Performance Analysis of Foam Agents Required to Combat Liquid Fuel Hazards

This paper presents a framework for determining the required fire extinguishment and burnback performance of fire fighting foam on Class B fires. A generalized method to assess performance is presented and applied to a Navy aircraft carrier flight deck. For the hazards involved in the flight deck, f...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Scheffey, J L, Darwin, R L, Leach, W, Fallis, S, Williams, Frederick W
Format: Report
Language:English
Subjects:
AIRCRAFT CARRIERS
FIRE EXTINGUISHING AGENTS
FIRE PROTECTION
FLIGHT DECKS
FOAM
HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
NAVAL VESSELS
Protective Equipment
Safety Engineering
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Summary:This paper presents a framework for determining the required fire extinguishment and burnback performance of fire fighting foam on Class B fires. A generalized method to assess performance is presented and applied to a Navy aircraft carrier flight deck. For the hazards involved in the flight deck, fire extinguishing agents must control/extinguish fires in 30 to 90 seconds to prevent the onset of critical thresholds (e.g., ordnance cook-off). Current systems utilizing MIL SPEC AFFF meet this requirement. If MIL SPEC AFFF is eliminated, e.g., because of environmental concerns, it will be difficult to meet this performance using available alternative agents/systems. There is a correlation between the MIL SPEC AFFF test method/criteria and large-scale pool fire extinguishment performance; the small-scale MIL SPEC test method provides a factor of safety in terms of extinguishment performance. Any efforts to change the performance characteristics of the MIL SPEC should proceed with extreme caution. The MIL SPEC tests provide a reasonable screen method for alternative agents. Intermediate scale tests may have to be used for novel agents. Prepared in collaboration with Hughes Associates Inc., Baltimore, MD.