Engineering Fire Suppression Agent Delivery to Augment PFAS-Free Foam (PFF) Performance: Compressed Air Foam (CAF) and Ultra-High Pressure (UHP) Methodologies
This document provides guidance on two technologies to enhance the performance of PFAS-free foams (PFF) against MIL-PRF-24385F specification for Class B fire suppressants. These two technologies were compressed air foam (CAF) and ultra-high pressure (UHP) foam delivery. All PFF failed fire extinguishment time specification, and a few failed the burnback time specifications, but CAF delivery significantly improved both for all PFF. On average, the extinguishment time was reduced by about 40%, but still fell short of the specification. The CAF testing at medium-field (315-ft2) scale showed that the extinguishment time was not significantly different than at Mil-Spec (28-ft2) scale. The UHP technology also has shown considerable promise, but the demonstration of its true potential requires larger field-scale testing. Both CAF and UHP technologies help to significantly reduce the foam use, and thus the operating costs for extinguishing Type B fires. The engineering background, test-equipment description, and typical test methods for CAF and UHP are provided. As more data from currently planned testing with CAF and UHP are obtained, this guidance document is expected to be refined.
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AFFF,
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Demonstration,
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PFAS-Free Alternative,
Project
Validation of Fluorine-free AFFF against Military Specification Performance Criteria
Satya Chauhan, Ph.D.
Principal Investigator
Battelle Memorial Institute