foam inlets

[Richard Earl]

hi, a client of mine has asked for the service schedules for a foam inlet into a bolier room.
he needs to now
1 how to test/service them
2 at what intervals (6 monthly/12 monthly)

thay have empty sprinkler bulbs,  i feel he needs to insert blanks into the bulbs and pressure test the pipe work but in not certain?

ccan anyone help?
ta
richard

[kurnal]

Richard
Sprinkler bulbs are not associated with a foam inlet.
I do have a friend who services foam inlets and the like so can ask him tomorrow for the schedule- i think its in  one of the parts of BS5306 if I recall correctly.
But sprinkler bulbs on a foam installation? thats got me puzzled.

[kurnal]

Course now the brains in gear I guess you are looking the  foam discharge nozzles.

As finished foam is at such a low pressure I wouldnt have thought a pressure test was needed but will check with Karl tomorrow

[kurnal]

The answer from my friend is that as this is basically an open ended pipe a pressure test is not appropriate so he says that BS5306 recommends visual inspection only.


Just for interest heres an extract from the FSEB summary guidance (remember them- ah the good old days when fire fighters had to demonstrate their competence in fire related matters by passing exams)

Foam Pouring Systems and Inlets
(i) Foam Inlets
Small, low-expansion foam-pouring systems are frequently provided for fighting fires in basements and other areas containing oil-fired heating equipment.
The system consists of a number of foam pourers sited to give a rapid covering of foam over the expected area of involvement, a short pipe array and a connection outside the building to which is fitted a tapered orifice against which the foam making branch is held by hand. This is usually protected by a glass panel and marked
with the words FOAM INLET together with an indication of the particular risk involved. The number of pourers or outlets should not exceed 3 for each inlet. If more than this number is required, additional inlets must be installed.

[Messy]

I am looking at a premises which has 6 falling foam systems via three inlet boxes. The routes from the inlets to the protected rooms are long and two of them go 4 floors below ground level. The systems are 'tested' via a visual inspection (of the bits that can be seen) every year and there's an audit trail going back at least 10 years. All in all, I should be happy as it would pass most audits.

However, next year the installation will be 30 years old. I understand that none of the systems have ever been used in anger, so in three decades these steel pipes, fixings and connectors have sat there passively doing nothing. I accept that there would be only minimal pressures involved if charging any of the systems (compared with a DRM), but how confident can I be that 30 years of corrosion, being subject to vibrations in plant areas they run through, and after 30 years of building changes - the systems will deliver the bubbly stuff to where it is needed?

I would also like to confirm that each of the inlets actually discharge in the spaces where the labels say they will.

I do not believe that the fire service would be able to access the rooms 4 floors down without the help of the foam suppression systems - even then it would be a struggle - so I believe the system needs to be perhaps more resilient than the current BS testing provides for.

So I am intending to blank off each outlet in turn with polythene, tape and cable ties and fill the pipework with compressed air through a gauge. Then leave it for a moment (a minute?) to see if here is any significant pressure loss. I will also be able to confirm the inlets tie up with the right outlets.

We may struggle to get a tight seal at first, but can anyone see any other pitfalls with my ad hoc system, or better still, has anyone every carried out this sort of one-off test before?

Alternatively, (as Mrs Messy will often say) am I worrying too much?

Thanks

[Owain]

Groundworks firms have pipe stoppers, air pumps, and coloured smoke for pressure-testing new drains.
http://www.pavingexpert.com/drain11.html
http://www.screwfix.com/p/bailey-drain-air-testing-kit/19536

[Animal]

In the good old days fire engines carried 5X foam making branch pipes, I understand this is no longer the case in most fire authorities.

I would make a suggestion that it may be worth contacting your fire authority and see what type of foam making equipment they now carry on the pumps and see if it is compatible with the foam inlets you are wishing to test.

Hope this is helpful.

[SamFIRT]

Many FRS now have compressed air foam (CAF) (which uses a specialist hose reel) and or in-build round the pump proportionators. Either can deliver foam from standard branches fed through standard hose. Depends where you are.

CAF if you haven seen it is marvellous. stuff!!!   

There have been a lot of changes recently in hardware available to FRS. CAFs and Water Cold Cut and fogging systems ( one of which is called Cobra) especially. A visit to your local FRS could elicit changes in long held views on likely tactics.

[Dinnertime Dave]

Many FRS now have compressed air foam (CAF) (which uses a specialist hose reel) and or in-build round the pump proportionators. Either can deliver foam from standard branches fed through standard hose. Depends where you are.

CAF if you haven seen it is marvellous. stuff!!!   

There have been a lot of changes recently in hardware available to FRS. CAFs and Water Cold Cut and fogging systems ( one of which is called Cobra) especially. A visit to your local FRS could elicit changes in long held views on likely tactics.

 CAFs systems add considerable cost when purchasing fire appliance many authorities are questioning its worth.

[Messy]

Thanks for your information

Owain - Thanks for your links. We have earmarked a local plant hire company nearby to hire drain blockers and equipment

As for the suitability of the local fire authority's foam equipment, I have discussed the issue with a CFOA National Resilience Tactical Advisor who has reassured me that the falling foam systems at this address are compatible with the available LA equipment (There is male fire service instantaneous couplings on the inlet boxes).

I would like to know if the issue of leak testing of older systems to ensure resilience issue has ever been raised before - and if so - what was done about it. Thanks

[SamFIRT]

Many fire authorities are questioning the worth of many things in these times of rationalisation (AKA cutbacks) Dave. But that does not stop CAF being an excellent piece of kit.

Still you have to have a crew and an appliance to have CAF available tactically. You pays you money and/or you takes your chance.