Foam Suppression Systems

Foam suppression systems are preferred on the purpose of they provide effective extinguishing in flammable and combustible liquids that can’t extinguish by water.

Correctly designed foam extinguishing systems in areas where flammable and combustible liquids are used in production or stored can extinguish the fire in a short time.

Combustible liquids are chemical liquids with a flash point of 38°C and above, and flammable liquids with a flash point below 38°C.

Flammable and combustible liquids consist of petroleum-derived hydrocarbons and polar solvents.

Hydrocarbons are organic compounds containing only carbon and hydrogen atoms. (Gasoline, diesel, fuel oil, oil etc.)

Polar solvents are liquids that can be mixed with water and used as solvents. (Alcohol derivatives, acetone, ammonia, ethyl acetate etc.)

Foam suppression systems, provide some advantages by making a film layer on the surface of the flammable substance;

Foam film layer cuts the contact between fuel vapor and oxygen.
Foam film layer prevents evaporation on the fuel surface,
Foam film layer separates the fuel surface and flame from each other.

NFPA11, NFPA16, NFPA30, NFPA409, NFPA418 standards are the most used standards in the design of foam suppression systems.

Foam Types According to Substances

Protein Based

 Protein (P)

 Floroprotein (FP)

 Film Forming Flouroprotein (FFFP)

 Alcohol Resistant Film Forming

 Fluoroprotein (AR-FFFP)

Synthetic Based

Synthetic Aqueous Film-Forming Foam (AFFF)

Alcohol Resistant Aqueous Film Forming (AR-AFFF)

Foam Suppression System Types Classified by Expansion Rate

Medium Expansion Foams: <1:20

Medium Expansion Foams: 1:20 / 1:200

High Expansion Foams: >1:200

Foam-Water Proportioning Systems

Bladder tank and standard type proportioner,

Atmopheric type tank and in-line foam inductor,

Centrifugal type foam pump and hydrualic balanced type proportioner,

Turbine type foam pump and hydrualic balanced type proportioner,

Foam Discharge Devices

Foam Water Nozzles or Sprinklers

Closed type sprinklers can be used for wet or dry pipe systems, or open type nozzles can be used for deluge systems in special purpose using areas.

Foam Water Monitor

They are used to firefighting from safe distance and to prevent the burning and / or explosion of objects with risk of fire.There are different types of monitors as manually controlled, self-water-oscillating and remote controllable.

Foam Maker and Foam Chamber

They are used to protect the inner surfaces of flammable and combustible liquid storage tanks and their areas against fire.This type of foam-water discharge devices provide a more expanded foam-water mixture at the time of discharge by sucking air thanks to the special orifices on them.

Foam Generator

High expansion foams provide much more expanded foam-water mixture with less water flow than other foam suppression system equipment.
Water damage is expected to be lower as the amount of water used will be less. Foam generators offer effective fire extinguishing performance for special application areas with special designs.
They need a high amount of fresh air supply in order to provide the desired expansion.

Systems to be built with discharge units whose foam suppression performance has not been tested and that do not have any approval will have different risks in themselves.
For this reason, the foam discharge devices to be used must be suitable for use and listed for the relevant foam type.