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Use of foam suppression systems in fires

Author: Arohi Patil
by Arohi Patil
Posted: Apr 05, 2020

A common mistake about fires is that they are all the same type. This, in turn, leads to the belief that if all fires are the same, then the extinguishing flames should be the same. This widely accepted fallacy cannot be further from the truth. The nature of the fire always depends on the fuel element that caused the flame and the extinguishing agent varies accordingly. This distinction is especially important when it comes to installing fire sprinkler systems, as it is often the first line of defense against a rapidly spreading fire. This article discusses foam suppression systems that do not use water or compressed air to treat fires.

What is the Foam Fire Sprinkler System?

Upon discovering that water could not act as a global extinguishing agent, the need to find a liquid capable of suppressing chemical fires (especially those that occur on oil farms and service stations) became apparent. Given its properties,heavy structural fabrication companies in india the response to mitigate these fires has become as clear as foam. Foam fire sprinkler systems are often used with water. This is because the chemical properties of the foam increase the effectiveness of the water to extinguish certain types of fire. The foam and water solution is colder and therefore becomes a more effective factor in breaking surface tension and suppressing the flame. Foam fire fighting systems are generally installed in airport hangars, oil platforms, flammable liquid storage units, refineries, and LNG plants.

How do they work?

For this type of funnel system to be at its best, Fire Protection Services in bangalore

the foam and water core must be mixed in the specified ratio. The structural components of the sprayers remain the same as wet tubes or dry piping systems. However, an additional element here is the outer bladder tank that stores the foam and supplies it through the pipes in case of fire. When the sprayers are activated (either automatically or manually), water is used to apply pressure to the foam tank of the bladder. As a result, the chemical foam core flows into a proportional device that facilitates mixing of foam with water. From here, the spray heads are activated and the mixed solution is dispersed over the entire area below.

What makes foam the desired fire extinguishing agent?

The successful use of foam to quell dangerous fires is due to its physical properties, in particular its intensity. Being less dense like most flammable liquids like gasoline or crude oil, the foam can function as a kind of floating blanket that cuts off oxygen or air in the fuel, allowing it to cool down. When carbon dioxide foam chemically interacts with flammable liquids, it leads to the formation of flammable fumes that are critical in preventing fire ignition. In the market, foam concentrators are generally available in low stretch (5: 1) or high stretch (500: 1) foam materials. The expansion ratios of these two types indicate the volume of foam that will be produced when mixed with water.

You Can Reach Us at this

  • a href="https://srjpipingindia.com/">Address :

302, 3rd Floor, Commerce House, Cunningham Road, Bangalore –

560052

08041663637

info@srjpiping.com

About the Author

Excelr over 20 Franchise partners all over the world, ExcelR helps individuals and organisations by providing data science courses based on practical knowledge and theoretical concepts.

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Author: Arohi Patil

Arohi Patil

Member since: Jul 09, 2019
Published articles: 78

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