Foam system are designed and provided in accordance with NFPA standards and local civil defence requirements for Automatic operation. The design density of discharge depends upon the area to be protected. The system consists of Fire water pumps, Deluge valve, foam pourers, proportioners, foam chambers, isolation valve, spray nozzles, quartzoid bulb detectors, Foam pump or Foam proportioner, Foam storage tank, foam solution and piping etc.
Specifically, foam-water system is a special system of pipe connected to a source of foam concentrate and a water supply. The system also requires appropriate discharge devices to control and/or extinguish most Class A and Class B fires. The piping system is connected to the water supply through a control valve (wet, dry, deluge, preaction, flow control) that is actuated by the operation of automatic detection equipment that is installed in the same areas as the discharge devices.
Foam-water systems are designed to distribute a foam-water solution to a specific hazard area within a protected facility. For example, typical facilities include incineration plants, logistics centres, and aircraft hangars. They also cover areas where flammable-liquid spill fires may occur, such as refineries. The type and potential size of the hazard determines the number of discharge devices, type of foam concentrate, and foam-water discharge rate and duration.
A typical foam system consists of the following components that are tested, approved and/or listed together:
- Foam bladder tank
- Proportioning device
- Foam concentrate
- Discharge device
The system is used commonly for protection of Diesel generators, Fuel oil storage tanks, Fuel oil pump shelter, Lube oil unit, Hydraulic oil unit, etc.
