Foam concentrates are excellent modern innovations in the field of fire protection materials. While protein foams have been commercially available since the 1940s, the addition of fluoro-surfactants was developed in the early 1960s. Since then, industrial fire safety projects that deal with hydrocarbon fuel have been widely using this variety of foam. When searching for fluoroprotein foam manufacturers, buyers must consider the fuel source, application method, and overall fire performance in the given area.
What is Fluoroprotein Foam
A fluoroprotein foam is a mixture of hydrolyzed protein and fluoro-surfactant additives. The protein foam is a heavy fluid that creates a smothering blanket on the hydrocarbon fuels and cools the fuel. The protein-based foam is thick, preventing the flammable vapors from escaping and re-feeding the fire. The function of fluorosurfactant is to repel the flammable oil from mixing with the foam and prevent contamination.
Key Applications
This concentrate is applicable for Class B fires involving hydrocarbon fuels. The common applications include oil refineries, military fuel storage, paper mills, textile plants and petrochemical plants. The target fuels are hydrocarbons such as crude oil, gasoline and diesel.
Choose The Right Formulation
There are multiple variants of formulations provided by fluoroportein foam manufacturers. Here are the common ones:
- Standard
These are applicable for industrial facilities with non alcoholic hydrocarbon fuels. Its key advantage is that it has a lower cost per gallon and gives good fire knockdown performance.
- Alcohol Resistant
The polar liquids are miscible with water in the foam, which degrades the barrier and affects the quality of fire protection. The alcohol-resistant formulation makes it insoluble in the fuel. This is used where hydrocarbon has alcohols, esters and acetones.
- Film Forming
Before the complete foam concentrate is applied to the fuel, this forms an aqueous film layer. It acts as a vapour suppressant. This is best for large surface area fuel spills in the airport and aviation sector.
Match your fire hazard with the suitable applications of these formulations of fluoroprotein foam.
Verify Industry Certifications
After identifying the fire hazard, verify the industry certifications and standards. Some of the recognized standards are:
- UL 162 for foam liquid concentrates
- Military specifications
- ICAO Tested
- EN Approval
Foamer Variants of Fluoroprotein Foam
Foamer is a series of foam concentrates by Foamtech Antifire Company, one of the reputed fluoroprotein foam manufacturers. The variants provided are:
- Standard Fluoroprotein Foam
- Alcohol Resistant Fluoroprotein Foam
- Film Forming Fluoroprotein Foam
- Alcohol Resistant Film Forming Fluoroprotein Foam
Conclusion
Choosing the right manufacturer should be based on close attention to detail. The hazards and foam application requirements in a fuel storage facility, refinery, aircraft hangar, or petrochemical installation, which are likely to be very different from each other. The choice must include the consideration of the fuel type, fire situation, discharge devices, design of the system, and any requirements of the applicable performance. The technical information of the concentrate must therefore be analyzed together with the fire protection system requirements. Contact our team at Foamtech Antifire if you are looking to buy reliable fluoroprotein foam concentrates.
