportioners, Discharge devices
Concentrations regulated (1,3,6% vol) Test parameters defined by manufacturer Application rate (0.04 - 06 gpm/ft2 typ) Expansion ratio (discharge devices)
Test and Design Requirements in Table 10.1
No compatibility
Commercial / Petrochemical Industry
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NAVAL RESEARCH LABORATORYMILSPEC (MIL-F-24385F) / QPL
ARFF is primary DoD hazard
Only concentrate is approved Physical properties regulated for compatibility
with DoD hardware Concentrations regulated (3 & 6% vol) Application rates (0.04 - 07 gpm/ft2 )
DoD / ARFF/ FAA
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Based on MIL-F-24385F 28 ft2 fire test
– Application rate – 0.071 gpm/ft2
– Maximum extinguishment time – 30s– Maximum extinguishment density – 0.036 gal/ft2
50 ft2 fire test – Application rate – 0.04 gpm/ft2
– Maximum extinguishment time – 50s– Maximum extinguishment density – 0.033 gal/ft2
One-half and quadruple strength Burnback resistance Foam expansion and drainage Spreading coefficient Ignition resistance
AFFF MIL SPEC Extinguishing Performance
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Requirement RationaleRefractive index Refractive index enables use of refractometer to measure solution concentrations in field; this is most common method recommended
in NFPA 412a
Viscosity Viscosity Ensures accurate proportioning when proportioning pumps are used; for example, balance pressure proportioner or positive displacement injection pumps
pH pH Ensures concentrate will be neither excessively basic or acidic; intention is to prevent corrosion in plumbing systems
Corrosivity Limits corrosion of, and deposit buildup on, metallic components (various metals for 28 days)Total halides/chlorides Limits corrosion of, and deposit buildup on, metallic componentsEnvironmental impact Biodegradability, fish kill, BOD/CODb
Accelerated aging Film formation capabilities, fire performance, foam quality; ensures a long shelf lifeSeawater compatibility Ensures satisfactory fire performance when mixed with brackish or saltwaterInteragent compatibility Allows premixed or storage tanks to be topped off with different manufacturers’ agents, without affecting fire performance
Reduced- and over-concentration fire test Ensures satisfactory fire performance when agents are proportioned inaccurately
Compatibility with dry chemical (PKP) agents
Ensures satisfactory fire performance when used in conjunction with supplementary agents
Torque to remove cap Able to remove without wrenchPackaging requirements Strength, color, size, stackable, minimum pour, and vent-opening tamperproof seal; ensures uniformity of containers and ease of
handlingInitial qualification inspection Establishes initial conformance with requirementsQuality conformance inspection (each lot) Ensures continued conformance with requirements
aNFPA 412, Standard for Evaluating Aircraft Rescue and Fire-Fighting Foam Equipment, 2003 edition
bBOD/COD: Biological oxygen demand/chemical oxygen demand
Chemical/Physical/Quality Parameters in the MIL SPEC
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Test Fuel Application Rate Nozzle Movement Permitted
Max. Ext.Time
Ext. App. Density
gpm/ft2 sec gal/ft2
MIL-SPECMotor gasoline 0.071 Yes 30 0.036
28 ft2
MIL-SPECMotor gasoline 0.04 Yes 50 0.033
50 ft2
UL 162 Heptane 0.04 Yes 180 0.12
ICAO BKerosene 0.06 Yes
(horizontal plane) 60 0.06150 ft2
ICAO C
Kerosene 0.04 No 60 (flickering flame permitted) 0.038
80 ft2
ISO Forceful Heptane 0.06 No 180 0.18
Examples of Extinguishment Application Densities of Various Test Standards
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How we got here: Started with C8 formulations DoD sticking with AFFF near term (C6
formulations approved)
The Present
In 2002, 3M ECF AFFF production
stopped.
In 2003, U.S. EPA banned ECF AFFF from
production & importation.
In 2006, U.S. EPA initiated PFOA Stewardship
Program.
