Self Expanding Foam Fire Suppression System SPECIFICATION SHEET Rev 1.0 03-07-2017 Description Self Expanding Foam Systems (SEFS) are the alternative solution to existing flammable and combustible liquid fires. These systems use patented self expanding fire fighting foam 3% AR-AFFF extinguishing technology. Due to the unique design and nature of the pre-manufactured self expanding fire fighter foam it is able to provide significant fire extinguishing knockdown power in a compact, self contained, standalone package. This enables us to guarantee unrivaled firefighting capability exceeding industry requirements and expectations. There is no traditional foam system available on the market today that is capable of working as fast or as effective as the Protect-o-burn SEF system. The method of production and formulation of Protect-o-burn are part of the patented manufacturing process. The result is a fully aspirated, pre-manufactured firefighting foam that is stored under pressure and deployed anywhere it is required, without the need for supplemental water supplies, foam concentrates, and foam proportioning equipment. Protect-o-burn SEF is guaranteed to provide expansion ratios of between 8:1 and 10:1, depending on the fire hazard and application it is designed for. During the initial installation the SEF is mixed on location and only requires enough potable water to meet the volume capacity of the foam storage tank for the given application. It can be supplied in a mobile water tanker or by any other means that may be convenient to you. After install, no permanent water supply is needed and the vessel can be placed where most suitable. SEF Systems are not a Compressed Air Foam (CAF) system. SEF systems are designed to be hassle free, simple to operate, and simple to maintain with minimum dependencies. Fire Solutions Group - 6 Ferndale Road - Seven Valleys, PA 17360 www.firesolutionsgroup.com - Tel: 1-312-351-5919 - email: jlynch@firesolutionsgroup.com
Shelf-Life The shelf life of SEF is guaranteed for a minimum 10 years. In practice, the shelf life is limited only to the foam concentrate manufacturer that is used in the SEF manufacturing process. Testing of the SEF should be done in accordance with NFPA recommendations (at least annually). Operational Parameters SEF is not affected by extreme temperatures. Firefighting vehicles equipped with SEF have successfully extinguished large hydrocarbon fires in sub-zero temperatures with no evidence of freezing whatsoever. In the same way automated transformer protection systems operating in direct sunlight in arid desert conditions and temperatures exceeding 120 degrees Fahrenheit operated flawlessly year in and year out. Fire Performance SEF operates solely on stored energy. There is no requirement for fire water, pumps, or external pressure/ gas cylinders. This is where the SEF Protect-o-burn separates itself. The low cost, low maintenance system is superior to having to install fire water infrastructure (tanks, ponds, pipping, pumps) that will provide the necessary water supply and pressure that is required to meet the k-factors of the nozzles, or reach the area in need of protection.
PROTECT-O-BURN FEATURES TRADITIONAL FIXED INSTALLATION AUTOMATIC SEF SYSTEM Water Supply Substantial costs for installation and inspection, maintenance and testing Not water supply required Reliability Lower due to increase complexity of system Simplistic system resulting in higher reliability Extinguishment time greater than 10 minutes Less than 2 minutes Air Pollution Increased due to longer extinguishment times Reduced due to rapid extinguishment time and calling capabilities Earthquake Sensitivity Fire water distribution piping, storage, foam chambers, and proportioning equipment susceptible to damage The linear nozzle and roam riser are robust, along with flexible foam header connection Foam application method Foam chamber or sub surface application Via linear foam chambers Foam application pattern Curtain application along the inside of the tank shell curtain application along inside of the tank shell with mass point like distribution via chambers with restriction plate removed Shell cooling Low due to spacing between chambers Substantial due to the use of foam application ring Wall effect Difficult Not applicable Susceptibility to explosion Vulnerable due to exposer of foam chambers Linear ring enforces top of tank and shell functioning after explosion Foam supply Foam is supplied by fixed system requiring proportioning systems Foam is prefabricated and stored in vicinity Foam supply rate Limited by pump and proportioning method Limited only by storage tank size Tank Various Various Fire types Combustible, Flammable, polar and non polar Combustible, Flammable, polar and non polar Foam Application rates 0.1 to 0.16 gpm/ft2 (per nap 11) 0.25 to 1.0 gpm/ft2 expanded foam Recommended application time (class 1 Flammables) Recommended application time (class 2 & 3 Flammables 55 minutes 2 minutes 5-10 minutes 10 seconds Preparation time for alarm signal 5-10 minutes 10 seconds Total burn time +60 minutes 2 minutes Components Pumps, engine, valve, power supply Single vale per tank Operational Costs Increased due to foam supply and components Decreased, less foam used less components Total cost or owners shot Higher Lower Fire Solutions Group - 6 Ferndale Road - Seven Valleys, PA 17360 www.firesolutionsgroup.com - Tel: 1-312-351-5919 - email: jlynch@firesolutionsgroup.com
Fire Test A fire test was conducted on February 18th, 2016 at the LSU Fire Training Field. A SEF system was placed on a 40 foot diameter tank with diesel fuel. The fuel was ignited and left to burn for 90 seconds (pre-burn). Control was obtained after 15 seconds with extinguishment at 25 seconds. For comparison purposes a traditional system was then tested. The traditional foam system extinguished the same fire in a little over 10 minutes. TEST VARIABLES PROTECT-O-BURN SEF TRADITIONAL FIXED INSTALLATION Tank size 40 Diamter 40 Diamter Surface Area 1,256 ft2 1,256 ft2 Foam Chamber 1 Chemguard 150 GPM 1 Chemguard 150 GPM Ambient Temperature 65 F 72 F Product 450 gallons of Diesel on top of water 450 Gallons Diesel on top of water Foam Used 600 gallons of SEF manufactured from 20 gallons of tyco Thunderstorm 1x3, at a 3% solution UL listed Foam Educator set at 3% 20 gallons Tyco Thunderstorm UL listed 1 x 3 Delivery 2 x 300 Gallon ASME SS Vessels LSU provided fire engine to boost pressure to 200 psi Application 2 x 1.5 hoses connecting to the 3 riser 100 ft of 1.75 inch hose connected to riser Application Duration 5 minutes 10 minutes 30 seconds Application Rate pre-chamber 120 GPM, post chamber 1,200 GPM 150 GPM Blanket Thickness 7 measured 30 seconds after fire out 1/2 measured 30 seconds after fire out Surface Temp Pre-urn 74 F 91 F Maximum Surface Temp Temp after Extinguishment Duration prior to Extinguishment 1,202 F 1,171 F 28 F 77 F 25 seconds 10 minutes 20 seconds seconds
Linear Nozzle The SEF linear nozzle provides numerous foam pouring points around any diameter storage tank. Protecto-burn uses state of the art detection technologies for automatic activation such as Optical Flame Detection (OFD), Linear Heat detection, or smoke detection technologies depending on the application. Reference Documents The Fire Solutions Group uses applicable codes and standards in our design criteria. National Fire Protection Association NFPA 1 Fire Prevention Code NFPA 11 NFPA 30 Standard for Low, Medium, and High Expansion Foam Flammable Fire Alarm and Signaling Code NFPA 72 National Fire Alarm and Signaling Code EN Standards EN 13565-2 BS7974-0 Tank Farm Fire Protection Systems Fire Engineering Framework
SEF Applications Fixed Installations Fire & Rescue Vehicles Mobile Units - including 3,000 gallon units which provides up to 30,000 gallons of AR-AFFF with a turn of the valve. Ordering Information Fire Solutions Group - 6 Ferndale Road Seven Valleys, PA 17360 www.firesolutionsgroup.com Tel: 1-312-351-5919 email: jlynch@firesolutionsgroup.com