Buckeye High Expansion Foam Systemsconsist of a proportioning system, highexpansion foam concentrate and highexpansion foam generators. The typicalproportioning system is the Buckeye BladderTank and Ratio Controller. The combinationof bladder tank, ratio controller, foamconcentrate and high expansion foamgenerator is U. L. Listed.

Buckeye High Expansion Foam Concentrateis an Earth Friendly synthetic based foamingagent designed to be used with bothmedium or high expansion foam generatingequipment and is normally proportioned at a2.2% concentration (2.2 parts to 97.8 partsof water).

Extensive development work at thededicated Buckeye Fire Test Facility hasproduced a fully integrated state-of-the-arthigh expansion foam system package usingthe latest technology available.

When applied to a fire, the followingextinguishing mechanisms take place:

• The large volume of foam producedblankets the area being protected,smothering and preventing air fromreaching the fire to continue thecombustion process.

• As the foam is generated andcomes in contact with the fire, thefoam bubbles convert back tofoam/water solution and a largeamount of steam is generated whichinerts the atmosphere, aiding in thefire extinguishing process.

• The water content in the foamproduces a valuable cooling effecton the fire and the immediatesurroundings.

• The foam solution has a low surfacetension and as such will effectivelypenetrate Class “A” combustibles tocontrol deep-seated fires.

FG12,500 – “S” Factor: 4.0

Bar Psi Lpm Gpm CuM CFM Expansion6.10 90 510 135 367 12,964 716:14.76 70 454 120 324 11,448 711:13.74 55 405 107 244 8,629 601:1

FG23,000 – “S” Factor: 14.6

Bar Psi Lpm Gpm CuM CFM Expansion6.10 90 1,029 272 656 23,172 638:15.10 75 943 249 584 20,635 620:14.08 60 833 220 497 17,534 596:1

FG20,000 – “S” Factor 7.8

Bar Psi Lpm Gpm CuM CFM Expansion5.78 85 1,052 278 592 20,906 52:15.10 75 942 249 553 19,500 586:13.74 55 840 222 467 16,498 555:1

FG28,000 – “S” Factor 8.5

Bar Psi Lpm Gpm CuM CFM Expansion5.30 78 1,226 324 804 28,367 655:14.08 60 1,094 289 675 23,848 618:13.06 45 927 245 525 18,532 566:1

Several models of high expansion foam generatorsare available and the following specific units areU. L. Listed.

High expansion foam systems are designedfor the most part to be Total FloodingSystems and require a confining structure toensure that the highly expanded foamremains inside the protected area. As aresult, high expansion foam systems findapplications in the following highly protectedrisk areas:

• Cable Tunnels• Aircraft Hangars• Mine Shafts• Underground Parking• Tire Warehouse• Hazardous Material Storage• Flammable Liquid Storage• Engine test Cells• LNG Spills• Basements• Paper Storage Warehouses• Ship Holds

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We purposely designed the Buckeye HighExpansion Foam Generators to operate withno external power requirements, other thanflowing water. However, to provide a unitwith total flexibility under the most adverseof conditions, the internal design and motorsupport structure does allow the substitutionof an electric motor to turn the fan blade, inthe event the water supply pressure is belowthe optimum requirements for the water

e key to the performance of highpansion foam systems is the synergytween the High Expansion Foamnerator and the High Expansion Foamncentrate. The Buckeye High Expansionam Generators have been designed withctionality, reliability and serviceability in

nd. For example, the foam solutioncharge is projected across the stainlessel aeration screen using one largezzle. This nozzle optimally atomizes them solution and yet has a large enoughfice that silt; rust and other normal pipebris will not block the nozzle.

igh efficiency water turbine drives the fande, providing a very reliable mechanismt survives the U. L. test of direct fire

posure and impingement and keepsning with no loss of efficiency.

turbine unit. This inherent capability makesthe Buckeye High Expansion FoamGenerator unique in its class.

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fter a very extensive test protocol, theuckeye High Expansion Foam Generatorsre U. L. Listed and offered with theapability to produce an expanded foamutput in excess of 30,000 cfm. The U. L.isting includes the Buckeye Highxpansion Foam Concentrate, Buckeyeladder Tanks, Ratio controllers and ofourse the Buckeye High Expansion Foamenerator. The foam expansion ratio from

he generator varies according to a numberf factors, which include water pressure athe foam generator, water temperature andnvironmental effects, but typical values

range from 400:1 up to 900:1, althoughoptimum expansion ratios are in the range of500:1 – 700:1.

Buckeye High Expansion Foam Systemsoffer some features not found in other foamfire suppression systems. They typicallyexhibit lower firewater consumption whencompared to a deluge system; which canmean less water damage or run-off andreduced containment. Enhancing this effectis the Buckeye High Expansion FoamConcentrate, which is considered “Earth-Friendly” and contains no reportablesubstances.

As for life-safety, submergence in highexpansion foam for a short period of timeshould not be harmful. The foamconcentrate is not considered toxic but thefoam solution does have a low surfacetension and as a result can in some remotecases liberate natural oils from the skinsurface. In the event this was to occur,application of a lanoline based skintreatment lotion is recommended. In theevent personnel are caught in a discharge ofhigh expansion foam, some senses (hearing& visibility) will be impaired and there will bea loss of orientation, extreme care should betaken when moving around a room filled withhigh expansion foam. Thus evacuation fromthe area should be carried out as soon aspossible and if entry to a room after orduring a high expansion foam discharge isdesired, (rescue purposes) self-containedbreathing apparatus should be used and alifeline attached to the point of egress.

