What is the Foam Concentrate made of?

My department was just recently donated a foam inductor I believe thats what it is called. We're a rural department so funding is an issue and the foam concentrate can get a bit expensive. Anyway we were told that the High Expansion foam it uses is basically soap with some sort of flame retardant chemical added to it. Is there anyway to make it, that would be cheaper to buy it? We've tried using some industrial soap we have, it foams up pretty good, its fairly close, but its not the same, anyone have any input on this?

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Permalink Reply by Skunk on March 2, 2009 at 12:00am

Here is some information on Fire Quench made by the Texas department of corrections (Prisoners) and ways to order the concentrate..

Five Gallons is 25.00 bucks that is pretty cheap

http://texasforestservice.tamu.edu/main/article.aspx?id=1558

Permalink Reply by Skunk on March 2, 2009 at 12:02am

Here is Another site with it in case the Texas Forest service will not sell out of state, I am pretty certain they do though..

http://www.tci.tdcj.state.tx.us/products/janitorial/soap_detergent/...

Permalink Reply by Coty Shoemaker on March 2, 2009 at 12:15am

I will notify my chief about the Fire Quench, that is a pretty cheap price, the cheapest we'd found to order down here was around 75 dollars per 5 gallons. Thanks alot

Permalink Reply by lutan1 on March 2, 2009 at 1:47am

Is there anyway to make it, that would be cheaper to buy it? We've tried using some industrial soap we have, it foams up pretty good, its fairly close, but its not the same, anyone have any input on this?
Given the extreme dangers that flammable liquid fires pose, why even contemplate compromising your safety by trying to make your own?

If it was that easy, then the foam wouldn't be so expensive.

Here's some background info from Wiki: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fire-fighting_foam

Permalink Reply by Tony P on March 2, 2009 at 3:19am

Firstly, an important question. Are you talking about Class A conentrate or Class B? Being as you said a rural department, Class A seems more likely, but which is it?

Permalink Reply by Mike Schlags (Captain Busy) Retd on March 2, 2009 at 4:38am

Luke,
1. very thorough explanation to help explain what foam is
2. I am making an assumption here that this fire department was not intending on making their own foam for actual firefighting but instead, a simulator foam for training purposes. Isn't that right Coty? With this being the case, you can ask the question here on FFN how much soap needs to be added to water to make a mixture that can be used by engine companies to practice using "foam".
3. what I very strongly recommend is a nozzle called a MadDog nozzle. It takes the inexpensive AFFF and attaches to a standard variable stream nozzle to create a foam blanket that lasts and has a good production of foam. this is what my department found to be after a lot of testing, the best nozzle out there for making quick foam...
4. As long as I've got your attention Luke, I wanted to ask you if you had air support for your fires. Do you lay down a strip of phoschek fire retardant to steer the fire away from populated areas or structures? Do you backfire / strip burn under controlled conditions to minimize fuel load between you and the head of the fire? We have so much to discuss, perhaps on a new forum? Anyway, do you you use foam like a drip torch to control strip burning ops? TCSS, Mike

Permalink Reply by lutan1 on March 2, 2009 at 6:11am

Mike, I'm not sure he's referrring to training foam, as the original post does not reference it.

Now, it might be a terminology issue between the countries or a misunderstanding on Coty's part, but when I see the words "high expansion" in reference to foam, coming from an industrial background, I automatically think of hi-ex foam that is put through a system such as an Angus Turbex Fan/Generator, though I realise he mentioned an inductor.

Thus why I make comment about flammable liquid fires. (Turbex's\, for those not familiar, are generally used to "flood" cellars, basements, ship holds, rooms, etc that contain flammable liquid fires.)

Permalink Reply by Reg Mathis on March 2, 2009 at 9:06am

I'm not sure about the new synthetic compounds, but back when I first started flowing foam, it was made of beef blood. Talk about a stench!!!

Permalink Reply by Skunk on March 2, 2009 at 10:05am

Anytime,
Do not even mess with trying to make you're own foam as the others mentioned, in a Rural Fire Department 55 gallons should last quite awhile and the Texas stuff made by the Jail birds is pretty cheap lol

If you search the net it is pretty easy to make you're nozzles as well ..

Permalink Reply by John on March 2, 2009 at 10:12am

I am thinking you would want to shop for the best price, trying to make foam doesn't make sense espeacilly with whats at stake, Your and your brothers in the service Lives. Maybe your Dept. and a few of the neighboring depts. could go in on a bulk purchase, and split the cost to reduce it.

Permalink Reply by lutan1 on March 2, 2009 at 3:03pm

It's known as protein foam.

With changing technology, some manufacturers now make a synthentic foam that does the same thing.

Permalink Reply by lutan1 on March 2, 2009 at 3:04pm

With the economic situation the way it is, this makes so much sense.

Set up like a County stock of the stuff.