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Phos-Chek 3% & 6% AFFF MS Ansulite 3% (AFC-3MS) & Ansulite 6% (AFC-6MS) Chemguard 3% (C306-MS) & Chemguard 6% (C606-MS) FOMTEC AFFF 3%M National 3% (3EM-C6) & National 6% (6EM-C6) Tridol 3% (C6 M3) & Tridol 6% (C6 M6) Solberg Arctic 3% & Solberg Arctic 6% FireAde 3% & 6% MilSpec formulations
John P. Farley | 202-404-8459
QPL / MILSPEC C6 Formulations
NO MILSPEC FFFs
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The Future of MILSPEC Foams
Where we’re going to end up: Fluorine in the environmental cross-hairs Major FFF research (SERDP and ESTCP) Fluorine Free Foams (FFF)
Will need to restart from fundamentals Hazards How good is good enough? New Spec
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Dozens of UL 162 listed C6 formulations Some issues associated with C6 formulations
11 UL 162 listed FF formulations FFFs ≠ AFFFs FF formulations need additional research Extinguishment mechanisms Fuel compatibility
State of the Art
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Group 1: Define variables needed to be included in acceptance
testing
Group 2: Review NFPA 11 for modification due
to new C6 and FF foams, also interface with NFPA 16, 30 and 400’s for consistency
Group 3: Develop pager work for NFPA – RF
funding
NFPA 11 (2020 Revision Cycle)
There is a separate UL 162 working group meeting hosted by UL on 1/17
NFPA 11 being revised to address Fluorine Free Foams:
Task Group / Working Groups:
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UL / NFPA Test Procedure (264 Tests)
Type of tests: UL/FM Type III Topside
UL/FM Type II for Polar Solvents
Fuels: HeptaneMil-Spec GasolineIPA (Polar Solvent Test)
Fuel Temperature: Standard (60 degrees F + - 10 degrees F) 85 degrees F
Densities: Manufacturer Recommended (typically 0.06 gpm / ft.) 25% increase above recommended until pass or two increments
Foam Concentrates: One Reference AR-AFFF C6 foam
UL AR Listing Fluorine Free Foams (3 maximum)
Water Type: Fresh
Salt
Foam Quality Minimum listed
Maximum listed
NFPA 11 Subgroup 1
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NFPA 11 Updates:
Key Findings: 6 out of 12 chapters
– 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 10– Including 16 subsections
5 Annex sections (A, B, C, E, G)– Will need to review Annex sections and revisit post testing
NFPA 11 Subgroup 2
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NFPA / NFPA Research Foundation Liaison: Develop SOW and RFP for RF solicitation: Completed and out for review by working group Fire Protection Research Foundation POC: Sreenivasan Ranganathan [email protected]
NFPA 11 Subgroup 3
Solicitation will be released early summer
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Task Group Timeline
Kickoff meetingJanuary 11, 2018
1st quarter meeting (Host: ExxonMobil Houston)March 6, 2018 8-11AM CST
2nd quarter meeting TBDJune 5, 2018 8-11AM CST
TestingSeptember, 2018
3rd quarter meeting - Report test resultsOctober, 2018
4th quarter meeting (review draft report) Face to Face - TBD December 4, 2018 8 – 11AM CST
Final Report submitted as public inputJanuary 2, 2019
Public input closingJanuary 3, 2019
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NFPA Timeline
Public input closingJanuary 3, 2019
First draft report postingSeptember 5, 2019
Public comment closingNovember 14, 2019
Second draft reportJuly 30, 2020
NITMAN ClosingAugust 27 2020
NITMAN PostingOctober 8, 2020
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NFPA 16 fits easily into NFPA 11
Chapter 1 Administration
Chapter 2 Referenced Publications
Chapter 3 Definitions
Chapter 4 System Components and System Types
Chapter 5 Low-Expansion System Design (Tank and Spill Areas)
Chapter 6 Low-Expansion System Design (Sprinkler and Spray Systems)
Chapter 6 7 Medium and High-Expansion Systems
Chapter 7 8 Compressed Air Foam Systems
Chapter 8 9 Specifications and Plans
Chapter 9 10 Installation Requirements
Chapter 10 11 Low-Expansion Foam Systems for Marine Applications
Chapter 11 12 Testing and Acceptance
Chapter 12 13 Maintenance
Merger of NFPA 11 & 16
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All Foaming Agents Have an Environmental Impact
Elimination of Fluorosurfactants is Inevitable Due To Regulatory Pressure Extinguishing effectiveness of current FFFs ≠ AFFF
Both Fire Extinguishment and Environmental Impact Should Be Performance Based
How Good is Good Enough?» Change is underway
Summary
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ContactJerry Back
+1 410-737-8677 [email protected]
For More Information Visitjensenhughes.com
QUESTIONS?
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Questions?