Due to the high expansion ratio, the finishedfoam tends to be “light” and as such does

not have a true application outdoors, sincelight winds will blow the foam blanket awayfrom the hazard area. Therefore, careshould be taken when considering highexpansion foam as an extinguishing agent toensure that proper containment can beachieved.

The number of generators used for a givenrisk should be optimized to allow an evenbuild up of foam over the entire hazard area.A single large generator may not give aneven build-up and consideration should begiven to several smaller units, giving thesame combined output, equi-spaced overthe hazard area to produce the desiredeffect. In this case, another advantagewould be that if one generator were to fail,foam would still be falling from other units,thus providing some fire fighting capability.

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igh expansion foam systems are designedor specific risks and a proper evaluationhould be carried out to ensure that theppropriate guidelines are followed.onsideration should be given to generator

ocations, rate of foam spread, which willary based on the substrate and theonfiguration of the hazard. For example,he foam blanket will spread at a muchlower rate on dry concrete, than it will on auel spill or other wet surface. Protectedreas with large obstructions (such as gen-ets) will impede the foam travel and speedue to increased friction between thexpanded foam and the object. Thus theuantity and location of high expansion foamenerators becomes quite critical, to ensurehat the appropriate flooding time ischieved.

Due to the lowwater contentof high

expansion foam and in some cases, mediumexpansion foam, these agents can be usedquite effectively on various hazardousmaterials. In some cases where plain water

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High expansion foam can be used for thecontrol of LNG (liquefied natural gas)

spills or fires in the event of anaccidental release or failure of piping,

pumps or flanges. When the temperatureof natural gas is reduced to -161 degrees

Celsius (-260º F) and at atmosphericpressure, the gas changes from a vaporto a liquid. This shrinks the gas to lessthan 600 times its original volume. LNGis less than half as dense as water. It iscolorless, odorless and non-toxic. It is

stored as a liquid and later regasified asneeded. As a clean-burning fossil fuel,

countries such as Japan have usedrevaporised LNG to help its air pollutionproblems. In the event of a release, LNGon contact with air will form a gas cloudand may ignite if an appropriate ignitionsource is found. The resulting explosioncan produce significant damage in the

area. Thus LNG storage tanks aretypically found in large, deep-diked

containment areas, so if the leakpersists, the LNG will pool in the dikeonce the ground is frozen. In this casehigh expansion foam can be used to fillthe diked area and while extinguishment

is not required, or desired, the foamblanket will control the vaporization or inhe event of a fire; the burn-off rate, it willalso reduce vapor release and limit heat

exposure to surrounding plant andmachinery. By controlling the vapor

release, it is less likely for a flammablegas cloud to build up and find an ignition

source. High expansion foam canmitigate the situation and allow a

controlled release of the vapor until thearea is made safe.

would react violently with for example afuming acid or other equally hazardousmaterial, the low water content of highexpansion foam is less reactive and cancover the spill to reduce harmful vaporrelease. Maintaining the foam blanket givesFirst-Responders an opportunity to assessthe risk and determine a suitable course ofaction. In addition, the low water content ofhigh expansion foam means that themitigating agent does not significantly add tothe problem. The foam/water solution isreduced and there is less run-off to contendwith.

Buckeye has up to the minute experiencewith high expansion foam systems and theirapplication. We have significant data on thebehavior of this material and can provide in-depth experience and advice as to theproper application of high expansion foamand the related proportioning and deliverysystems. Contact the Fire ProtectionProfessionals at Buckeye Fire EquipmentCompany for your fire protection needs.

Buckeye Fire Equipment Company is ISO9001 certified and within our 165,000 sq. ft.(15,335 sq.m.) facility we have a fullyintegrated manufacturing facility thatincludes an ASME (American Society ofMechanical Engineers) pressure vesselshop that allows us to build our ownpressure vessels for bladder tanks and otherrelated products.

Buckeye High Expansion Foam Systems aredesigned to comply with the stringentrequirements of standards such as NFPA11(A), NFPA 409, the USAF ETL 2-15 and

the Air National Guard Standard for HighExpansion Foam Systems.

Buckeye Fire Equipment Company offers afull range of foam agents and hardware tosatisfy your fire protection requirements. Inaddition, our product offering includes, HandPortable and Wheeled Fire Extinguishers,Clean Gas – HFC-227ea Fire SuppressionSystems and Co2 Systems for fixedinstallations. We have been in business forover 40 years, supplying the fire protectioncommunity with high quality products andcontinue to strive for excellence. Ourproducts are supported by a highly qualifiedgroup of people who have knowledge andexpertise to provide the answers you needto your fire protection problems. Ourphilosophy is to do it right, do it on budget,do it to specification and do it on time.

TYPICAL LAYOUT FOR A HIGH EXPANSION FOAMSYSTEM IN A C-130 AIRCRAFT HANGAR

The layout of the high expansion foam generators in thisexample are designed to cover the shadow area of theaircraft within 1 minute and produce 1 metre depth over thewhole hangar floor within 4 minutes.

Buckeye Fire Equ110 Kings road, Kings M

Telephone: (704) 739 – 7Web-Site: http://w

ipment Companyountain, NC 28086 USA

415 Fax: (704) 739 – 7418ww.buckeyef.com