Experimental and analytical analysis for hydraulic friction loss of fluorine free foams solution

Firefighting foams are used to suppress fires by mixing a specific ratio of water and foam concentrate and are typically used to suppress liquid pool fuel fires by cooling and creating a foam blanket to smother the fuel from contact with oxygen. The use of firefighting foam concentrate containing per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) has been restricted in Australia in recent years due its environmental impact and health implications. This has led to the development of alternative fluorine-free foams (FFF) that are now being used in new fixed fire suppression systems and as a replacement foam in existing system installations across Australia and the world. Due to the rapid development and marketization of these alternative foams, there is significant information that is unknown about the product that effects the performance of these fire suppression systems and some of which can only be understood over time. Case studies and research is beginning to highlight issues and challenges these foams bring to system design and testing due to the difference in fluid properties compared to previously used foam concentrates. The key issues include, increased viscosities, equipment compatibility, discharge testing methods, hydraulic friction loss, and fire-fighting performance. Through a review of industry data, academic research and by completing hydraulic calculations for a comparison to system case studies for various foam fire suppression systems, it has been found that the industries standards for the design and testing of foam suppression systems such as the NFPA 11, NFPA 16, and EN 13565-2 do not account for the differences properties of these new foam concentrates in their system design methods and can result in the installation of under performing suppression system.