API Recommended Practice 2001

API RECOMMENDED PRACTICE 2001
4.3 FOAM
Foams for fire protection purposes are an aggregate of airfilled
bubbles that will float on the surface of a flammable liquid.
They are made from aerated solutions of water and a
proper proportion of foam concentrate. Foams form a cohesive
floating blanket on the liquid surface that extinguishes
the fire by smothering and cooling the fuel. They also prevent
reignition by inhibiting vapor release and thus preventing the
formation of combustible mixtures of vapor and air. Applying
a foam blanket to fuel spills before ignition can prevent spills
from becoming fires.
Foams are particularly suited for extinguishing two-dimensional
flammable liquid spill fires or in storage tanks where
the foam forms a vapor-sealing blanket that secures the area
after extinguishment. In fires involving jetting or falling fuel,
such as an overflowing tank or line flange leak, foam is effective
only on the fire that arises from fuel spills and on pools
that form flat surfaces. Foam is not suitable for extinguishing
fires which involve flammable gases or liquids containing
large amounts of liquefied petroleum gas.
To extinguish deep tank fires or spill fires, continuous

foam application at no less than the required rate is critical.
See NFPA 11 for required rates. Unless the required rate of
foam is applied and maintained on the liquid surface until it is
sealed by a cohesive blanket of foam, the fire may not be
extinguished. Cooling water applied to a tank shell can assist
in extinguishing a fire. When foam is applied by hand lines or
monitors over the rim of a tank, wind and thermal updrafts
frequently carry a portion of it away. As specified in NFPA
11, foam must be applied at a 60 percent higher rate to compensate
for this loss.
Cases have been reported where the application of foam
through solid streams that plunged into unignited flammable
liquids have been thought to be the source of ignition (of an
ensuing fire). The ignition has been attributed to static discharges
resulting from the splashing and turbulence. Therefore,
any application of foam to an unignited flammable
liquid should be gentle. Proper application methods with
portable equipment could involve use of a spray pattern or
banking the foam stream off a backboard or structure so that
the foam flows gently onto the surface of the liquids. Properly-designed fixed foam chambers on tanks have not
experienced problems with static electricity generation.
Foam is made by mechanical action or agitation achieved
by the turbulent mixing of atmospheric air into the foam solution
of water containing liquid foam concentrate. A variety of
foam types typically are used in a refinery:
a. Protein.
b. Fluoroprotein.
c. Special purpose.
d. Alcohol resistant.
e. Aqueous film-forming foams (AFFF).
Factors influencing the choice of a specific foam type for
use at a facility include the following:
a. The type of product for which fire suppression may be
required.
b. The type of foam concentrate stocked by potential mutual
aid participants.
c. Sources and timing of supply from manufacturers for
major incidents.
d. Cost effectiveness of the candidate foam concentrates.
The manufacturer of the foam-making equipment should

be consulted for the correct percentage of concentrate to be
used in their particular system. Proportioners should be
designed and set for the percentage of foam concentrate used
to form the desired solution.
For detailed information on foam application methods and
equipment, see technical information provided by the foam
concentrate and apparatus suppliers.
For detailed information on foam types see API Publication
2021 or NFPA 11.
UL162L
PERFORMANCE
6 Film Forming Test
6 effective July 6, 1995
6.1 A film forming foam liquid concentrate shall have a spreading coefficient (see 6.5) greater than zero
when tested as described in 6.2 – 6.5.
6.2 The surface tension of the foam solution and the interfacial tension of the foam solution and
cyclohexane are to be determined using a tensiometer as described in the Standard for Test Methods for
Surface and Interfacial Tension of Solutions of Surface-Active Agents, ASTM D1331-89.
6.3 The surface tension of the foam solution is to be determined on samples of the foam liquid
concentrate mixed with both distilled water and synthetic sea water in the concentration recommended by
the manufacturer. The determinations are to be conducted with the samples conditioned at 70 5°F (21
3°C).
6.4 The interfacial tension of the foam solution and cyclohexane is to be determined as described in 6.2
and 6.3 except that after immersion of the tensiometer ring in the foam solution, a layer of reagent grade
(not less than 99 percent) cyclohexane is to be carefully added on top of the foam solution. Contact
between the tensiometer ring and the cyclohexane is to be avoided. After waiting 5 minutes, the interfacial
tension is to be determined.
6.5 The spreading coefficient of the foam liquid concentrate is to be calculated as follows:
SC = Sc - Sf - Scf
where:
SC = Spreading coefficient, dynes/cm
Sc = Surface tension of cyclohexane, dynes/cm
Sf = Surface tension of foam solution, dynes/cm
Scf= Interfacial tension of the foam solution and cyclohexane, dynes/cm
7 Hydraulic Characteristics Test
7.1 General
7.1.1 The water flow rate in gallons per minute (L/m) shall be within 5 percent of the manufacturer’s
specifications when measured at:
a) The minimum inlet pressure,
b) At a pressure midway between the minimum and maximum inlet pressure, and
c) The maximum inlet pressure.
7.2 Foam chambers
7.2.1 A foam chamber shall have volumetric capacity to allow foam to:
a) Expand before being discharged, and
b) Accommodate the discharge capacity of the largest foam maker with which it is to be used.
7.2.2 A vapor seal shall rupture when the foam maker is operating at an inlet pressure of not less than
10 psi (69 kPa) and no greater than 25 psi (172 kPa).
7.2.3 The chamber and its foam maker are to be installed in a simulated portion of a flammable or
combustible liquid storage tank or other test setup.

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API RECOMMENDED PRACTICE 2001

To extinguish deep tank fires or spill fires, continuous

The manufacturer of the foam-making equipment should

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